Chapter Nineteen
Grant worked his normalhours up until Christmas Eve, and then he and Reagan spent all their time together. He was determined to give her a holiday to remember when she went back to school. He hated that she felt so homesick when she was gone, but he knew she was in good hands with her friends. They cooked Christmas Eve dinner together and sat on the couch looking at the tree they’d put up earlier in the month.
“I can’t believe I have to go back in a little over a week. It’s been great being back here with you.”
Grant’s arm was already around her shoulder, so he gave her a squeeze. “You belong there, Ray. You’re too smart and capable to be stuck here with me working in a dead-end job.”
Reagan felt more than a momentary flash of guilt. He was only stuck there because of her. “Do you ever wish you’d had more choices?”
“No.” He answered so quickly that she didn’t fully believe him, but then he sighed. “Yes, sometimes. I wouldn't have enjoyed college, but trade school would have been beneficial.” He leaned into her side. “But I wouldn't give up what we had for anything. I wanted to raise you and watch you grow into this beautiful young woman.”
“I know you did. You know I appreciate everything you sacrificed for me, but I can’t help feeling guilty sometimes that you gave up everything to make my life easier.”
“Not everything. I have you.”
She snorted. “You don’t even have me now. I’m away more than I’m home.”
“This isn’t more of your great advice about how I need to date, is it?” He straightened up but kept his arm around his sister. He didn't want another discussion about his lack of a lovelife.
“No.” She laughed when he gave her a doubtful look. “I promise. I just meant that you can go to school now if you want. You can do anything you want, now that you don’t have to worry about me so much.”
Grant hummed. “I suppose. I just don’t know what I would do if I had the option. I’ve spent years doing the same thing day and night.”
“You mean stuck in a rut.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s what I mean.”
“Maybe it’s something to think about, but it doesn't have to be tonight.” Reagan snuggled into his side again and inhaled his scent. It was the simple smell of male soap. “What did you get me?”
He laughed, good and loud. “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out.”
The following morning, she was pleased with the books and the necklace he got her. She’d gotten him a subscription to a car magazine and new work boots. They spent that day together, enjoying each others company, being a family, and it felt as comfortable as every day she’d lived there growing up. It was easy to be together, to find things to do and not be bored. It was exactly what Reagan needed to recharge and be ready to go back to a new semester of college.
Though she loved spending so much time with Grant again, she missed Hudson. Now that they were getting to know each other, she wanted to see him in person. Reagan liked the idea of talking to him and sharing more about herself. She left her phone in her room while Grant was home so she wouldn't be tempted to be on it all day instead of focusing on her time with her brother. After he went to bed, however, she would spend at least an hour talking with Hudson. They didn’t venture into phone sex again, but there were plenty of promises of what would happen once she returned. She’d never been more tempted to leave home early, but she refused to give up her time with Grant. Instead, she satisfied her need for Hudson over the phone.
Since she hadn’t found a job through the campus ads, Reagan had asked Hudson to keep an eye on the paper for jobs near the school. On the first of January when he called to wish her a Happy New Year, he informed her that he’d found a position at a daycare center she might be interested in. He gave her their number and she promised to call them the next day to set up an interview. She’d spent the last of her money on Grant’s gifts and would be in a bind when she returned to school.
“Thank you so much, Hudson! You have no idea how desperate I was getting.”
“Oh, really? How desperate is desperate?” he teased.
“I was thinking of selling myself on the streets, clearly,” she said in a heavily sarcastic tone.
“As long as I’m your only customer.”
She groaned. “How was it at your parents’?”
“Awful.” She heard a noise that sounded like him closing a door. “They badgered me about bringing home a woman for them to meet. What they really mean is to interrogate about her lineage.”
“They’ll never approve of me,” she moaned, flopping down on her bed.
“I don’t plan on subjecting you to them any time soon, so don’t worry. Hell, they don't even approve of me.”
“But they love you.”
He snorted derisively. “That’s highly debatable.”
Reagan sighed. “They sound so difficult to deal with. I’m sorry they’re like that.”
