9. Lake
9
LAKE
WREN: Pen thinks you’re still mad at her
I stare at the message, blinking as if that’ll help it make sense as I climb into my truck after a long day at work. Pen thinks I’m mad at her?
LAKE: I’m not
LAKE: I was trying to give her space
WREN: That’s what I said
I sigh, running my hand through my hair because I feel like I’m just spinning my wheels and I’m messing up left and right. Working usually calms my nerves, especially when it’s around Christmas, but not today.
Fuck you, Lake.
That particular phrase had been like a bad penny in my mind, showing up when I least expected it and tanking my mood in an instant.
WREN: She’s going through a lot
LAKE: I know
WREN: You’ll work it out. She loves you.
LAKE: I know. I love her too.
WREN: You guys are so adorable it’s gross
I snort, tossing my phone in the passenger seat, as I let my mind wander the entire drive home. I love it here, the trees and fields and the mountain air—there’s no place like it.
It’s even better now that Pen’s here.
The thought settles something inside me, as I turn down the driveway, resolved to talk to her.
It seems like every light in the cabin is on when I pull up, and it has a smile stretching across my face.
Finally.
I’ll probably need to buy my sister something really nice for Christmas for getting Pen to come out of hiding. Now all I need to do is make sure she talks to me.
With renewed enthusiasm, I climb from the truck and suck in a deep breath, my boots moving me closer toward the door.
And my girl.
Steps heavy on the porch, I pause with my hand on the doorknob, gathering myself, before pushing it open and walking inside.
“Hey,” Pen says with spoon in hand and three different pots on the stove.
“Hey, yourself.” I grin, taking off my jacket and knocking the snow from my boots. “Smells good.”
“I went to see Oma today after Wren came by.” She stares at me pointedly before adding, “Oma gave me an easy recipe to try considering I didn’t have a lot of time.”
Eyeing the stove again, I smirk. “Three pots doesn’t look like an easy recipe.”
“It’s manageable.”
Setting the spoon down, she closes the distance between us and wraps her arms around my waist and sighs.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” I admit because there’s nothing I hate more than fighting with the girl holding me like a lifeline.
“You were right though. I was projecting a lot onto you, and while you could have been a little nicer,”—she tilts her head back to look at me—“I needed to hear it.”
“Your whole life was just upended.”
“It was and it wasn’t. I think everything just became clearer being back in Wintervale.”
“Are you staying?” I ask, not bothering to make a sound as she returns to the stove and resumes stirring something that smells garlicky and delicious.
“I have to go back to Bozeman and talk to Carter,” she says slowly, like she’s still working it out herself. “I need to pack up my stuff and put in my resignation.” My eyes are wide when she meets my gaze. “Typical Wednesday stuff.”
“That’s a lot,” I confess, completely unable to come up with something more creative in this moment.
“It is. And I’m sure Carter will want to make this as painful as possible.” She snorts. “His mother definitely will. But then coming back here, I have no job, no place to live, and no idea what I’m gonna do.” She clicks the dial on the stove to off and beams at me. “And I’m really happy, Lake. I feel so relieved it’s like I forgot how to breathe.”
“I think that’s pretty damn awesome. And you’re welcome to stay here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“And what about us?” Her sweatshirt rides up as she reaches for a couple of plates, a sliver of skin peeking out between the hem and the top of her leggings.
“Hmm?”
Snickering, she sets the plates on the counter and braces her hands on the edge as she stares at me. “You’ve gotten really comfortable staring at my ass already.”
“It’s a really great ass,” I admit, shoving my hands into the front pockets of my jeans.
“Be that as it may,” she draws out, scooping chicken and vegetables for each of us before covering both with a cream sauce, “I kissed you and I liked it, Lake. It wasn’t because of the wedding or letting loose or anything else you want to call it. I want to do it again.”
I swallow hard . What the hell had Pen and my sister talked about today?
“I liked kissing you too. I just…” I rub my palm over my jaw. “What are we talking about here?” She opens her mouth and then closes it, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. “Because I’ll be honest, my father’s excavator is gonna get a lot of use if we hook up and then you decide you want to see other people.”
“That’s kinda hot,” she muses, cutting a bite of her chicken and slipping it into her mouth as we stand adjacent to each other at the island.
“And I’m not even joking.” Her lips wrap around the fork and damn is that hot. Her eyes sparkle like she knows what I’m thinking.
“I don’t want to hook up with you, Lake. I don’t think I can. It was easier to not be consumed by who you were out with when I was with Carter, but I won’t be able to sit around and watch you date other women.”
“So what does that mean? You want to jump straight into being in a relationship? I’m no expert, but I think you’re supposed to take time to process the last one before you start a new one.”
She rolls her eyes as I shove an oversized bite into my mouth. Oma definitely gave her a winner with this one. The sauce is rich and has the perfect kick to it, and if this is supposed to be a seduction tactic, it’s working.
“Normally I’d agree,”—Pen twirls her fork at me—“but we’re adults, Lake.”
“Barely.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“Lake,” she growls, and it’s adorable, her eyes narrowing when I can’t hide my amusement. “Do you want to date other people?”
“No.”
“Then why are we gonna act like this,” she says, waving her hands between us, “isn’t something that’s been on the back burner since we were teenagers? You never asked me out and now here we are ten years later because Carter Hanes did.”
“So it’s my fault?”
“I said what I said.”
I open my mouth to argue but I can’t. Carter beat me to the punch, and I lost a decade with my girl.
“Have I mentioned how much of a douche that guy is?”
“You might have mentioned it.”
“I tried hard not to. You deserved the support.”
“I know.”
“And you’re gonna go back to Bozeman?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow. I figure I’ll be gone a couple of days to tie up any loose ends.”
“Are you gonna stay at the condo?” I ask, willing my heart rate to slow as I wait for her answer. It’s all too fast but hell if I want her under the same roof with him.
“I asked Indie if I can stay with her. I leave in the morning, but I think when I come back, this,”—she motions between us—“is fair game.”
“Valentine’s Day.”
“What? No. And fuck you very much for thinking you can keep your hands off me that long.”
“I like that use of fuck you much better than the last time.”
Her expression softens as she sets her fork down and moves around the island, cupping my face and pressing her lips to mine.
“I’m sorry.” Her words are soft, her body mere inches from me as we stand there. It would be so easy to pull her into me, to relish in the way she fits against me.
Because she does.
She always has.
I just haven’t been able to enjoy it.
“Christmas,” I manage as she pulls back to meet my gaze.
“What about it?”
“We make it to Christmas before we start anything. It’s a few weeks away. I just… I don’t want this to be something we jump into. We know it’s gonna work so let’s not rush it.”
“And you think a few weeks is not rushing it? ” she teases and I’m so damn relieved to have this side of her back. She’d always been so carefree and happy, and I’d watched her lose her spark the longer she was away from Wintervale.
“I think it’s reasonable. Besides, are you saying there’s no part of you that thinks it won’t take some adjusting going from just friends to more?”
“You’ve been fine with shoving your tongue down my throat so far.”
I growl and pin her with my stare. “Pen.”
“Fine, but I won’t give up cuddling.”
“We can agree on cuddling.”
“Kissing?”
“Kissing is a gateway to wanting you naked.”
“You’re being really dramatic.”
“I’m being realistic.”
“Weren’t you the one that just said upgrading from friends was going to be weird?”
Warmth spreads through my chest as I grasp her chin and pull her in for a soft kiss. “You’re worth it.”
“Better save that line for Christmas, Mr. Sterling.”
You can count on it.