The ghost of his fingers inside me has my walls pulsing. This man and his mouth.
How’s Theo?
…
Three dots appear on screen, then disappear. Next thing, my phone lights up green with a video call. I swipe up to accept and lie back on my bed, holding the phone above me.
He’s in bed too, with a grey padded headboard behind him. “There you are. I wanted to see you before I went to sleep. Teddy’s here.” He pans the camera to the side of him. A sleeping six-year-old is curled up in Nick’s bed, snuggling a reindeer plush toy. “His temp has come down a little after I dosed him up on medicine.” He strokes the boy’s forehead as if feeling his temperature again. “I’ll not make it in tomorrow. I don’t want to leave him when he’s poorly. The childminder’s still taking care of her mother.”
“I can always come and watch him if you need to get some work done.”
“Thanks, Joy. I’ll see how he is over the next few days. That would be a huge help. He asked about you tonight.”
“Oh?”
“Asked if he had the same flu you had on Saturday.”
“I think that was more humili-itus.” I smile. “Mixed with a cold from walking home in the rain.”
“What have you been doing?”
“WatchedThe Knight Before Christmas.”
“Never seen it.”
“It’s a Christmas romcom.”
“I bet you likeThe Holiday.”
“I do likeThe Holiday. Jude Law is hot.”
He gives me an eye roll with full green-eyed monster behind them.
“But I think I actually preferBad Santa.”
A smirk quirks his lip. A small silent laugh rocks his chest.
“What’s funny about that? He’s grumpy and doesn’t like Christmas. He could almost be you. LikeThe Grinchmovie.”
His fingers scratch the bristles on his jaw. “Perhaps having you this year, my heart will grow three sizes.”
I snort. “Well, you’re already smiling a little more, so who knows? Maybe Christmas miracles do happen.”
He stares into the screen. “I wish I was there now to kiss away that sass.”
“Me too.”
The covers shift next to him.
“I’m gonna go. I don’t want to wake Teddy.”
“Okay.” I bite my lip before I say what I want to say, but it’s ridiculously too soon. We’ve just made out. I might have been in love with him all year, but I’m sure this is still quite new to him.
“Night, little star.”
“Night, Nick.”
The phone goes black and I bring it close to my chest and close my eyes. Is this really my life now? I’ve never had a proper boyfriend before. Only the book kind. The popcorn I’ve eaten is multiplying in my belly as small pops fire off inside me. My chest expands with warmth as the excitement in me bubbles over.
