“Sounds good. Happy New Year! May it be the year for you with a hot boyfriend.” She flashes her eyes at me.
“You too. May it be the year for you with an adorable healthy baby and a baby daddy that you are crazy about.”
She smiles contritely at me. She knows that I’m teasing her about the baby daddy part, because she might not want to admit it but she’s already in love.
The next few hours, I enjoy my winter cozy fest. Food is delivered later than expected, but I guessed as much since it’s a busy night. Candles are lit, my favorite playlist is on, and I’m curled with a blanket and my e-reader. Maybe some would say this is boring, but it is so damn relaxing.
I’ve checked on Enzo a few times, but he is out like a light from the children’s medicine. His fever is going down, at least. Probably just a passing virus that kids get. Luckily, I’ve become immune to many since I’ve been working in a preschool for a few years.
Sure, I notice the clock and the fact that midnight is approaching, and maybe a tiny piece of me wishes that I could celebrate it with a certain someone, but it’s okay.
I find it strange how we all become fixated on a number on a clock. It’s a mental block, I guess. A new year is a new chance.
The gentle knock on my door sparks my attention, and a spot in my heart fills with excitement because intuition just sparked it. I get up off the coach and keep the throw blanket wrapped around me. I’m in pajamas and big fluffy socks, but you can never be warm enough.
The moment I open the door,whoosh.
The world stops, and my entire body stills as I see Tylerstanding there. He’s still in his post-game suit. His sexy grin is already weakening me in the knees.
“W-what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to celebrate New Year’s.”
My sight shoots down, and I realize my outfit, down to my fluffy snowman socks, is anything but hot. “I’m a mess.”
“I love it. It’s the socks that make the outfit.” He winks at me then politely barges past me as if he owns the place.
I gingerly close the door and follow him to my living room. The way he unbuttons his suit blazer leaves my mouth watering, made worse when he rolls up his sleeves.
“Don’t drool.” He smirks at me, as he must understand where my mind just went.
“I thought you would be on the road.”
“Luckily, we got in an hour early. So here I am.”
My smile grows then falters. “You can’t be here.”
He looks at me strange, maybe almost hurt. “You don’t want me here?”
Shaking my head, I join him as he sits down on the sofa. “It’s not that. Enzo is sick, and I don’t want you to catch it since you have games later in the week.”
“It’s fine.” He doesn’t seem worried. “How is he doing?”
I move to sit on one hip and face him. “Sleeping. I’m sure he will be fine in the morning. Are you hungry? I have leftover Chinese food. I kind of ate all the eggrolls, they’re my favorite.”
He touches the outer part of my thigh. “Who doesn’t love eggrolls?”
We assess one another, trying to connect dots or say something first.
“I’m kind of happy you showed up,” I admit.
His brows rise. “Kind of?”
“Iamhappy that youshowed up.”
“I was hoping we would be back early. I wanted to be here with you. Can I let you in on a secret?”
He leans in, and my heart races. The feeling of warmth from his body getting closer to me and the room getting smaller all feels too much, but my heart lifts. “I’ve been thinking about you non-stop.”
