Everything.
His hand splayed on my lower back, bringing us even closer together. A hint of a smile floated across his lips before he whispered in my ear.
“Don’t be. I’ve got you. Or I will.” He pressed a soft, wet kiss behind my ear. Every little hair on the back of my neck stood straight up as goose bumps flared across the spot where his mouth had been. “Once you let me.”
Drew
THE LAB WASdead, but I expected that the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I was about to close early when Sara rushed through the door. I rose from my seat to greet her but was rooted to my spot by the pained look in her eyes.
“Hey,” I whispered as she scribbled her name on the sign-in sheet, still not acknowledging my presence. Something was wrong, and I was about to drag it out of her one way or another. “Talk to me.”
“I’m working Thursday. All the other students are off but since I have a paid internship they need me to cover Thursday afternoon.” Her voice cracked on the last word. “I don’t even know why I’m here. I was going to make bread pudding for Victoria tonight, but I won’t see her, so why . . .” Her eyes clenched shut at the first tear she couldn’t hold in.
I pulled her into my arms without thinking about it, and she didn’t fight me. We were alone, but I wouldn’t have given a single fuck if we weren’t. She whimpered into my chest as her shoulders shook.
“Did you tell her yet?”
She nodded as she pushed out of my hold. “They promised me Christmas week off since the restaurant closes but Thanksgiving is their busiest day. And it’s time and a half, which I could use,” she sniffled as she swiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “I just . . . I miss her so much. Josh offered to drive her up here, but that’s a long way to only see me for a few hours. I go back in on Friday for the whole day.”
“Are you going to be alone on Thursday?”
She shrugged. “Lisa invited me over to her parents’ house, but I’d get there after six, so I said no. I probably won’t be very good company anyway.”
“We never eat before six. My stepdad usually has to work. Come to my parents’ house.”
Her eyes widened as she shook her head. “That’s really sweet, Drew. But I can’t—”
“Why can’t you? They live fifteen minutes from campus. I’ll wait until you get out of work and we can go together. And we all love bread pudding, so . . .” I nodded to the empty stations in the back. “Get to work, Caldwell.”
“Drew,” she whispered as she inched closer. “Are you sure you want me to come to your—”
“You’re my friend and I’m inviting you to my family’s Thanksgiving dinner. No one, including me, will make it more than that. Thinking of you here alone will twist me up so much you’ll ruin my favorite meal of the year. You wouldn’t do that to me, right, Sara?” I jutted my lower lip in a pout. She laughed and swatted my arm.
“You play dirty. Okay,” she relented with a hint of a smile. “I’ll come. With bread pudding. So, if you’ll excuse me.”
She ambled to one of the stations a little lighter than when she first came in. All she’d been talking about for weeks was seeing Victoria and I knew she hated waiting another month. Sara never mentioned any family, and I knew they weren’t in the picture for holidays. Thanksgiving both away from her daughter and alone would eat away at her, whether or not she admitted it. That wouldn’t happen—not as long as she had me. Would things get complicated and even more muddy between us? I didn’t doubt it, but I didn’t care.
“You’re sure they’re okay with this?” Sara winced as I pulled into my parents’ driveway. “Bringing some strange woman over for Thanksgiving.”
I snickered as I shut the engine off. “The strange woman is my friend. My mom always adopted all the friends I brought over. She’s like that, and she’ll love you.” I slid my palm against hers and laced our fingers together. “Relax.”
My eyes held hers for a long minute. I couldn’t stop touching her—and she was letting me. Maybe I was getting under her skin as much as she was under mine. What would she do if I kissed her? I shook off the burning inclination.Baby steps, Kostas.
I reached for the door and stilled when Sara cupped the back of my neck. She pressed a long kiss to my cheek before resting her forehead on my temple. “Thank you,” she sighed into my ear.
My body didn’t move as it stiffened—everywhere. God, I wanted those lips. This woman turned me into a panting little puppy and I had no shame about it. I turned and kissed the top of her head.
“What are friends for?”
“Andrew!” My mother bellowed from the kitchen window. “Get inside, everything is almost ready!”
Holding in a frustrated groan, I stepped out of the car and led Sara up our front steps.
“Nice to meet you, Sara. I’ve heard wonderful things about you.” Mom smiled at Sara as she held the door open for both of us.
“Nice to meet you, too, Mrs.—”
“Julia.” She enveloped Sara in a big hug. “Glad to have you here.” Sara glanced over at me with widened eyes before she gave into my mother’s embrace with a relieved smile.
