He pulls back and my fingers run alongside his jawline.
“Well, they know a little bit about this whole thing. Teague put the pressure on me the last time he was in town—trying to get me to make a move. I told my mom when I got home yesterday. We could show up, hold hands, and kiss on the couch and my family would simply scream internally, or maybe even externally. They’d keep it to themselves.”
Thinking about Tyson moving around the kitchen with his mom, explaining the messy strings between him and me, makesmewant to scream externally. A man who confides in his mom? Yeah, I’m into that.
“But, if we want to go back and act like we decided to stay friends, and that’s it, I’m cool with that.”
“I don’t want that.” I don’t mean to rush the words but it’s a gut reaction. The thought of playing friends, like we’re playing dress up, isn’t what I want. Knowing this is a safe space, with some people I love more than anything, I want to be ourselves. “I want us to be honest with them. No more close calls and almosts,” he kisses my nose as an interruption, “just enjoying this time together.”
“That sounds fucking perfect.”
Tyson smirks into my mouth and lets out a small laugh between my lips. Pure joy. That’s what I feel. In this cabin, which I’ve been to for the lastten years, with the man who knows me better than some of my own family members, it feels like things are falling into place.
We kiss on the couch as the snow continues to fall outside. I don’t know how long we’re wrapped around each other, but my stomach growls.
“Now, tell me you brought some treats back from the bakery,” I whine playfully.
Tyson stands, picking me up with him—fuck, that’s hot—and says, “Of course I did. You thought I’d come back without something sweet for you? I know better than that.” He tips his head to the bag on the kitchen counter. “I know you, Blair Miller.”
And he kisses me.
Twenty-Five
Tyson
FAMILYGROUPCHAT
Teague
earth to the love birds
when are you coming back
mom is insufferable
Mom
am not
Dad
hey hey
and she isn’t insufferable
she’s invested
Mom
luv you
Teague
don’t forget this is the familygroup chat
Dad
i wouldn’t
