“It was the way I was raised,” I admitted.
“Sounds like your parents did a good job.”
I tried not to wince at his words, but I couldn’t stop it. “I suppose,” I said, looking out at the snow accumulating on the balcony. “Looks like we’re getting a white Christmas.”
“Dad, are you torturing Gabe in here?” Tori’s voice saved me from any questions.
“Not torturing, sweetheart, just talking.”
She sat next to me, pulling her feet up to her side and handing me a glass that looked like milk but smelled too sweet and spiked.
Lifting a brow, I questioned her.
“Eggnog with a little something extra to warm you up.”
“Do I need warming up?” I asked, taking a tentative sip and thinking she could keep the eggnog to herself. Turning my nose up, I handed the glass back to her.
“My kind of guy,” Cash said. “That stuff is nasty, Tor.”
“Well, Mom and I love it,” she snapped, taking a sip and sticking her white tongue out at him.
The debate about eggnog continued with no defined winner until we reconsidered the movie and turned in. Tori surprised me by dropping to her knees when she closed the door, and unable to turn down the treat, I pushed her hair back as her big blue eyes held mine until her mouth took me over the edge.
Christmas with the Hent family was unforgettable. There were moments when it reminded of my mother and her bright smile as she watched us open our presents. A smile that had diminished with every passing year so that by the time I was a teenager, it was difficult to find. My father’s ever-present glare was nowhere to be found, his presence not overshadowing the festivities with his irritation and impatience. The nerves that were always on edge, waiting for a blow or an insult meant to harden me, were absent.
This was family, and that realization had me determined to make this a reality. To have my future consist of the laughter and joy that filled Tori’s family home.
When the wrapping paper was cleaned up, I raised the new scarf Tori had made for me in UConn navy and gray because as they reminded me repeatedly, I was now in Huskie territory and although my girl ‘tolerated’ my Harvard roots, she was a Huskie girl whose blood ran navy and gray.
“Wanna take a walk and test this out?” I asked her. She was fingering the bracelet I’d bought her. Delicate silver with charms that represented the moments in our relationship. A nutcracker for our first show, a bridge like the one in the background of our first kiss, a book for the hours we’d spent reading together while she studied, a meatball for our favorite restaurant, and intertwined hearts.
After learning that she’d spent her downtime at work knitting me the scarf so I wouldn’t know, I was glad I’d had every charm handmade. It had been worth every penny to see her expression.
“Go,” her father said. “Cash and I will help your mother in the kitchen. Take Gabe out to the lake and show him the property.”
“Okay.” She tugged my hand, leading me toward our room to get changed. He threw me a wink when her back was to him, and my nerves lit like electric sparks.
What was I doing? This couldn’t happen. Every rational side of me knew that, but the irrational side that was drowning in love didn’t listen. I snuck the ring into my pocket as I pulled a sweater from my bag. Tori was changing out of her pajamas, and I couldn’t stop my eyes from grazing over her body when I stood.
“With that look, I’d think you were ready to devour me.”
Pushing her shirt from her hand, I pulled her into my arms. My lips brushed her bare shoulder. “I’m being respectful to your parents.” Hands soaking in the softness of her skin, I regrettedthe decision to touch her. “And a room lined with UConn pendants isn’t exactly a turn-on.” Even if I hadn’t noticed them the prior night when she’d taken me to oblivion. I nipped her neck, and she squealed.
Tugging on my scarf, she said, “I’ll convert you, Harvard boy.”
With a laugh, I dipped her body and dragged my mouth down her chest. “We’ll see.” I released her, loving how she stumbled slightly and color filled her cheeks. “And when we get home, I plan to devour every inch of you multiple times.”
Rolling my neck to calm myself, I walked from her, taking a spot against the wall to watch her dress. Tormenting myself even more. If the ring in my pocket didn’t have me rigid with stress, I may have played more, but the thing had my nerves strained. She wouldn’t know the true significance of what I planned, how I risked losing everything to keep her. Especially if I couldn’t convince her to wait five years for the wedding. Who was I kidding? I didn’t want to wait. I would have married her that day if I could have. Screw it all. She was all I wanted, and I knew I was being selfish, that my decision would hurt Liv, but Tori was worth it.
“Hey.” Her voice brought me back, and I realized she had already dressed. “You okay?”
Light fingers drifted over my jaw, worry lining her eyes. I took her hand, kissing her palm. “I’m fine. Just thinking about how lucky I am to have you.”
“Even after meeting my family?”
“Especially after meeting your family.”
Her smile lit her eyes, and I gave her forehead a kiss.
