“Of course you do. Always prepared.” I kept beaming up at him, and he mirrored it right back.
Reid carefully unzipped the backpack and let Vermont sniff his hand. Vermont stepped out of the carrier like he owned the place, rubbing against Reid. Reid shot me a smile. My heart was so whole it might burst.
There was no way to know for sure if Reid was in this for the long haul. It didn’t make sense to assume he would be, not after such a short time.
But deep down, I knew.
He wasn’t going anywhere. And neither was I.
THIRTY-FOUR
Hazel – One Month Later
I couldn’t breathe.It was like someone had placed something heavy over my mouth, waiting for me to suffocate.
Jerking awake, I lurched my head back with a gasp, only to find Vermont huddled right up by my face on my pillow. He let out a demanding “Meow.”
My bedside clock told me it was just before nine. I should be grateful he’d let me sleep in for once. Typically, he was a lot more aggressive with his demands for breakfast earlier in the morning. I practically had to set up formal negotiations with him to let me sleep in at least until the sun rose.
I rubbed underneath his chin before throwing the comforter off me. My tie-dye sweatshirt lay abandoned on the floor. I nabbed it and pulled it on.
The cans of wet food were all stacked on the windowsill. Reid had begged me to find a cabinet—any cabinet—but my kitchen was small and already bursting at the seams.
I took one down, opened it with a can opener, and set it down next to the water bowl on the floor. Vermont wasted no time trotting over to it and wolfing it down.
I threw on a pot of coffee and pulled my blinds open. Fresh snow blanketed the street outside, covering each car stillparked on the street. I caught sight of mine, relieved I didn’t have to drive anywhere today. It looked like we’d be getting a white Christmas tomorrow after all. Gran would have loved it.
I yawned and stretched, waiting for the ancient machine to finish brewing my coffee. Jackson had dragged me to a Christmas pop-up bar last night. He’d drank one too many ‘Dirty Rudolph’s and I’d had to drive him home. We were out entirely too late, but I had been having so much fun I hadn’t even cared. Plus, the salon was closed until the 27th. I might as well take advantage of my time off. I couldn’t wait to spend the next few days cozied up, eating good food, and spending time with my favorite people.
A knock sounded through the apartment.
I raced to answer it, my socks sliding on the floor right before I reached the door to swing it open. Reid stood there holding a large bag, smiling in the new glasses I’d bought for him, and a beanie tugged down over his ears.
“Merry Christmas Eve,” he said.
“I thought you were coming over later.” I threw my arms around him and held on tight, breathing him in like I always did.
“Couldn’t wait.” He kissed the top of my head. “Plus, I had to make sure you were still alive after Jackson drunk called me from your phone last night, begging me to order you two a pizza.”
I rolled my eyes. “Iwas fine. He, on the other hand, is likely regretting his decisions right now, since he has to drive two hours to his family’s house later this morning.”
Reid walked past me and set the bag underneath the silver Christmas tree that he’d helped me put up weeks ago. He’d tried to insist that we wear N95 masks while doing it.
Seeing him carefully arrange the bag of gifts underneath the tree hit me in a soft, unexpected way. I’d been so scared for my first Christmas without Gran—worried the loneliness and memories would consume me. But having Reid Mitchell as a boyfriend meant I’d never be lonely again.
For someone who claimed to appreciate his alone time, he always seemed to want me around. And I meanalways. Some nights, when I was too tired from a long shift to pack up Vermont and head to his place, I’d tell him not to come over because I was just going to crash. He never listened. He’d come anyway, just to sleep on my “too soft” bed and hold me. Ugh, I loved that man. I had a hard time remembering ever feeling as important as when he set his gaze on me. He’d made a place for me in his life, and I never had to question, even for a second, if I fit there.
“Vermont,” he cooed, holding up a toy mouse. Vermont pranced into the room, immediately greeting Reid with a friendly headbutt to the leg. Reid scratched his back and set down the toy that was surely filled with catnip. “Gotta make sure I’m still his favorite.”
Reidwasmy cat’s favorite. And it was annoying. It was like he didn’t even know, or appreciate, everything I’d gone through to get him back. I could call the stinker ungrateful all I wanted, but nothing gave me more joy than watching those two cuddled up on the couch together.
“You spoil him,” I said with a laugh.
“I brought donuts for you, too,” he said, holding out a small brown bag.
“Yay!” I took the bag from him and brought it to the kitchen, arranging the donuts on a plate before pouring us coffee, splashing some peppermint creamer into both mugs.
Life had been good the past month. Like blissfully, amazingly, stupidly good.
