Sean walks backwards towards the door. “Call me later?”
“Definitely.”
He lets himself out and I undress, set my alarm for ten o’clock, then crawl into bed.
I’m out like a light.
SEAN
Haileyand the baby are allowed home on Sunday. I might not have seen Vic since I dropped him at the lodge Saturday morning, but we’ve been in constant contact.
He’s busy helping the new parents and being with Joe, and I spend the week showing Deb, Mike, and Reed everything that I love about living in Charnwell. It’s been over ten years since Deb left, and things have changed. Reed’s been here before, obviously, since we used to date, but I think getting out in the fresh air is doing him good.
Vic and I manage a few snatched moments when I take everyone to the pub, but I miss spending the night with him. We’ve agreed that this thing between us ismore, but we haven’t had any time alone together since, and I want to. I want to touch him, kiss him, remind myself that despite my sister and her good intentions, we both still feel the same about each other.
It’s Friday today, December twenty-second, the last full day of my sister’s visit. We’re having our Christmas lunch today because she and Mike are spending Christmas Day with his family in Nottingham.
Deb corners me in the kitchen. “Thank you for a lovely week, Sean.” She wraps me up in a hug and I hold her tight. “I’m so fucking sorry I almost ruined things with you and Vic.”
I sigh. “You didn’t nearly ruin things. You just made me endure a really awkward car journey.” I laugh when she groans and buries her head in my shoulder.
“You’ll never let me forget this, will you?”
“Nope.”
When she steps back, she says, “It’s serious then? You and Vic?”
“Yeah.” I rub the back of my neck. “I know we’ve not been seeing each other long, but...fuck. It just feels right. You know?”
She smiles and nods. “I do. And I’m happy for you. If your gut says that he’s the one, then trust it.”
It does, and I’m going to.
I seeVic waiting for me as soon as I pull into the pub car park. He’s all bundled up in a thick coat, hat, and gloves because it’s fucking freezing today. His dark curls are hidden but that just accents his hazel eyes and stubbled jaw.
“I’m so sorry about yesterday.” He pulls me into a hug as soon as I get out of the car. “Hails and Char had been up all night with the baby, and Liz wasn’t feeling well, and?—”
“Hey.” I kiss him to stop him from apologising. Again. We were supposed to spend last night together, but then shit happened. “It’s okay.”
His gaze washes over me, lingering on my mouth, then back up to my eyes. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
I grin at him. “I saw you on Thursday.”
“For about half an hour, and we were surrounded by people.” His gloved hands drop down to my arse and squeeze. Thankfully we’re alone in the car park, for now. “It’s Christmas Eve already. How did that happen?”
I know what he means, time seems to have flown by all of a sudden, and he’s right, we haven’t been able to get together as much as either of us would like, but that’s what happens when family needs you. Winding my arms around his neck, I kiss him again, because I’ve missed him too. Missed this.
“We’re together now. We’ll just have to make up for lost time later.”
He nuzzles my neck, warm breath tickling my skin, and I sigh. “You still coming back to mine tonight?”
“That’s the plan.”
“I promised Joe I’d be here early Christmas morning to open presents, but you can lie in if you want.”
“I’d like to come with you if that’s okay?” I want to wake up with him and have breakfast together on Christmas morning. I haven’t had someone to do that with in a long time, and I’ve been looking forward to it now I know it’s an option. If I have to get up ridiculously early to do it, then I will.
Vic pulls back to look at me, expression soft. “Of course it is. I don’t want to miss a single moment with you.”
