“No!” Coop cries.
“He’ll have to when he’s seven,” I say. “This year it’s your turn.”
“Back to work, Eli,” Blair says. “Get that dip stirred.”
Our Thanksgivings are small, but fun. We always play dance music and prepare a huge feast. After we eat in the afternoon, we change into pajamas and watch movies, eating dessert when we get hungry enough.
Blair shoots me a quick, amused look as Eli returns to stirring the ranch dip he’s making. We’re planning to let him in on the joke later today, and we’ll ask him not to spoil it so we can play the same prank on his brother in two years.
“Oh! It’s my jam!” Blair cries when “Uptown Funk” starts. “Dance break!”
When someone calls for a dance break, we all have to pause what we’re doing and dance. We’re always over the top, none of us worried about being silly in front of each other.
I’m off work for the next four days, and I’m looking forward to the time with Blair and the boys, but I already miss Noel. We’ve been seeing each other as often as we can for the past five weeks.
He’s sent beautiful flowers to the office for me weekly, always signing the card “SD” for Stalker Daddy. I get giddy every time.
With our work schedule, we rarely go more than one day without seeing each other, even though we have to pretend in front of others that our relationship is professional only. The stolen glances and secret kisses only build anticipation for when we get to be together for real.
On road trips, one of us sneaks into the other’s room as soon as it’s safe, returning to our own room with just enough time to shower and leave for the next flight. We don’t always stay at hotels—sometimes the team takes off after road games for our next destination.
Those nights are the hardest for me—when Noel is one row behind me on the plane. So close, but I have to pretend I’m not dying to be next to him.
I’m a little jealous of Lucien and Talia. They get to be together all the time. So much that they don’t sit together on flights.
Noel is with his kids today. He’s excited about hosting dinner at his house for Chloe, Chase, Talia, Lucien, and Audra. His brother, Jack, is also coming with his wife and one of their kids.
Our relationship is secret. I’ll never be a traditional girlfriend to Noel. I knew that going in, but I didn’t expect it to hurt like it’s starting to.
We’ve talked about disclosing our relationship to Hudson McClain, the team owner. Noel said he doesn’t think McClain would allow Deb to fire me over it, but I’d likely be moved to a different job in the PR department, and someone else would take over my job.
I can’t do that. I love my job, and I love getting to travel with him. I work hard and my performance has never suffered, but I understand how it would look to Deb if she knew.
Even if we did decide to go public, I wouldn’t be in Noel’s life full time. He’s protective of his time with his kids because he already feels guilty about traveling so much that he doesn’t get to see Chloe and Chase much.
I can’t get mad at him for being a good dad. I did feel wistful, though, when Talia was talking about Noel smoking a turkey and making his famous stuffing today. She said they play board games on holidays. He’s having a chef come to his houseto help with the meal prep. Tomorrow, Chloe and Chase will be with their mom. And on Saturday, Noel’s taking all his kids and Lucien to find a Christmas tree they can decorate together. And the chef will make another dinner.
“There’s a lady outside,” Coop says.
We just finished our dance break, and he’s looking out a front window through the blinds.
“It’s Thanksgiving,” Blair says, getting up. “Who goes door to door on Thanksgiving?”
I’m making a cheese ball, so I wash my hands and grab a dish towel to dry them on my walk to the living room. Blair is looking out the window, her expression worrying me.
“Boys, go play in the basement,” she says. “I’ll let you know when it’s okay to come up.”
Now I’m even more worried. She looks like she’s feeling sick.
“But why?” Eli asks. “I want to dance and help Aunt Jules.”
I stand next to Blair, and when I see who’s on our front porch, my heart races nervously.
“It won’t be long,” I say. “And we’ll do an extra dance break when you come back up.”
“Who is that lady?” Coop asks.
“Boys,downstairs,” Blair says, an edge in her voice.
