Page 12 of It Never Happened (Nilsson Family #1)

Courtney

J ack loads his two suitcases and a giant bag into the back of my truck and we drive back to my house. My heart is in my throat the entire time because this feels different. This feels like we are moving back into familiar territory, and I don't know how to compartmentalize the feelings.

Having him and our son in my truck, in the snow, in our hometown , feels like the life we dreamed about as kids.

Maybe we never should have left Bluemoon. Maybe we never should have looked for bigger and better.

Maybe we never would have made it even if we stayed.

My mind churns with every possibility but still, this man next to me lights me up like no one else.

“So did they promise us eight inches and everyone is hunkering down, or what?”

I roll my eyes and let out a little huff.

“How many inches will keep us inside?”

I side-eye Jack. His dirty smirk tells me exactly what he’s trying to do. “Bob keeps me busy with a full ten. ”

Jack's head snaps towards me so fast I think he may have whiplash. “Who the fuck is Bob?”

I give a smug grin as I turn into my driveway and throw the truck in park. “Just someone I know.”

“The fuck it is.”

“Jealous?”

“Irate.”

“You're so dramatic.” I undo my seatbelt and open the door, climbing out into the ankle deep snow. Jack gets out just as fast and is around to my side of the door before I’ve even closed it.

“Tell me.” His lips are tight and his eyes are wild.

And I feel twenty-one again. Back to the time I used to push his buttons just to see how much it would take before he was on me, proving he was my one and only.

But I can't play this game anymore, even if I want to with everything inside me. It’s too dangerous.

“Look up Urban Dictionary and type in B-O-B.” I spell the name. “And grab the bags while I wake Joey.”

He holds my stare for a moment longer before backing away and opening the hatch. We lug everything inside and I place Joey on the couch, letting him slowly come awake.

I flick the television on low and watch for a moment. “Reports are all over. Anywhere from a foot to four could drop in the next forty eight hours.”

“Insane. It’s something I’ve lost touch with since moving to New York. We just don’t get snow like that.”

“Mmhm.” I walk back into the kitchen and begin putting all the groceries away.

“Are you over your tantrum? Did you learn something new today?” I can’t help but goad him.

It’s like my brain is reverting back to when we were kids.

This snowstorm is not helping. My body shivers when I feel his hot breath on my ear .

“You’re still a fucking tease, Coco.” His hand is on my hip, and he gives a slight squeeze before moving away from me just as fast as he came.

I stay still for just a moment, catching my breath.

“Mom?”

I spin around to see Joey. “Hey, babe. Did you have a nice nap?”

He’s rubbing his eyes and focusing on everything around him. “Did you get me drive-through?”

I chuckle. “I did. Your dad brought it in from the truck. It’s on the table.” He jumps onto his seat and digs into the bag.

“I’m glad you're here, Dad. I’m sure Mom is glad you were here to bring the bags in from the truck.”

“Anything I can do to help, Joey.”

“It’s something she struggles with, so I'm glad you were here to do it while I was sleeping.”

My eyes narrow on their little exchange. “I’m capable of bringing in bags from the truck, Joe.”

“I know you are. You’re a super mom! But I’m just saying it’s easier if someone else does it. Like Dad.” He concentrates hard on his food before giving a quick look under his lashes to his father, who’s grinning at him.

“Your mom should come with a warning, Joe. She’s feisty today.”

He giggles and swings his feet in the chair.

“What are you two up to?”

“Nothing,” they reply in unison.

Jack ruffles his hair and stands, walking to the front hall again, gathering his coat and boots. “I’m going to grab a shovel and salt the walk to the truck, just in case we have to get out. Is there anything else we’re missing? I can run out now. ”

“No, I think we’re fine.”

“What about Santa? Will he be able to get here?” Joey asks with concern.

Jack comes back over and bends down to his level. “Dude! Santa is magic. Don’t you know the North Pole gets three times as much snow as we do? Santa’s a pro. I bet he sleeps on a bed of snow!”

“But I bet the North Pole has bigger equipment than we do to plow it all. What if the snow is falling so fast he can’t see?”

I watch as Jack brushes the hair out of his face.

“I’ll tell you a secret.” I smile as Joey’s eyes get wide and Jack leans in closer.

“I know for a fact Santa has special goggles he wears to get through all the weather. Sometimes it is rainy, sometimes the snow is heavy, and sometimes the moon is so full and bright he needs sunglasses at night!” Joey and I both chuckle at that.

“So don’t you worry about him getting here.

We’re going to have the best Christmas. I promise. ”

“I hope so, Dad.” Jack kisses his forehead and stands, turning to me and giving a little wink, and my heart completely seizes in my chest. I want this for Joey all the time. He needs his dad. I wish Jack would see that.

“Is Joey asleep?” I ask as I hear Jack approach. I’m cleaning up from dinner and trying to keep my heart and my thoughts under control.

“He is. I didn’t think he’d ever settle down.” Jack chuckles.

“Oh, I know. The first day you arrived he was so excited, he couldn't sleep then either.”

Jack stands at the kitchen door looking out. “This snow is really coming down. Are you sure you have everything we need for the next few days?”

I nod. “Whatever we don’t have, we’ll just have to make do without. We won’t starve, that's for sure. Especially if we really do get snowed in and no one makes it here for Christmas dinner.”

He turns back from the kitchen, and having him here, this normal conversation about Christmas dinner, is unsettling to me. Because it feels familiar, it feels normal, and it feels like I really miss it.

“Do you want a glass of wine?” He’s already pulling a bottle from the fridge, and I walk to the cabinet and grab two glasses.

“Sure.” I place them down and he opens the bottle smoothly and pours. Handing one glass to me, he takes the other and clinks it with mine. We walk into the living room and take spots next to each other on the couch.

“Wow, snowed in. It’s been many years since that’s happened.” His smirk lets me know he remembers the first time we were snowed in together.

It was three nights before we decided to leave this town.

His parents had gone skiing for the weekend and were staying at the Bluemoon Luxury.

I said I was staying at January’s house, and instead I stayed with Jack.

It was one of the most romantic nights we ever had, and one of the few and far between where we weren’t fighting. Not even on purpose.

He knew to make it special. It was the first time for each of us and we knew we wanted it to be with each other. Even then, he took his time, knowing how to make it good for me before making it good for himself.

“Many years.”

“We’ve had many together. ”

I nod. “And it feels like just as many apart.” We’re silent for a moment, the house so quiet and peaceful you can actually hear the snow falling.

“Do you remember the time we skipped class to go to the lake with everyone?”

I smile. “I do. It was so hot that day. We had those torrential rains, and then the air just fell flat and muggy.”

“Lief thought he was so smart and wanted to ride through the trails to get there before us. I told him he was going to get stuck.”

I chuckle and take a sip. “Of course Meadow was daring him too. She didn’t help the situation.”

He turns to face me. “Oh, I spoke with her new boy toy down at Swoops two nights ago.”

“Is that where you were coming from when you were banging on my door at an ungodly hour?” I purse my lips and raise a brow, clearly he’s caught out.

He drops his head and shakes it, his hair hanging over his forehead before he picks his head back up to meet my eyes, brushing his hair away.

Fuck, he’s hot.

“I had good intentions,” he says sheepishly.

“Sure you did.”

“Anyway, yeah, his name is Cole.”

I nod. “I’ve met him a couple of times. We had girls’ night there a few weeks back. It was kind of fun watching the two of them banter back and forth. I’ve never met anyone strong enough to rope her in, but he may be able to do it.”

“I know another woman like that.”

My eyes flutter. “I was not like her at all.”

“You were close.” He’s teasing.

“I was not, and you know it! I only gave you a hard time; she likes to do it to everyone.”

“I was the only one who could handle you. Just like him with her.” He raises a brow, almost a dare for me to not agree with him.

“You liked to provoke me.” I take another sip and side-eye him. “Still do.”

He inches closer to me, facing me with one leg bent and one arm stretched along the length of the top of the couch. He’s close enough that he brushes my hair from my shoulder and squeezes it. My body instantly feels hot and my pull toward this man is still as strong as ever.

“Guilty,” he says, and we both huff a laugh, but mine is more so out of nervousness.

Silence falls in the room again, and I don't know if it's the wine, the snow, or just having him physically sitting here next to me, but I’m really happy he’s here and it’s scaring me.

There’s so much I want to say to him, but I don’t know if I can open that door again.

I take another sip of liquid courage and decide to just say what I’m thinking.

“I’m glad you’re here, Jack.”

“I’m glad I’m here too, Coco. So much.” Our eyes linger on each other, and when his drop to my lips then dart back up, I know what's coming.

And I can let it happen. I can let us have one more night together.

Or I can stop it right here. I can get up and go to my room, lock the door, and wait for morning.