I smile, because it does.
I feel his lips brush the back of my neck before he turns me around to face him.
We stare at each other, snow falling on our faces, but neither of us moves until Vic tilts his head and kisses me. It’s soft and lazy, unhurried in the way that speaks of endless opportunities to do it again and again. And I know in that moment that we’ll be okay.
It’ll take a little adjusting to get used to being over an hour apart, but I’m not worried.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to check the time. I didn’t plan it, I’m not that good, but somehow I’ve timed it perfectly and it’s just gone midnight. I tilt the screen for Vic to see. “Merry Christmas,” I whisper.
Vic wraps an arm around me and kisses my temple as we watch the snow fall on the rugged landscape I call home. “Merry Christmas.”
VIC
Being backin my own house feels strange after being away for the last few weeks.
Quiet.
I have Joe with me until the third of January, but we’re both used to having Char, Hailey, and the baby around, not to mention the pub.
Don’t get me wrong, I love being home, but it’s awfully fucking quiet.
And I miss Sean.
I miss having him only a ten-minute drive away.
Christmas was lovely. Sean and I spent the day with Hailey, Char, Joe, and Emily and then I went back to Sean’s house Christmas night.
We’ve texted every day since I left, butfuck... it’s not the same. I know we’re only a little over an hour apart, but like I said... I miss him.
As if he can hear my thoughts, my phone buzzes with an incoming FaceTime call.
“Hey.” I grin as I answer, Sean’s smiling face appearing on my screen.
“Hey.” He’s sat on his sofa, and I can see Lucky’s tail draped across his thigh. “You all set for today?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m just going to meet her. That’s all. Nothing’s been finalised. We might not be a good fit.”
Sean laughs like I’m being ridiculous. “You keep telling yourself that.”
“It’s just an initial meeting.”
Joe and I are going to see Jax today at the shelter. I was happy to wait until after New Year’s Eve, but Joe and my sister have been not so subtly trying to get me to go sooner. Honestly, I’m going mostly so they’ll both stop banging on about how lovely she is.
I’ve seen pictures, I’ve even seen her on my sister’s FaceTime.
She’s cute, I’m not denying that, but it doesn’t mean we’ll be right for each other.
Surprisingly, I think Joe’s accepted this.
But I promised I’d go and meet her today, and we’re leaving soon.
Sean’s expression smooths out into a softer smile. One I think he keeps just for me. It’s what I tell myself, anyway. “You still coming here tomorrow?”
He and Jerry have standing plans to spend New Year’s Eve at the pub, along with half the town, it seems, and he’s asked me to join him. Hailey and Char’s guest rooms are now in operation, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s going for them.
“Yeah, looking forward to it.” I hear Joe thundering down the stairs, so I grab my boots and slide them on.
“Me too.” Lucky chooses that moment to turn around, his head appearing next to Sean’s. “We’ve missed you.”
