“It was only a matter of time.” Brynn glares at her brother who just shakes his head.
Matt ends up bringing out the pie. There’s a small altercation about him not serving everyone. Afterwards, they all end up migrating to the kitchen while Bailey and I hang back for a couple extra minutes.
“I got you a present too, but I wanted to give it to you in private,” I tell her.
“If it’s some sort of sex toy, you should wait until we’re back home.”
“It’s not.” I shake my head. “I’m not some deviant, you know?”
Bailey gives me a look that reads like, “are you sure?”
I stand up, yanking her with me so our chests collapse. “Don’t be a brat. I’m no stranger to pulling you into a bathroom or closet to punish you.”
Her breath catches, and I almost think she’s going to tempt me even more when her name is called from the kitchen.
“Guess you’ll have to hold out on that punishment until later.” She winks, walking ahead of me into the kitchen.
I rub my chest, watching her go and thinking about how wild it is, how far we’ve come from where we were just a few months ago. About how I should be afraid of how close we’ve gotten. And yet, all I can think about is how I don’t want it to end.
When I offeredto come here with Bailey, I didn’t expect it to be so easy. I figured there would be family drama to sort out, and while I’m sure she does have some things to talk to her siblings about, it’s been simple and fun. Which is something I never expected.
Christmas began with presents and ended with all of us sitting in the outdoor covered patio. There’s a small fire going for warmth, but we still need blankets. Which is how Bailey and I got cuddled together under a large blanket surrounded by these people who were just strangers to me yesterday.
“You guys should stay until after New Years,” Brynn suggests during a lull in conversation.
Bailey shakes her head, her hair grazing me with the movement. “No, we have to get back before then. I don’t want Jameson and Sutton stuck with the dogs for that long.”
“Come on, please?” Brynn purses her bottom lip in a pout.
“If they can’t stay, they can’t stay,” Brent says, pointedly.
“Sorry, forgot Captain Buzzkill was still here.”
I lean down to whisper to Bailey, “If you want to stay, we can always ask.”
She turns her head toward me. “I’m sure you want to get back, too.”
“Get back to what? You’re here.”
She sucks in a gasp as her eyes go wide, and I pull her against me even tighter.
“Well you guys think about that, but I’m exhausted.” Brynn starts to stand up, stretching her arms up, and Colton follows.
“Yeah, I’m pretty tired too,” Bailey agrees.
I fold the blanket we were using before setting it on the bench seat we were just on as Brynn pulls her sister in for a long hug. I take my time, letting them have their moment before we turn in for the night.
Bailey decides to take a shower. While I’m tempted to join her, I also want to get the present I got for her out of my bag and try to make it special.
I’m not a romantic guy, and never have been. I don’t even know if I’m doing it right, or if she will even like this. I spend the several minutes she’s in the bathroom arguing with myself that this is a bad idea, and to just return it. Or throw it away. She never has to know, I’m sure she forgot about me saying I had something for her.
Or I can say I actually forgot it.
It was something I ordered last week, and even at the time I wasn’t sure if I would end up giving it to her. That uncertain feeling is only amplified knowing she’s just in the other room and bound to come back in here any minute.
I’m holding the black box that holds the necklace inside of it as I bounce it between my hands, continuing to debate even as I hear the shower turn off. My time is running out to make a decision, but as I’m walking toward my duffel to put it away and forget the whole thing the bathroom door swings open.
Bailey is wearing a T-shirt like she always does when she goes to sleep, but I notice this time it’s not one of hers. It’s mine.
