I nodded, reverting back to clamped-lips status.
“Then good night.”
“Good night,” I murmured.
I watched him leave, then slapped my forehead. “Coward,” I groused.
Thirty-Two
Driving from Kentucky to Colorado had taught Chris that road trips with kids were full-on events. Packing up a car for a measly drive to Keystone Resort should’ve been much easier. Yet Erykah had stuffed item after item into her car until he informed her there was no more room for anything else. They were only going to be at the lodge for a week, having both agreed it would be better to spend Christmas at the house than at a ski lodge.
Plus, he’d managed to arrange for Lamont and Tuck to join them. They were bringing Nevaeh and Piper, and for once, Chris wouldn’t be the odd man out. He hadn’t told Erykah yet, but hopefully she’d enjoy the surprise. He had it on good authority that she and Piper had connected well and were messaging on a daily basis. He wasn’t sure if they actually talked on the phone or stuck to texts, but Tuck seemed to think Piper couldn’t wait to come to Colorado. That had to be a good thing, right?
“We’re here,” Erykah announced.
Chris put the vehicle in park, thankful Cheyenne would finally stop asking, “Are we there yet?”
“I’ll go check in.”
Erykah nodded.
He went inside and checked in, opting to use the hotel app instead of getting keycards to cut down on waste. As he turned to walk outside, someone called his name.
Lamont strolled across the lobby toward him. A few people did double takes, but when they saw Chris and recognition failed, they went back to their personal conversations. Most likely they’d assumed they weren’t really looking attheLamont Booker simply because they didn’t recognize Chris.
Lamont gave Chris’s back a slap. “Hey, man. I didn’t realize you guys were here already.”
“I just checked us in. I’m about to lug everything to the rooms. You won’t believe how much Erykah packed.”
“Well, y’all do have a baby with you.” Lamont smirked.
“Wait until you meet the kids. They’re great.”
Lamont studied him. “You like her.”
“What do you mean?” Chris resisted the urge to shift back and forth on his feet.
“Erykah. Youlikeher, like her.”
Chris could feel the back of his neck heating up. “Maybe.”
“I know you two haven’t gone out. We would’ve heard something. And it’s not like you to keep something like that a secret. So what’s the issue?” Lamont folded his arms. “Is it the kids?”
“No, of course not.” Chris removed his beanie, running his hand over his hair. “She’s grieving. Her life’s been turned upside down.”
“Hmm. Have you prayed about asking her out?”
Chris blinked. He’d talked to God about it. GodknewErykah was grieving. The whole instance at Thanksgiving showed that. Not to mention Cameron pointing out that Chris was on his own journey with grief. But what specifically had he told the Lord? Basically what he’d told Lamont.
“I mean, everything I just told you I told Him.”
“Were you asking God to give you wisdom, intervene, or just telling Him how it is and how you’ll respond?”
Why did something like conviction prick at him? “The ... latter?”
Lamont arched a brow.
“Okay. We’ll pick this up later.” After he could ask for forgiveness and not feel shameful for not asking God for direction. “I gotta help Erykah.”
