Chapter 6
Six
AIDYN
Fifteen Days until Christmas
I’m worried about Garrett. His parents are driving him bonkers. And he’s stressed about the zombie wedding this weekend. There’s been no Christmas planning or naked time. The only moments we get are the daily kisses.
“The kisses Advent calendar was a very good idea, but one we can improve on next year,” Garrett says when we meet for Advent kiss number ten after he gets off work.
Mind you, it’s ten at night, and the diner is already closed. We’re on the bench in the garden and Garrett is sitting on my lap. The trees mostly hide us from view. We’re only visible from the kitchen and my bedroom. As long as Lanie doesn’t come downstairs and look outside, we’re fine.
“Aidyn? Are you listening to me?”
“You said you’re excited for Christmas next year. Was there more?”
He chuckles as he runs his fingers through my hair. “I know how to improve the Advent calendar.” His lips are cold on the side of my face. “I think you’re going to want to hear this.”
“I’m listening.”
“Next year, we need something to unwrap.”
My cock jumps, liking that idea. “Unwrap?”
His fingers play with the button on my shirt. It’s not as cold as usual, so my coat is open at the top. “Let me demonstrate.” He unfastens a button and kisses the exposed skin underneath.
I shift his body so he can feel how much I like his idea. “A different place to unwrap each day?”
“Uh-huh. But you have to make it to the end to unwrap the grand prize.” His hand slips between us.
“The grand prize?” I spread my legs farther apart, and Garrett rests his hand on my inner thigh.
“I’ll definitely look forward to Christmas if I get to unwrap this.” He traces his knuckles over my cock, and even through the cloth, it feels so good.
“Garrett,” I moan.
“Yes, sweetheart. You want me to unwrap something else?”
“I want you to stop fucking teasing me. I want to fuck your arse until you—”
The light in the kitchen turns on.
“Fuck.” I try to push Garrett off me, but he’s just too big. “Garrett.”
“Stop. As long as we don’t move, no one can see us.”
Right. He’s right, but my heart is pounding so hard I feel sick. Then the light goes out. Does that mean she can see us now?
“Look.” He points to a light at the end of the house that we can barely see. Lanie’s room. “See? Everything’s fine.” He stands, and I want to pull him back onto my lap. His shoulders are stiff and he’s not looking at me.
“Garrett?”
“I need to go.”
I jump up and pull him closer to the big oak tree. “Are you upset with me?”
“No. It’s the wedding this weekend. People don’t understand that the more props you use, the more likely something will go wrong.”
I don’t believe him. Not completely. This is about me and my reaction to anyone knowing about us. I’d promised that when he moved back to Mule Creek, I’d be ready to tell everyone. But I wasn’t. The thought of telling everyone still filled me with panic. And if I’m being honest, it still does.
Our kisses on Thursday and Friday are just that. Quick pecks to fill the requirement. Are we going backward?
But these are our busiest days of the week.
Ramon is mostly back to normal. At least no visible mooning.
And Lanie has taken to ignoring me. I know she’s busy with school, but she’s also upset that I won’t let her learn how to drive.
I’m just not ready. Accidents involving teen drivers are plentiful.
And I just can’t do it. Maybe after the holidays. After winter and bad roads.
The weekend rushes by, and I realize we’re less than two weeks away from Christmas. We still need to get Garrett’s place ready. And Garrett.
I get a call from Garrett Saturday night. “I can’t leave. This wedding is getting out of hand. Can you come here?”
“I can’t crash someone’s wedding, love.”
There’s laughter and music in the background. “I could meet you outside the event hall. Out by the big willow tree.”
I love that tree. But I don’t mention that. “What time?”
So that’s how kiss number thirteen happens. I end up at a zombie wedding, making out with Garrett Bishop behind the majestic willow tree while drunk partygoers wander close to our meeting spot. At one point, they’re retrieved by one of Garrett’s employees.
“Who’s that?”
“The twelve-year-old.”
“Right. Jonah. Do you just stare at those muscles all day?”
“Are you jealous?”
“Why would I be jealous? He might get to look at you—and I’ve seen the way he looks at you—but I get to touch.”
He puts his head against mine. “I wish you got to touch more. It’s been forever.”
“I’m open to suggestions.” Except telling everyone.
“After the party, we could go to my house and fuck.”
I groan. “When is the party over?”
“Probably around three in the morning.”
My scream is muffled by Garrett’s chest. “That’s when I’ll be getting up to bake the bread.”
“Fuck. This is impossible.”
But it doesn’t stop us from sharing a few more kisses.
Eleven Days until Christmas
On Sunday, Garrett arrives at the diner looking bleary-eyed and grumpy. I used to be considered the grumpiest person in town. But Garrett might win the title today. I bring him coffee he didn’t order, just the way he likes it.
“God, I love you,” he says just as Mrs. Weppler walks by. Her mouth drops open and Garrett points to his cup. “I’m talking to my coffee.”
She glances at me and nods. “Christy.”
“Lorrainne. Have a good day.”
Her eyes narrow, and I remember her telling me once to stop being nice to her. But at least she’s no longer focused on Garrett.
I grab a cup and tell Ramon I’m taking a break.
“Are you sure it’s okay to sit with me?”
He’s still salty. That’s just grand.
“You’re my brother-in-law.”
“Right. Thanks for the coffee.”
I glare at him. “Garrett Bishop, sit your stubborn arse down.”
“Or what?”
I jump to my feet. “You said I could have more time,” I say in a harsh whisper. “Have you changed your mind on that?”
His jaw is tight, but he shakes his head. I raise my brows, and he knows what I want. “No. I haven’t changed my mind.”
I poke him in the chest. “Then quit fucking punishing me for it.”
“Da? Is everything okay?” She glances at Garrett.
“It’s fine. We’re fine. Right, Aidyn?”
I nod. “We’re fine, lass. Just a disagreement.”
“Are you sure?” Her eyes wander over to a table by the wall. Zoey. And the boyfriend. I hold in my sigh.
“Go on, lass. We’re fine.”
She walks away, glancing at us every so often.
“Sit, Aidyn.”
“That was my line.”
“Please?”
I drop into my chair and take a sip of my coffee. “My break is almost over.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you so grumpy?” I ask, truly wanting to know, which is nothing new. I want to know everything about Garrett.
He twirls his cup. “I went home after the wedding to find my mother had rearranged my office.”
“She didn’t!”
“She did. I was grumpy when I went into work this morning to help clean up, and Nat called me McScrooge—” His eyes widen like he hadn’t meant to say that.
“Well, she’s wrong. McScrooge doesn’t fit you at all.”
“It doesn’t?” He brushes his hand against mine, and it feels like an apology.
“Not at all. You love spending money. Especially on people you care about.”
“That’s true. She says I’m a grump who hates Christmas. And she’s not wrong.”
“If anything, you’re a McGrinch.”
“Oh God. Never tell her.”
I laugh. “So, what are you going to do about your mother?”
He holds his hands out in a what-can-I-do gesture. “I’m taking off work.”
“For a day or two?” Has he ever taken off for more than that?
“No. I’m taking off from now until Christmas.”
“You’re taking off work.” I tap the table for emphasis. “For the next eleven days. Are you serious about this?”
“Absolutely. Otherwise, she’ll rearrange my entire house. Plus, we have to work on this Christmas stuff, right?”
I grin, not caring who sees. Ramon catches my gaze, and I nod. “I have to get back to work, but you deserve a reward. Advent kiss number fourteen.”
“Where and when?”
“Pantry in twenty minutes. Get those lips ready for kissing.”