It’s a simple comment but it warms my heart even more. “Not at all. You’ve no idea how rowdy these two are about to get.”
Dinner is just as chaotic as ice skating with the added warmth of being behind closed doors. Pizza and pasta are demolished at a frantic rate and Elijah spends a good ten minutes explaining to Samson that it’s really not a good idea to cover his pizza slice in chili flakes no matter how pretty it might look. As I watch them, listening to Nick’s laughter and their conversations, my heart swells with love. Under the fuzziness of such a good day and thefact that Elijah slots in without issue, I can almost pretend we’re a real family.
Almost.
Dessert ends up being a big bowl of ice cream shared between all of us, then fifteen minutes of Nick and Sam running around the ball pit to burn off their sudden energy. But as the night drags on, excited squeals quickly morph into overtired whines and complaints and it’s time to get them home.
“Sorry about this,” I murmur to Elijah thirty minutes later as we both carefully walk up my icy path toward the front door. Nick’s almost asleep in my arms while Sam’s pretending to be wide awake in Elijah’s. His slow blinks say otherwise.
“I don’t mind at all,” Elijah reassures me.
“But you had to leave your car.”
“I really didn’t see you managing to get both of these rascals home and into bed all by yourself.”
“It’s doable.” I chuckle softly as I reach the door. “But an extra pair of hands is always welcome.” Nick grumbles in my arms as I shift him around to get my key in the door, then we all stumble into a cool house. I want to call out for Mom, but given that the house is in darkness, she must already be in bed.
“Alright, baby,” I say, gently waking Nick in my arms. “Time to brush your teeth, baby.”
He whines and yawns, which sets Sam off, and soon I have two whimpering kids barely able to keep their tears in. Bribery gets them into the bathroom to wash their faces and brush their teeth, and then a promise of waffles in the morning gets them both tumbling into bed.
“Goodnight, sweetie,” I say, kissing Nick’s forehead. He’s already fast asleep and doesn’t make a sound as I step away. Sam’s the same in his padded sleeping bag, so once I check that he’s secure and comfortable, I leave the room and close the door softly behind me.
Mission success.
“Wow,” I huff out, walking into the kitchen where Elijah patiently waits against the island counter. “I don’t know what I would have done without you today.”
“It was fun.” His smile is wide and genuine. “I actually can’t remember the last time I had fun like that.”
“It’s cool, isn’t it? There’s something so freeing about playing with them, like it unlocks your inner kid or something.”
“Exactly.” Elijah’s gaze locks onto me and he doesn’t look away.
I’m instantly reminded of our kiss in the snow and my stomach flutters. “Can I get you something to drink? As a thank you?”
“I’d love to,” Elijah replies, but as I walk past him, he continues, “but I have to get back to my car.”
Shit. He’d come in my car so his is still parked at the rink. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. But I’ll put a pin in that drink.” He pushes off the counter, but as soon as he takes a step toward the door, I suddenly reach out and clasp his wrist which makes him stop.
“It’s late,” I say. It’s like my exhaustion from the day has melted away my walls and the only things left inside me are my unfiltered thoughts. “And cold. Why don’t you stay the night?”
27
ELIJAH
“Are you sure?”
In the soft light of the kitchen, Calliope’s eyes are a shade darker each time she blinks and her smile is so warm that I might as well be settling down in front of a warm fire.
“I’m sure. I’d hate for anything to happen to you. Plus, you’d need to call a taxi to get back to your cold car and then drive back to your hotel.” Her grip tightens slightly on my wrist. “Stay.”
“Okay.” My heart skips a beat and a sudden bubble inflates in my chest, threatening to burst and betray just how excited I am to be included.
Calliope’s smile widens at my agreement and she releases my wrist, then tilts her head. “Follow me. Quietly.”
I do exactly what she asks and we walk through her oddly destroyed hallway, then up her stairs and all the way to the room at the end. She pauses just before her door and points to the door on the left. “Bathroom?”
