But Sutton was wearing thermal long john pants, dark blue with white snowflakes on them, and a white Henley on top.
She looked perfectly adorable, if Charlotte was honest, but she dragged her eyes back up to Sutton’s, arching an incredulous eyebrow. “I’m afraid I didn’t quite pack for the occasion.”
She and Sutton both knew she didn’t own anything close to that.
The most devastating smile flashed over Sutton’s face. “You can borrow mine.”
Charlotte would never turn that down. “Lead the way.”
As Sutton reached down and interlaced their fingers, starting to lead them to her bedroom, she said, “You don’t have to apologize for the second thing.”
It took Charlotte a moment to realize what she was referring to. “About Layla? And her… figuring us out?”
Sutton sighed, giving Charlotte a sidelong glance before she nodded. “Yes. It—you coming here was very sweet. And I realize you arrived hours after I told you Layla was picking Lucy up. Which I appreciate.”
She pushed the door to her bedroom open with her hip as she led them inside.
The last time Charlotte had been in here, she’d experienced some of the best sex of her life. This was a different tone entirely.
But Sutton was talking to her about her life, and they were spending Christmas Eve together while Charlotte would be wearing Sutton’s clothing, sodifferentdid not necessarily equate tobadin this instance.
“I did do that deliberately,” she confirmed, wanting to know it all. She wanted the whole story, everything that Sutton could fill her in on.
Sutton gave her a quick smile. “I know you did.” She let go of Charlotte’s hand as she moved to open one of her drawers. “Laylawassupposed to be here by threeat the latest.” She pursed her lips as she started to rifle through the drawer. “And once she was over an hour late, Lucy very determinedly decided it meant she didn’t have to go anymore.”
Charlotte leaned back against Sutton’s bed as Sutton pulled out a folded shirt and then opened another drawer.
“And this is the part of co-parenting that really sucks because I have to enforce the custody agreement even though I also don’t want her to go. And it’s hard to be truly annoyed at Layla, even though Iam, when she was late because she was called in for an emergency surgery.” Sutton blew out a breath, from somewhere deep inside it seemed, as she pulled out a pair of pajama pants and held them up victoriously.
Charlotte could only look at her with a smile that sheknewlooked absolutely smitten.
Because shewasabsolutely smitten.
Sutton, with her hair haphazardly tossed in a ponytail that she’d undoubtedly worn all day while playing with Lucy, sharing her feelings while offering Charlotte a pair of Christmas pajamas…
Yeah. She was smitten.
“You’re well within your rights to be annoyed,” she assured Sutton when she remembered that she was able to speak and not just stare at Sutton while her heart seemed to beat too fast in her chest.
“Well, it doesn’t really change anything, does it?” Sutton said with a sigh before she shook out her shoulders and handed Charlotte her clothing, a playful grin taking over her lips. “I’d rather focus on this.”
Charlotte would do anything to keep a smile on Sutton’s face.
It was how she found herself wearing her own pair of holiday-themed long johns—hers gray with white snowmen on them, bunched at the ankles, as she presumed they fit Sutton’s longer legs perfectly—and a blue sweatshirt that she, admittedly, really liked.
Mostly because it was extremely comfortable and smelled perfectly of Sutton.
It was how she found herself laughing as they decorated the leftover sugar cookies, the ones that Lucy hadn’t taken to Layla’s.
It was how she found herself placing her gifts—the one she had for Sutton and the one she had for Lucy—under the tree. She had been surprised to see two gifts forherunder there as well, one from Sutton and the other from Lucy.
She’d turned to look at Sutton, wordlessly gesturing at them, as Sutton gave her a sheepish smile. “Oh, it’s—mine’s—it’s nothing, really. We can open them later,” Sutton rushed to say, clearly feeling embarrassed.
It was how she’d found herself sitting through multiple versions ofHow the Grinch Stole Christmas.
“How have you never watched this? Any version?” Sutton asked, disbelieving, as she turned to look at Charlotte on the couch.
Charlotte turned her attention from the television to Sutton. “And how often haveyouwatched it?” she teased, given that Sutton clearly knew most lines.
