As we showered together, I realized I was really happy, and this was what life with him could look like. Getting ready together every morning. Me heading into the office while he went off to the restaurant to get things started for the day. We’d meet up back at home for dinner, or go out to Alejandro’s for a beer. And every night, we’d go to bed together.
“Do you want kids?” he asked out of the blue on the way to my parents’ house.
I looked over at him. “Uh…not right this minute, but maybe eventually. Do you?”
He smiled, and his dimple popped. “Yeah, I think I might. Christmas always makes me think about it.”
I knew he was thinking about his ex and what happened. I reached for his hand and laced our fingers together.
“There are a lot of kids out there that need good homes. I’ve always wanted to give one or two of them a new life with a family. I could see myself cooking breakfast for them before school, heading to baseball practice or gymnastics or horseback riding.”
I just listened to him and tried to picture us doing that together. It wasn’t hard to do. He’d be a great dad.
“I think that’s a beautiful picture.”
Preston squeezed my hand and glanced toward me. “Can you see yourself in that picture with me and my seven kids?”
My pulse sped up, but could I see it? I grinned because there was no way in hell he’d want seven kids. “Yeah, I think I could.”
“Good, but you’ll have to propose to me. I’m batting 0% on that one.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, okay. I’ll think about it and take it under advisement.”
While I loved knowing he was thinking about a future, it also formed a knot in my stomach, knowing I would have a big decision to make soon.
Preston pulled up in the driveway of my parents’ home and parked the car. We got out and went to the trunk to gather everything we’d brought. My dad came out to help.
“Merry Christmas boys!” my dad called. “What can I carry?”
My dad hugged me, then Preston. It warmed my heart how much they liked him and made him feel welcome. “Merry Christmas, Dad. Can you grab the boxes in the backseat?”
“Sure. Did you make these, Preston? I’ll need to sample them first.”
My boyfriend laughed. “Well, my brother actually made them. He sent them from Colorado yesterday.”
Memories of that delivery made my cheeks heat.
“Simmer down there, hot stuff,” he whispered in my ear. “We’ll revisit the sofa when we get home.”
I looked up at him. “How did you know…”
He grinned at me. “I can read you like a dirty book, sweetheart.”
Well, that wasn’t good.
* * *
After lunch,we were about to exchange gifts when the doorbell rang. My grandparents were spending the holidays with my aunt and uncle in Vancouver, so I knew it wasn’t them.
Preston and I were gathering our gifts for everyone when Nickie called my name.
“Uh, Nick. You have a visitor.”
I looked up at her, and the huge man that had once owned my heart, standing beside her. He looked nervous as he stood there waiting for my shock to wear off, then gave me a sheepish smile.
“Hey, Nick.”
I stood immediately. “Evan. What are you doing here?”
