Luckily, we weren’t together long enough or often enough for it to give me a complex.
Afterall, my clothes had gotten loose on me, not tighter.
But depression has that kind of effect on me.
I shake off the thoughts of the past. They’re not serving me at this moment, and I’d rather be present here with Adam.
He gestures to my empty glass, and I take the refill. It goes well with the meat pies, which surprises me.
What he pulls out next surprises me even more: a pint of ice cream—Blue Raspberry Cotton Candy. My favorite.
“How did you know?”
“I can’t reveal my sources.”
“Mmm hmm. You know this is going to make me cold.”
Still, he hands me a spoon and shifts, wrapping an arm around my waist and yanking me across the back to settle me between his thighs.
Once he has me nestled against him, he takes the pint back and tears off the top and hands it back.
“I won’t ever let you get cold.” The sincerity in his words sends a shiver through me just the same.
I take a few bites and relax into him, finally asking the question that’s been swimming around my thoughts since he told me he’s not attached to anyone.
It’s easier to broach the subject with him surrounding me this way, without his ability to pierce me with his all-knowing gaze.
“Adam.”
He hums in response.
“Why aren’t you married?”
“That’s easy. Because I’ve never met anyone who’s prompted that kind of response in me. The need to call her mine. The desire to be hers. Never seemed right without that feeling driving me.” His arms tighten around me, and I can’t help how my heart rate spikes at that admission.
At what that might mean for us.
We settle into companionable silence as I finish off my pint and soak in the feel of his body around mine.
The ride home is quick, faster than the way out, and when he walks me up to my door, I know my parents, my sister, Greyson and Gabe are all watching. Even if I can’t see them.
“You know they’re all watching,” I say.
“Of course they are.” Adam crowds me against the front door. “I’d better make this worth their trouble then.”
He leans in. His kiss isn’t demanding, but it’s one that claims the moment—measured, slow, with a hand braced on the doorframe beside my ear.
I’m ready to dissolve into a puddle at his absolute thoroughness.
I want to grab hold and yank him into me, take what we’re both really craving.
When he pulls back, nose brushing mine, his voice is low and rough. “Next time, I don’t plan to drop you off at home.”
17
DREW
Today, we’ve set up the entire town for one massive snowball fight meets capture the flag game. Snowballs are hidden along downtown and a flag flies at either end of town—one at the bottom hill to the Lodge and one at the church. It took all morning to set up, and the townsfolk are reacting with the slow build of excitement now that we’re nearing noon.
