He avoids my gaze, thoughts turning inward for a moment. Then he sets the other gifts aside, and tosses the blanket over us as we lie down. The room is dark except for the glow of the lights. I snuggle into his side, arm across his chest and leg over his. It’s a tight fit on the couch, but neither of us care.
I kiss him, searching for the courage to ask what he thought of my family, but the quiet is too relaxing, the soft glow tooinviting. As much as I want to know if tonight was too much for him, I’m beyond tired.
“I’m really glad you were with me tonight,” I say through a yawn.
Warm lips press against my head, and whatever he says is gone in the haze of sleep.
Vince is already awake when I open my eyes the next day. The scent of coffee and bacon drifts over to me from the kitchen. I rub my face and sit up.
Vince’s bare back is inviting as he moves around the kitchen. Forcing myself up, I go to him, wrapping my arms around his stomach from behind. Kissing his neck, I hug him tight. “Morning.”
He smiles over his shoulder.
The light feeling from last night returns when he kisses me.I am so gone for this man.
He reaches for an egg to crack it over a bowl. “I can’t make breakfast if you hold me hostage,” he says, teasing.
I hug him tighter. “Mmm. You’re all the breakfast I need.”
He chuckles, but turns to look at me again, expression unreadable. “Let me do this,” he whispers. I don’t understand his tone. It’s almost pleading. Maybe he needs space?
Pulling away, I pour myself some coffee, then sit at the breakfast bar. I can’t keep my eyes off him as he works, drawn to his smooth, solid physique. But there is something else too—a subtle tension in his shoulders and a determined curve to his lips. He’s hardly spoken ten words to me. Either he’s extremely focused on those eggs or something is on his mind.
I bite my lip. Was it last night? Was I just too wrapped up in my own happiness to see the truth? Did I push him too far?
He’d been wonderful with everyone, laughing and carrying on, and I’d love seeing him connect with my family. But he’d told me he doesn’t do well with crowds, and even work can be too much for him some days. So maybe being forced to socialize for five hours was too draining.
Vince rolls his shoulder again before dumping the eggs into a heated frying pan. It reminds me of all the little moments I’d picked up on last night too—the moments I saw but quickly ignored. All the small hesitations or tiny pauses, like he was bracing himself against the chaos.
Fuck.
We should’ve left sooner or something.
He eventually slides the plate across the counter to me and pulls out a seat. I give him a smile, trying to box up my emotions.
We pick up Georgie a few hours later, play Uno and Mario Kart with her until it’s time for dinner, then I walk Vince to his room in the backyard. He kisses me once, holding my face. It doesn’t push the doubt away, but it turns the volume down some. I hug him tight, wishing more than anything we could sleep together.
We can’t. Not with Georgie here.
But soon.
Hopefully, soon.
The following week and into New Year’s Day is the same. Every morning, I start my day next to him. Every night, he falls asleep in my bed—so long as Georgie isn’t home, anyway.
I’m pretty sure my daughter has caught on to Vince and I, but I don’t have the heart to talk to her about it yet. How can I when Vince and I haven’t even talked about it? We keep dancing around the conversation, as if we’re both afraid of admitting what we already know: thatthis is real. What’s growing between us is real and deep and potentially the best thing to ever happen to either of us—or at least to me.
Does he feel the same?
The Monday after New Year’s Day, I am bombarded with the scent of garlic and olive oil the moment I walk in the door. Bones greets me excitedly as I toe out of my shoes, and I rub his side before walking into the kitchen.
Vince has his back to me at the stove, where two steaks are sizzling in a pan with melted butter. My mouth waters.
I greet him without touching him. “Hey.”
His smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Oh, hey. I didn’t hear you come in.”
He leans sideways to give me a chaste kiss.
