Page 35

Kate

It’s definitely November. The night’s chill has us both snuggling closer as we walk the few houses it takes to get to mine.

“It was great to have you there today. I will actually look forward to family holidays now.” He laughs really hard before saying, “You complete me.” I practically cackle at his cheesy line. How many times have we laughed at that one during the many movies we’ve watched together?

He throws his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in tight. I wrap an arm around his back.

“I had to say it. Seriously though, I felt like I had it all today. You make me happy.”

I squeeze him back tight with my arm.

“You make me happy too.”

“Did my mom or sister give you any crap?”

“Oh, most definitely. You seriously never in all these years brought a girl home?”

“They were never who I intended to share a life with.” He tenses a little, like he thinks he said too much. He goes silent, thinking of what to say next. Warm fuzzies spread through me at the notion that he wants a future with me.

“So you love me that much do ya?” I give him a little banter to ease his thoughts. I’m not bolting.

He swings me around and laces his fingers behind my back, walking me backward, and I snicker. I trust he won’t let me fall.

“I love you that much, Kate Morgan.” My breath catches in my throat at his confession, and he takes my lips before I can get it back.

He lets me swing back to his side, and we keep walking.

“Your mom wasn’t quite as bold about it, but she alluded to wanting at least three more grandbabies. You’re sister? She told me to get on that. She wants a niece.”

He stops dead in his tracks and his eyes twinkle in the moonlight. We both just look at each other and burst back into a laughter that warms our souls. He’s speechless and just shakes his head.

Landon kisses me goodnight at the door and promises to sneak in through the window in a bit. I wait by the window to see that he gets home fine, and he waves as he steps in.

Mom’s already in her room for the night since she’s planning on starting in the kitchen super early. I hear her TV on low as I pass by on my way to my room. When I open my door, I’m met with a chilly breeze. I furrow my brow wondering how in the world Landon or I forgot to close my windo

w this morning. I could’ve sworn I’d seen Landon do that before I crept off to shower and he snuck out the front door. Guess I was wrong. My mom knocks.

“Kate?” She peeks her head in. “Did you just get in?” Her brow furrows and I see where I got it from. “Brrr. Did you leave your window open?”

“Yeah, I just got in. I must’ve. I could’ve sworn it got shut this morning. I must’ve got sidetracked.”

“That’s funny.” She purses her lips and shrugs her shoulders. “Goodnight hun, love you.”

“Night, love you Momma.” I blow a kiss with my lips, and she shuts the door. I go to press my thumb to Dad’s picture, but it’s in a different place.

“Hmmm. Landon must’ve moved you. Night, Daddy.” I press my thumb to my lips and transfer my kiss to his face as I move it to the right six inches where I prefer it to be.

I strip and get into a silky tee and sleep shorts. Something a little different for Landon. I curl up in my bed and pick up my Kindle. Tuesday, I downloaded a pretty-looking book by an author I’ve never read before. Entangled by R. Phillips.

From searching on Goodreads, it supposedly gives off Flock vibes, which is the first book in a series by Kate Stewart that I have read. That whole series was amazing. I sobbed like a baby through a bunch of it, but it was so worth it. This book so far is awesome . I catch the vibes, but it definitely does its own thing. The love story between the two main characters is epic.

I’m swiping at tears a couple hours later when I see Landon’s worried face sliding through my window. The cool breeze is a reprieve for my hot cheeks.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” He crawls onto my bed, taking the Kindle from my hands and setting it on the nightstand.

“He...he’s gone, and she...she’s broken. I just can’t.” I talk with my hands, sobbing and pointing at the tablet, and Landon sighs and smirks. He gets a kick out of how invested I get into the books I read.

“It’ll all be okay. You’ll see.” Soothing cool fingers rub up and down my arm.

“Will it though? There was that one book you said that, then Dominic died and my heart cracked with it! Fuck...”

Landon giggles and chucks my chin softly with his knuckles.

“I do like how soft these are though.” His fingers skim over the silk of my pjs.

“Come on, it’s late. Bedtime.” Landon undresses and crawls back in, pulling me close and tucking covers around us. His body is still chilly from his quick trek over.

“Warm me up, darlin.” He blows into my neck, and I shiver, squealing quietly as he scissors his cold feet with mine.

“Mmm...that’s much better.”

“I’ll bet,” I deadpan, and his shoulders shake with his silent laughter.

I wake in the early hours of Thanksgiving morning with a weird feeling in my stomach. I can’t place it. Something woke my subconscious. I look around, but nothing seems out of place. Landon snores softly beside me. I lay back down and tell myself it’s all okay. I probably just had a dream that I don’t remember. I fall back asleep.

At six thirty, I shake Landon awake, and he sits up slowly. Then his eyes pop open when he sees the time.

“Shit, you think I’ll still be able to sneak out?’

I point to my cracked bedroom door and smile sheepishly.

“I’m assuming the cat’s out of the bag. She must’ve peeked in on me earlier and didn’t want to wake us.”

He sighs in defeat but kisses me quickly and hops up, pulling on his clothes haphazardly.

“I bet my parents will be awake by now too to witness my walk of shame.”

I roll my eyes.

“Do you actually feel ashamed?”

He pushes me back down onto the bed and cages me in with his arms.

“Not one.” Kiss. “Damn.” Kiss. “Bit.”

He nips my shoulder and winks before he slinks out the door.

I sigh contentedly and gather my stuff to go take my shower. I keep getting that weird feeling while washing my hair. I still can’t place it.

When I finish toweling off and step out, I realize the bathroom door is cracked. What the hell? Did mom peek in to make sure I didn’t have Landon in here? I snicker at that idea. Knowing her, she typically makes her presence known. Whatever.

?

Landon

Our midday feast goes off without a hitch. I only caught Kate swooning over me and little Will a million times. What’s that phrase women use all the time? Oh yeah...Her uterus was glowing. Her ovaries were screaming at her. However you want to put it, I saw her biological clock start ticking, and it was hilarious. And surprisingly hot. I ate that shit up and cranked it up to my advantage.

She’s all fidgety now. Playing with my hair and giving me little touches anywhere she can get her fingers on me. I might totally dig this whole cat in heat, put a baby in muh belly vibe she’s casting. I know we aren’t there yet, but I don’t mind practicing. Leave it to Molly though to make a comment.

“You need one of those.” She smiles at me and eyes Kate in the other room. Thankfully, Kate didn’t hear that.

“What does he need?” Kate drifts into the room, sipping on her freshly filled wine glass.

I eye Molly with the universal “don’t you dare” look, but it’s pointless. I huff out my embarrassment as Molly nods and points at Will.

“One of those.” She beams at Kate. “Don’t you think he looks good playing on the floor with a tiny?” Her eyelashes flutter all innocently, but she knows the fire she’s playing with.

“That he does,” Kate admits, color pinking up those pretty cheeks. Damn, I love it when she blushes.

“Here you go!” I stand up and scoop up Will, tossing him into the air, and he belly laughs. Best sound ever, so I do it again and again. We’re all laughing with him by the time I’m done getting all the baby giggles out. I plop the happy baby in Molly’s arms and grab Kate’s hand.

“On that note, before Mom starts in, Kate and I have to head to her place. Adam is probably already there, and Elsie might need some help before dinner. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!” I holler that last part, pulling Kate up beside me. I take her glass of wine and hand it to Molly.

“Take care of this, will ya?” I give Molly my best debonair smile, grab our coats, and push Kate out the door.

“What the hell was that, Brooks?” She cutely shoots me those dagger eyes with a hand on her hip once outside.

“I was saving you. Molly was just getting started, and once Mom caught wind of it, it would’ve never stopped.”

“I feel like I didn’t get to give a proper goodbye. I don’t like feeling rude.”

“Believe me, the guys were already in football mode, and the gals know what they were up to. It’s all good. The only thing mom will be offended with is that she didn’t get her two cents in about how we need to look for a ring and start popping out babies.”

That leaves her mouth gaping, and I bloop her bottom lip. She can’t stay mad anymore.

“Okay then. Mom really might need my help anyway.” We’re almost to her place when she stops, squinting up at the second-story landing window.

“Did you see that?”

“See what?” I search but don’t see anything.

“I’m not sure. I thought I saw movement in the window. I think I should wait a little for my next glass of wine.”

I grab her hand again and lead her across the street. Adam’s car is in the drive. We get inside and make quick work of our coats. The smells are delicious. I ate a ton at noon, but I can eat again. It’s been like six hours.

“Mom, we’re back!”

“In here, hun!” Elsie hollers from the kitchen, and we follow the sound.

Elsie introduces us formally to Adam as Adam starts pouring wine into glasses for all of us. We thank him when he passes them all around. Adam asks Kate and I about our studies. Kate politely asks how Lindsay is doing. It’s that whole dance of easy icebreaker conversation.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz . I pull my phone out and see that it’s Mason.

“Hey man, Happy Thanksgiving,” I speak into the phone.

“Go turn on Channel 4 news right now.”