Chapter 35 Only For You
Everett
December Twenty-Third
Claire seemed lighter after last night with Lolly, Aster, and Cami. While I know those women could never take the place of her sister, it was nice to see her enjoy herself with people who think of her as a friend.
“I was thinking we skip Stella’s today and just grab some coffee from Citrine Brews,” Claire says, walking out of her closet.
She’s wearing black leggings, fur lined boots with white socks, and a pink and white checked jacket.
Her hair is pulled up out of her face, and a thick, light pink headband covers her ears.
“Sounds good to me.”
We walk toward the front door to grab our coats and then begin the short trek to the coffee shop, and I instinctively take her hand in mine. Her eyes find where we connect, and a soft smile breaks across her face.
“I like holding your hand,” she admits.
“Me too,” I say, trying to play it cool, but on the inside, a full on celebration is happening. She’s starting to fall for me. She likes to hold my hand. Fuck, that feels so good to hear.
“I also like kissing you,” she says, glancing in my direction.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” she says, tipping the corners of her mouth upward.
Pulling her into me, she pushes up on her toes. My hands caress her face, and our lips meet. She giggles against me as her arms find my back, and I kiss her like no one else in this world or any other world exists.
“Ewwwww,” a little voice calls, interrupting us. Stopping, we both turn to find Fen, Ginger’s son, standing behind us.
“Hey, Fen,” I say, chuckling as Claire’s cheeks turn a rosy pink.
“What happened?” Cori, his brother, asks, running to meet us with both of their sisters close behind.
“Coach and Mrs. Claire were kissing,” Fen explains to them.
Cori gags. “Yuck. That’s so gross.”
“So gross,” Fen agrees, causing Claire to giggle.
“Kids, get back here,” Rusty calls from the front porch of their house. “You know you aren’t supposed to be outside without your coats.”
“Hey, Rusty,” I wave.
“Sorry about them,” he says.
“Don’t be,” Claire assures him.
“Tag, you’re it!” Fen yells, slapping his brother across the back and then taking off through the snow-covered yard.
“You’re dead!” Cori yells, running after him.
The two girls follow after their brothers, giggling and singing some nursery rhyme about me and Claire kissing and it leading to a baby in a carriage.
“If we were staying in this town longer, I’d make them skate sprints at practice for interrupting that kiss.”
“No, they were cute,” she says. “Plus, I promise we can pick up where we left off later.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” she says, her eyes twinkling with something that makes my cock strain against the inside of my pants. “Now come on. I need coffee, and then I’d like to get back to the house. I have plans for you.”
“Oh, do you?”
She flashes me a flirty smile, and we begin walking again. This time she grabs my hand first, and my heart leaps in my chest as we continue down the street.
“Do you want kids?” she asks when we make it to town.
“Kids?”
“Yeah, I don’t know. The girls’ song made me think about it. Not right now obviously…or even with me…shit…”
“Have I ever told you you’re cute when you get flustered?”
She shoves me playfully with her shoulder.
“I’ve honestly not given it much thought,” I say. “What about you?”
“When I’m done with ballet, I think it would be nice to have a couple. I could never have six like Ginger, but the idea of creating a family like the one I grew up with sounds nice.”
“I don’t have what you have with your family, but the idea of creating that, with the right person…”
With you.
“...does sound nice.”
Silence stretches between us.
“I think I’d want a dog too,” I add.
“A dog?”
“Yeah, I can’t have one with hockey, but when I do finally settle down, I think I’d want a dog.”
“What kind of dog?”
“Something that looks tough but secretly isn’t. Like a rottweiler that really just wants to cuddle.”
“You want the dog version of yourself?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I laugh.
“Oh come on! You walk around like you’re this big, tough hockey player who starts and finishes fights on the ice.
” She drops her voice to whisper. “I mean you have a leg sleeve and dick piercing.” She giggles.
“But then, you start snowball fights and have my favorite flower tattooed on your thigh and you give me forehead kisses and apparently you really like to cuddle.”
“So?”
“I’m just saying you’re actually a really big softy.”
Only for you.
“Maybe I am.”
We make it to the door of Citrine Brews. I begin to pull the door open, but she stops me.
“For the record,” she says, “I really like the soft side of you.”
“And I really like you,” I return. Leaning down, I kiss her forehead, then pull the door open so we can step inside.
“Good morning.” Joe waves from behind the counter. “I’ll get your usuals made right away.”
“Thanks, man.”
Claire and I make our way over to one of the couches and sit while we wait.
“You excited for our date tonight?” I ask.
“I am, but are you sure you can’t give me any hints as to what we’re doing?”
“No.” I chuckle.
“Just one little itty bitty small hint?” She pinches her fingers together.
“You really hate surprises don’t you?”
“I’m just excited. You’ve been talking such a big game about your plans, so now I’m dying to know if the date’s going to live up to all of the hype.”
“It will. I promise.”
She pulls her phone out of her pocket and smiles.
“Aster and Lolly?” I ask.
“Yeah.” She continues smirking as she reads the texts.
“You guys have been texting?”
“After last night, I unmuted the group text,” she explains.
“So what’s going on with the girls?”
“Lolly is freaking out because she and Chip almost kissed this morning.”
“Is that so?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“I know. Something about him coming over to borrow something, and they got stuck in the candy shop stock room together.”
Her phone buzzes again, and she taps against the screen.
“You know, it kind of feels like a sick joke that I found people who really seem like they could be my friends and we’re only going to be here for a couple of more nights.”
“I know. I’ve been thinking about that too.”
“Part of me wishes we could take them all back with us.”
Leaning over, I kiss her forehead and wish there was a way I could give her everything she deserves—family she’s close with, friends who care about her, her dreams coming true, and a love that would rival the best fairytales—but we can’t take the people here back to New York with us, and I fear that reality will hit us both harder than we think it will when it comes to fruition.
“Drinks are ready,” Joe calls. I stand, leaving Claire alone to walk over and pay for and retrieve our drinks.
“We still on for later?” Joe asks.
I glance over my shoulder to see that Claire is distracted by Cami. “Yeah, thanks again for your help and for coordinating with the girls. I really appreciate it.”
“Anything for you two.” He smiles.
Cami walks away as I start to head back to where the girls were chatting, and Claire stands to meet me. “Here you go,” I say, handing off her latte.
“So, apparently, Aster is closing her shop to go debrief with Lolly about this almost kiss situation, and they really want me to come, but I don’t want to go if you had other plans.”
“That’s fine. I have some errands to run around here before tonight.”
“Errands? What do you have planned?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out, Sugar.” Leaning down, our mouths meet in a quick kiss.
“Text me when you’re done, and we’ll meet up,” I assure her. “Tell Lolly and Aster I said hi.”
She turns without another word, and I watch her until she disappears out of the shop. Then I get started on prepping for a night Claire will—hopefully—never forget.