Before Lainey can protest, he darts away at full speed, and she doesn’t get a chance to pat his shoulder to calm him. She smiles nervously when she turns to me. “It’s in the storage downstairs, but I’ll let him figure that out.” Her sleeves are around her knuckles, and she hugs herself. “You don’t need?—”
“It’s fine.” I give up.
We both stand there in silence, not sure what to say or where to look. I should be making my escape from the woman who drives me crazy in ways that are a headache to my brain and evil to my dick.
Her lips pinch, and she avoids my gaze. That’s my cue to leave.
“I’ll just…” Our eyes meet again as though she’s waiting for something. “Go,” I say to finish my sentence.
She nods. “Yeah, of course.”
I begin to walk backwards, but I step on something sharp, causing me to lose my balance when I look. “Fuck.”
Lainey steps closer and winces as she examines the floor. “Yeah, that’s just the lava of death. Those little plastic blocks can be lethal even with shoes on. Sorry, Enzo was working on some spaceship or something… and it’s a good thing we don’t have the swear jar.” She is trying to be lighthearted, and she gets points for that because the energy in here is indescribable and messing with my senses.
“Got it. Well, good luck with the spaceship, planet, pirate ship, whatever it is.”Because I can’t think straight around the fact your face seems to glow today.
“Sure. And you know, don’t worry about snowmen and sleds,” she tells me as she follows me out, letting me offthe hook.
But suddenly, I don’t like that for some reason. The idea that someone is letting Enzo down doesn’t feel right. Glancing over my shoulder, I simply reply, “Just knock when it’s time.”
Standing outsidewith a hyped-up kid running around me, I can’t help but grin. My theory that it wouldn’t snow enough went out the window, and I’m now getting dizzy from Enzo unable to decide between snowman pursuits or giving me a workout by pulling him in the sled.
“Ready there, bud?”
He stops in his tracks and looks at me, his hat lopsided on his head. “Sled.”
“Come on then.” I pick up the rope attached to the sled while he hops on.
I begin to run and realize I need to manage my strength because I’m too strong and he will go way too fast. He’s already squealing with joy by the time I’m ten seconds in. And so it goes for the next twenty minutes before we move on to snowman making.
A set of heavy eyes on me the entire time doesn’t deter me, and sometimes I even forget that Lainey is watching while she sips from her thermos cup of coffee and occasionally takes a few photos of her son.
It’s only when Enzo accidentally throws a ball of snow at her and it hits her just under her chin that chaos erupts. Lainey stands there in shock that she just became a target.
Her jaw drops theatrically at her son. “Watch out, otherwise I will get you back,” she warns.
He just continues to giggle. “Sorry.”
“Just let her be. Your mom can’t handle snowballs.” I guide him back to our snowman efforts.
But then I feel a cold ball hit my back, and slowly turning on my heel, I see that Lainey just proved me wrong as she proudly brushes her hands free of snow with her thermos at her feet.
“Really? You want to go down this road?” I double-check.
“I did nothing,” she lies playfully.
A switch in me brings out a younger version of myself, and I lean down to sweep up snow to make into a ball then throw one back at her, aiming for her arm.
Then havoc begins. Enzo joins in, we are all chasing one another, Enzo and Lainey team up against me, then Enzo goes rogue and is after both Lainey and me.
Which is how Lainey and I end up lying on the snow trying to avoid a snowball. I’m nearly on top of her, and we both realize it. She’s panting from running around and waits for her breath to calm. I make zero effort to move, including my arm around her waist as I lie on my side. Her eyes are milk chocolate today, and they are staking my own.
It would take one move and I could drop my lips to hers, and I’m concerned that thought crosses my mind, but attraction is attraction. Luckily, the idea exits my brain when Enzo arrives running. Lainey is quick to push me away, and she clears her throat. Standing, she brushes off the white powder.
“Time for a snack? Hot chocolate?” she suggests, as she must sense that he is tired.
“With whipped cream?” he asks, trying his luck.
