“Not mean.” She ran a hand through her messy hair.
She was always pretty, but knowing how she was on the inside? She was gorgeous with a heart of gold. Strong. Fierce. Unapologetically herself. I couldn’t believe I’d passed on two years that I could’ve been telling her how amazing she was.
She clicked her tongue. “I tend to get defensive for those I care about. It doesn’t happen often, but I can if provoked. I went off on one of the girls’ friends who stole from her last year. I tell you, that little thief was scared.”
While I wanted to hear all about how she’d scared someone, her words about caring for me stood out like flashing neon lights.She cares about me.My chest tightened, and the urge to kiss her again was overpowered by worry. If she cares about me, then that means feelings, and feelings mean a relationship. She looked at me expectantly, and it felt like a balloon was growing inside my lungs. Did I want a relationship with her?
Maybe?
I could get fired and have to move, and she lived in a house with all the girls. It would never work. But also, not seeing her or kissing her again wouldn’t work, either.
Say something. Anything.
I must’ve been quiet too long because her face fell, and the familiar blush graced her skin.
“Snap.” She gulped. “I care about you like I do all my neighbors. Like,friendlyand ‘thanks for saving me from the blizzard’ care. That’s what I meant. Don’t get all panicky. It’s fine. It’s no big deal at all. For real. I swear it.” She backed away.
It took her movement to snap me out of my little mind freeze, and I intertwined our fingers and halted her retreat by placing our hands together, palm to palm. I could panic later, after she was asleep. Right now, I needed to ease her mind. “Hey now. I care about you, too. Not necessarily just in aneighborlyway, but also in an ‘I like getting naked with you’ way.”
A small smile played on her lips, and the hesitant look in her eyes evaporated. “Okay, good.” She released our hands and moved toward the kitchen, but not before adding a little sway to her strut. “Glad that almost embarrassing moment has passed. Now, I really do want a hot chocolate. I’m going through withdrawal, and that’s not good for anybody.”
“You have a chocolate problem.” I entered the room and found her already rummaging through Blair’s cabinets.
I grabbed the ingredients and handed them to her as Blair walked into the room with my parents and brother still on the call. Hank was blabbing about football with my parents encouraging him. My shoulders tightened, and I cracked my knuckles so loudly that Blair shot me a concerned look. “Sorry.”
“Is that Harrison again? Let me have him,” Hank said.
I shook my head, but Blair ignored it and passed me the iPad. Becca’s face hardened as I met her gaze. No more sympathy. No more letting Hank be an asshole.
“What, Hank?” My tone was short.
“What’s with the ’tude? If you’re getting laid, I figured you’d be in a better mood. Well, maybe not since you sucked ass this season.”
“Well, bro, with you somehow making it this far with your team, I figured you’d have better things to do than behave like a dick to us. But we can’t all know everything.”
Becca snorted, her reaction encouraging me. Hank’s expression turned wounded, and he looked over his shoulder at our mom. A thirty-year-old man was getting his mom involved.
“Harrison, don’t talk to Hank in that rude tone. He has enough to worry about with the game coming up. Be a better brother.”
“Nah, I’m good. I’m a fantastic brother to Blair and uncle to her kiddos.” I waited as my mother stuttered and blinked.Had I ever spoken out to her? Is this the first time?The realization was like a bolt of adrenaline, and I kept going. “You’re a man-child, Hank. Don’t bring Mom into this. And by the way, if you want to even be considered in the running for favorite uncle, try showing up for anything. A birthday, a dinner, hell, even a random drop-in. You can’t buy your way for the kids to like you. They’re better than that, and smarter. Now I’m going to enjoy the rest of this holiday with people who care about me. Bye.”
I hung up and handed the device back to my sister. The milk sat in the fridge, and I passed it to Becca, ignoring the look on my sister’s face. I wasn’t sure if my stomach swooped because it felt good or if I regretted what I’d done. “Can you make me a cup, too, Becca?”
“Hell yes, I can. You deserve more than this after that little showdown.” Becca moved toward me with her hand raised. “High five, man!”
Pride warmed me as I smacked my hand to hers. “God, I have a high right now.”
“I cannot believe you just did that. Finally.” Blair’s shocked expression changed to joy as she joined the mini celebration. “I know they’re family, and Ben wants the kids to have all their grandparents since he came from a small family, but damn they annoy me. Good for you, Harrison.” Beside her, the iPad chimed. “Uh-oh, they are calling back.”
“Ignore it.” Becca stood and hit the red button on Blair’s device. “I’m about to make hot chocolate for everyone. Let’s put on a holiday movie, enjoy the drinks, and relax. You all go sit down, and I’ll serve.”
“I can help,” I offered.
It was cute the way she bossed us all around. I could imagine, yet again, why the sorority girls liked and respected her so much. She took care of those around her, supported them, and never lost her cool.
“Nope, I’ve got it. Enjoy time with your family, Harrison. It’s important. I’ll be in there in a minute.” She reached over and squeezed my wrist with her fingers, making her eyes go all buggy.
“What the hell are you trying to tell me right now?”
