I touch his shoulder because I want us to be connected in some way. “Me too.”
An almost boyish grin appears. “Also been thinking about us too?”
“I have,” I admit shyly.
He pecks a kiss on my forehead. “What’s going on between us is too strong. I can’t deny it. So what do we do about this? Because I have some ideas.” His voice lowers, and it sends vibrations down my body.
I bite back my half-grin. “There is a chance that I’m in agreement with some of those ideas.”
He pulls back a little, but we are still too close to be just friends. “We’re more, Lainey. There doesn’t need to be confusion about it. It’s clear to me now, and I don’t want us to go down the road of just benefits because I care for you too much, I want you too much. It’s because of you that I have a fucking Christmas tree and handmade menorah even though holiday cheer isn’t for me. But it’s because of you that I changed that thought.”
My cheeks tighten from my smile. “And I’ve forgotten what it was like when we would irritate one another. In fact, I’ve been calm and excited when I hear your name.”
“Don’t we deserve to explore this thing between us?”
“I have Enzo. It’s not just?—”
He cuts right in. “It’s not just you, and I know that. You two are a package deal, and I wouldn’t dream of anythingelse.” There is no disappointment or doubt intertwined in his words.
My heart can’t handle it because it’s far too perfect, I’m far too lucky, but he is right in front of me and I have no reason to believe otherwise.
“Tyler, I needed to hear that maybe, and I want us to be together. Explore what is more for us.” I squeeze his hand on my thigh. “We just have to be careful around Enzo. Give it some time before we spill the news, you know.”
“Got it.” He scoots closer to me.
I swoop in for a kiss, and he kisses me back with reverence. I could get lost in this the entire night, but there is a whisper in the back of my brain, and I pull away.
“Do you want the good news or bad news?” I ask, and Tyler looks at me peculiarly. “Good news is that we get to spend midnight together. Bad news, I only have juice boxes if you want to toast.”
His head falls forward as he laughs before driving his sight up to my eyes. “Juice boxes are perfect. Feels kind of like a sign that this is the way that we should celebrate us for a new year.”
I lick my lips with my smile not disappearing. I love his answer.
A minute later I’m back with two fruit punch juice boxes and flop onto the couch next to him. It’s quite a scene to see Tyler still in his dress shirt and slacks, trying to jam the impossible straw into a juice box. Who knew that it could be a turn-on. Maybe because it embodies how insanely hot he isandgreat with kids.
“New Year’s resolution?” I ask as we get comfortable.
“To avoid juice getting all over my post-game suit.” He moves to dodge a spill of juice coming out of the straw.
I have to laugh. “I’m sure you have many otheroptions.”
“I do. But seriously, my resolution is that you and I make us work.”
Swoon.
“I’m on board with that.”
We both glance at the clock on my muted television. Noticing the final countdown, we both begin to whisper the numbers, and when we get to midnight, we clink our juice boxes together and take a sip.
“Happy New Year,” he says softly.
“Happy New Year.”
Setting the juice boxes on the side table, I climb on top of Tyler to straddle him. The way he looks up at me and I peer down is a magnetism, part of our attraction. My arms encircle his neck, and I press my body down against his warmth.
“Congratulations.” I stake his eyes with mine.
“That I’m not getting rid of you?” he retorts.
