“Nah, I think I’ll stick around for a little longer. I kind of like you, Andrew. You sound like a smart man.” Emma smirks at my dad, seeming to have passed her little moment of embarrassment. “And for the record, yes, I have,” she finishes with a wink.
My father explodes with laughter once more, smacking his hand on the table a few times. “I love this one. You better bring her around next year, too.” Dad points at me as I shake my head and smile.
“So what’s the plan for today?” I lean against the counter beside Bunny, who hasn’t taken her eyes off me. She often looks at me, but right now, it’s different. There’s a hint of mischief in her eyes. I narrow mine, trying to figure out what she’s hiding.
“Breakfast, then we’re going sledding with a small lunch at the lodge by the hills. After that, we’ll come home and get our competitive spirits on with building gingerbread houses and baking some cookies while Miss Gracie takes her nap. And after dinner, we’ll do gifts, followed by a Christmas movie and games to end the night. How does that sound?” my mother informs us all.
I nod along with everyone else while continuing to down my coffee. Em giggles out of nowhere, then quickly erases the smirk from her face when she notices me looking. “What?”
“Nothing,” she says with tight lips.
“You’re hiding something. I can tell. What is it?”
“Nothing, I’m not hiding anything.”
“Whatever you say, Pinocchio.” I look around, trying to find out what she could possibly be up to, but come up empty.What am I not seeing?“So, who’s gonna be the judge during our building and baking competition?” I direct my question to my mom and find her giggling silently with Aubrey. They both stop the moment I spot them. “What the heck is going on?!”
“Nothing. You’re being paranoid, sweetheart. Aubrey will be the judge since she’s the baker in the family. Now finish up your coffee and go make your daughter a plate.”
Okay, maybe my mom’s right and I’m just being a bit paranoid. I shrug off the weird feeling and take a sizable gulp from my mug to polish off my coffee. Over the rim of my cup. Ifind Emma staring at me once more with her lips sucked into her mouth. I frown and look down into my mug.
It has to be the coffee. What the hell did she do?
That’s when I notice it. At the bottom of the cup is a ceramic face sticking out with lifelike eyes staring back at me. I spit all the coffee that was in my mouth back into my cup and all over my shirt, even spraying some over the rim and onto the floor near Bunny’s feet.
She folds in half, exploding with laughter, as do my parents and Aubrey, while I choke on what’s left of my coffee in my throat, pounding my fist against my chest. “What the...” —cough, cough— “heck…”—cough—“is this?!”
Emma has her hand to her mouth as she comes up, failing to contain the giggles pouring from her. “It’s your special mug. Do you like it?”
I look back down at my cup.Holy fuck, that thing is scary,then to Bunny.She got me a mug; she didn’t forget.I join in with the laughter and grab Emma by the waist while setting down my cup on the counter. “I love it. Nearly gave me a heart attack, but I love it. Thank you.”
She beams up at me, placing her hands on my chest. “It’s always my pleasure.”
Having her in my arms is becoming instinctive. I don’t think about doing it; I just act, and it feels natural every time. My eyes drop to her parted lips next. On reflex, my hand comes up, and I brush my thumb lightly over the bottom one.
“Greyson… What are you doing?”
My gaze returns to her green orbs that hold so many questions. She’s confused.Hell, so am I.I have no idea what’s happening between us. All I know is that I want to touch her all the time.
I want to see what outfit she’s going to put on for the day, what shape pancakes or eggs she’s going to make me. What silly littlegame she’s going to pretend to play with Gracie even though Gracie doesn’t really join in.Fuck, I just want everything that involves Bunny.
Holy shit… I think I want Emma. And not just in a sexual way, but as more… I think I might want her to be mine…
My eyes widen, and I can feel the color draining from my face.Fuck, how did I not see this?I drop my hands from her and take a step back, nearly knocking into Aubrey, who somehow ended up behind me.
“Grey? Are you okay?” Em asks as she watches me cautiously.
“Yup. Yeah, all fine. We should get to the table. Foods getting cold.” I turn quickly and find my sister watching me with a frown.
My pulse is skyrocketing, and I feel sweat forming at my hairline.I need to get away from them.I force a tight smile and sidestep her, heading to my daughter.
Damn it! This can’t be happening again.Emma and I agreed we wouldn’t explore anything between us. I need to get a handle on whatever is going on in my head.I won’t fall in love with a girl I can’t have. Again.
After breakfast, we all get dressed warmly and pile into my dad’s seven-seater SUV. My parents are upfront, Aubrey and Gracie in the middle, while Em and I are in the back. She’s been quiet since breakfast, but I don’t miss the concerned glances she gives me occasionally.
She can sense my retreat. In the short time from the kitchen to now, I’ve been avoiding looking at her or getting too close unless it involves my daughter. It’s how things should have been from the start. Instead, I let her charming silliness worm its way into my mind and heart.
We get to the lodge by the sledding hills shortly after and rent various sleds, including one that’s all closed up for Gracie, preventing her from getting too cold. We make our way upthe hill and settle ourselves in an empty spot. The place isn’t super full given it’s Christmas morning, but there are still a few families who hold the same traditions my family does.
