She looks like she’s about to reply but changes her mind and focuses on something else. Tipping her head to one side, her eyes narrow.
“Did you really mean what you said? About meaning everything you’ve said?”
I frown at her and wonder why she’s stuck on that.
“Yeah, of course I did. And I do—have—wait?” I take a second to get my words together. “Yes, I meant what I said before and Ihavemeant everything I’ve said since coming home.”
She looks at me for a second longer before nodding.
“Well thanks for bringing this by. It was really nice of you. Text me when you make it home so I know the abominable snowman didn’t eat you on your way.”
Now it’s my turn to frown at her.
“I’m not going anywhere, sugar.”
“What do you mean? You were here to bring me coffee, you brought me coffee, and now you can go.”
I shake my head and press my lips together. “Unfortunately, that’s not how this partnership works. If one of us hasto work late, webothhave to work late. I’m here for the longhaul, baby.”
“You really don’t have to?—”
She tries to protest but I’m walking away, heading for the library where I know the old board games and cards are stashed. Grabbing Battleship and a deck of cards I walk back to where she’s standing.
“So do you want me to kick your ass in cards or would you rather I sink your submarine?”
Her mouth opens to say something before it morphs into a smirk. Battleshipwasalways our game growing up.
“Oh, you think you’re going to sink my submarine?” She barks out a laugh. “I don’t think so. Bring that game over here and let me show you who the real winner is.”
CHAPTER 22
Noelle
Hours go by and Nick and I are still hanging out in the lobby waiting for our guests to arrive. They called to let me know their flight was delayed again and apologized profusely for keeping me. As the night went on, the less I cared that they weren’t here. I had plenty of entertainment to keep me company which made staying late a lot more bearable.
“Do you have a nine?”
“Go fish.”
“You little liar!” I gasp then slap my hand over my mouth after almost shouting at him. It’s past ten and the inn is completely quiet as all of our guests have gone to bed. I bring my face closer to him and whisper, “I know you have a nine, give it to me.”
“No, I won’t give it to you because then you’ll win,” he whispers back.
I gasp. “So you do have a nine!”
“Yeah and you’ll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands to get it from me.”
“What if I show you my boobs? Then will you give it to me?” I tease.
Without pause he immediately tosses me the card and waits. My head falls behind me as I laugh.
“You’re a child,” I joke, throwing my cards down on the top of the desk.
“No, I’m a man who finds his wife wildly attractive. Can you blame me? Look at you.” He picks up his hands and waves them at me.
Shaking my head at him, I stand and stretch, looking around to make sure there aren’t any stray guests lingering in the halls. He follows behind me as I move into the library, looking around and taking in the space as if I’m seeing it for the very first time.
“Twenty-five years I’ve called this place my home,” I reflect, not really speaking to him directly. “And in a few weeks I’ll be able to call it mine.”
