To say I’m ecstatic about seeing her again would be ahugeunderstatement. Well, okay, technically, I see her several nights a week when she’s leaving work. Butshedoesn’t know that, and it’s going to stay that way.
Aside from our near-daily text messaging, progress for which I’m very pleased with myself, we haven’t spoken in person in nearly two weeks, not since that day on the ridge when we finally aired everything out.
And kissed.
Fuck me, that kiss was like taking a deep breath after years underwater.
Steph may have kissed me back that first night at the bar, but I know it was a case of her body reacting before her mind had fully caught up, and we both had regrets about how that went down.This time, I could tell she was one hundred percent in it with me. She’d stopped fighting the pull between us andaskedfor it.
She was invested—isinvested, now, I hope.
Still, I’m working on exercising patience where Steph’s concerned. I’m trying hard not to push anything despite the hope that kiss ignited, so celebrating the holiday with her today is a pleasant surprise, and one I won’t take for granted.
I’m looking forward to spending some time with her boys, too, because I know how important they are to her. I’ve realized I actually know very little about them, which is funny considering everyone else around me acts as though it’s all Steph can talk about. I have no doubt it’s true, but she doesn’t offer up much about them with me. It’s strange, but I also know how protective she is of her boys, so it’s maybe not too surprising she would want to keep the two parts of her life separate, at least at first.
And yes, I’m absolutely insinuating myself in there as a part of her life. Fake it ’til you make it and all that. So, yeah, my first two encounters with Alex were decidedly frosty, but I'm hopeful I can win him over eventually. Matt, too, whom I have yet to meet. I know I can do it, though. I just need them to give me a chance.
Jackisthefirstto arrive, bearing pecan pie, and kissing my mom on the cheek as he makes his way into the kitchen. If I weren’t so eagerly awaiting Steph’s arrival, I might dwell on the fact the peck lingers a beat longer than strictly platonic—but they’ve been close for years, all the way back to high school, and for today, I choose not to think too hard about it. I can pick apart my feelings about what might be going on between my dad’s best friend and my mother some other time.
Steph keeps me waiting, though.
Lucy and Noah are next to arrive, also bearing baked goods—dinner rolls from Lucy’s bakery—and some fancy wine Noah apparently picked out. He offers me a polite handshake and a curt nod as I take their coats, then moves into the living room to speak quietly with Jack. Lucy’s greeting is warmer, and we share a quick hug around her growing baby bump. I’m not sure of the proper pregnancy etiquette, so I gesture awkwardly at her belly as we pull apart, murmuring my congratulations.
“Thanks!” she chirps brightly, giving a rub to said belly and glancing around. “Are we the first ones here?”
“Besides Jack, yeah,” I reply, gesturing through the archway to the other room where the two men are now standing. Noah eyes me with a mix of curiosity and warning. The territorial vibes coming off of him are thick, and I’m reminded of the possessiveness both he and Aidan displayed that night I saw them all at Aroma’s.
I want to chuckle, as I had then, but it’d be hypocritical of me because I feel similarly about Steph. I’d nearly lost my shit at the mention of her ‘friend’ and mechanic, Joe. I bite back the growl that wants to rumble up from the depths of my chest at the reminder.
Thank fuck that guy’s not coming today.
“Hi, Chief,” Lucy calls with a wave, before turning back to me. She studies me, a slow grin spreading across her face. “Not to worry, big guy,” she says, moving to step around me. She leans in as she passes, patting me on the chest with a knowing look. “She’ll be along soon enough.”
We’ve all congregated in the kitchen by the time my brother and Piper arrive. Appetizers are set out at the breakfast table rather than in the living room due to the sneaky little pup currently begging determinedly at Jack’s feet. Connor had stolen an entire sandwich off my plate on the coffee table shortly after I’d brought him home, and since then, my mom and I have learned our lesson: no food within his reach. Said reach is ever-evolving, though, as he’s surprised us more than once with the lengths he’ll go to get at something he deems appetizing. He’s a clever little bugger, and I adore him.
Aidan and Piper join us in the kitchen amid a series of happy greetings and a round of hugs between the women. I get one from Piper too, and don’t miss the glare Aidan shoots me over her shoulder. Connor moves quickly to Piper’s side, where she giggles and promptly tosses him a slice of cheese from thecharcuterie board. Lucy joins her, and the pair of them coo over his adorableness. I have to hand it to the little guy; he knows how to work it, blinking up at them with wide, brown, doe eyes that seem to be reserved only for a rare few when food isn’t involved.
I make my way toward my brother, my steps hesitant. He watches my approach with his arms crossed, so I’m off to a great start.
“Hey, Aidan.”
The same glare from earlier is my only response.
“Do you, uh … want a beer?” I try, desperate for some form of interaction with him. At this point, I’ll take anything.
He stares at me coolly, his blue eyes boring deep, then steps around me, nudging my shoulder none too gently as he passes.
“I don’t need you to treat me like a guest in my own home,” he snaps, opening the fridge and extracting his own bottle.
I glance at Piper, who shoots me an apologetic look.
“That’s not what I was doing—”
He snorts and leaves the room. His wife bites her lip, staring after him for a long moment before offering me a sad smile and following.
Things remain awkward after that, with my mom smiling a little too brightly as she passes around some canapes and checks on the turkey. Jack hovers at her side, watching her carefully, and once again I’m struck by the thought that his attention seems a little more than just friendly. I watch as he leans in close,murmuring softly to her at one point, and she nods, patting his arm reassuringly.
Hmm.
