Chapter 16
LAINEY
My mouth closes then opens, only to snap closed again.
I’m staring at Gracie as we sit on my couch.
It’s New Year’s Eve and Enzo is sick with a bug.
All plans for the night have resulted in me wearing pajamas with Chinese food on the way.
It’s okay, I kind of enjoy the cozy feeling of doing nothing.
Gracie waits for me to say something to her earth-shattering news.
“P-pregnant?” I repeat what I think I heard her say.
“That I am.” She quirks her lips out. To my surprise, she seems at ease with her unexpected news.
“And with the coach?” Again, did I really hear this right?
She nods once.
“As in you and he are going to be parents.”
Gracie gives me a blank stare. “You heard me the first time.”
I touch her knee out of instinct to comfort. “How?”
“One of those annoying October storms of rain and sleet, finding shelter, and chewing on candy, you know how it goes. Then boom, a few weeks later you learn a baby is on the way. A complete Chrismukkah miracle, right?” She smiles nervously then swallows and covers her mouth.
I quirk my lips out and tip my head to the side. She isn’t wrong.
“You know what. Let’s leave the baby talk for another time. I need a distraction, so can we talk about something else?”
“Sure. Just know that I’m here for you, and if you’re happy, then so am I,” I assure her.
“Thanks, but you are also happy because of a certain hockey player.”
I try not to blush but fail, because nothing about her sentence is an unfair accusation.
“You were watching the locker room interviews after his game when I arrived.”
I roll a shoulder back. “It was a tough game.” They played hard and went into overtime, but unfortunately, the other team scored first.
“I told you my news, now catch me up. It’s only fair.”
I hesitate for a second, but then I’m giddy.
“We’re just neighbors who are friends who slept together and who spent the holidays with his family.
No biggie.” I reach for my mug of tea on the coffee table to avoid reading her expression but then decide to be honest. “I’m not sure what is going on between us, but it feels promising. ”
She grins and squeals because she is excited for me. “Will you spend New Year’s together?”
Sipping my tea, I shake my head at the same time. “No. They have to travel back, and besides, I feel as though being together when the clock strikes midnight is kind of a big deal.”
“It’s romantic.”
I press my lips together and roll them in as I recall what has been running through my mind lately. “I kind of always thought that when I would be ready to really date again that I would freak out because I’m a single mom and need to find balance, but with Tyler, we just flow.”
“That’s a great sign.”
“I sent him a text after the game. Just to say I was watching while Enzo is asleep and sick. Then sorry for the overtime loss, but at least they still got a point for the standings, then added a slew of emojis.” And sending it came without thought.
No second-guessing myself or wondering if I’m overstepping the lines between us.
“I won’t hear back from him, I’m sure. He’s busy. ” Hockey is his life.
Gracie nudges my arm with her hand. “You two are good for one another and mellow each other out.”
I snicker and smile. “That wasn’t the case two months ago.”
“Even better. You’ve seen one another during the not-so-stellar personality moments, yet here you both are.”
Huh, I guess that is a good point.
“That theory is not bad,” I admit.
She slowly begins to drag herself off my couch. “Now. On that note, time for me to head home.”
“Thanks for stopping by. Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?”
Her palm flies up. “No way. The thought of food makes me want to hurl, and I want to drive before it gets too dark. Pajamas and sleep are the way I’m going to welcome the new year. I already know what the new year will bring, so I’m all good.” She pats her stomach.
I love her positivity. She’s the breath of fresh air that everyone needs in their life.
I stand to give her a hug and walk with her to my front door. “Be safe, and we’ll meet for coffee later in the week, okay?”
“Sounds good. Happy New Year! May it be the year for you with a hot boyfriend.” She flashes her eyes at me.
“You too. May it be the year for you with an adorable healthy baby and a baby daddy that you are crazy about.”
She smiles contritely at me. She knows that I’m teasing her about the baby daddy part, because she might not want to admit it but she’s already in love.
The next few hours, I enjoy my winter cozy fest. Food is delivered later than expected, but I guessed as much since it’s a busy night. Candles are lit, my favorite playlist is on, and I’m curled with a blanket and my e-reader. Maybe some would say this is boring, but it is so damn relaxing.
I’ve checked on Enzo a few times, but he is out like a light from the children’s medicine. His fever is going down, at least. Probably just a passing virus that kids get. Luckily, I’ve become immune to many since I’ve been working in a preschool for a few years.
Sure, I notice the clock and the fact that midnight is approaching, and maybe a tiny piece of me wishes that I could celebrate it with a certain someone, but it’s okay.
I find it strange how we all become fixated on a number on a clock. It’s a mental block, I guess. A new year is a new chance.
The gentle knock on my door sparks my attention, and a spot in my heart fills with excitement because intuition just sparked it. I get up off the coach and keep the throw blanket wrapped around me. I’m in pajamas and big fluffy socks, but you can never be warm enough.
The moment I open the door, whoosh.
The world stops, and my entire body stills as I see Tyler standing there. He’s still in his post-game suit. His sexy grin is already weakening me in the knees.
“W-what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to celebrate New Year’s.”
My sight shoots down, and I realize my outfit, down to my fluffy snowman socks, is anything but hot. “I’m a mess.”
“I love it. It’s the socks that make the outfit.” He winks at me then politely barges past me as if he owns the place.
I gingerly close the door and follow him to my living room. The way he unbuttons his suit blazer leaves my mouth watering, made worse when he rolls up his sleeves.
“Don’t drool.” He smirks at me, as he must understand where my mind just went.
“I thought you would be on the road.”
“Luckily, we got in an hour early. So here I am.”
My smile grows then falters. “You can’t be here.”
He looks at me strange, maybe almost hurt. “You don’t want me here?”
Shaking my head, I join him as he sits down on the sofa. “It’s not that. Enzo is sick, and I don’t want you to catch it since you have games later in the week.”
“It’s fine.” He doesn’t seem worried. “How is he doing?”
I move to sit on one hip and face him. “Sleeping. I’m sure he will be fine in the morning. Are you hungry? I have leftover Chinese food. I kind of ate all the eggrolls, they’re my favorite.”
He touches the outer part of my thigh. “Who doesn’t love eggrolls?”
We assess one another, trying to connect dots or say something first.
“I’m kind of happy you showed up,” I admit.
His brows rise. “Kind of?”
“I am happy that you showed up.”
“I was hoping we would be back early. I wanted to be here with you. Can I let you in on a secret?”
He leans in, and my heart races. The feeling of warmth from his body getting closer to me and the room getting smaller all feels too much, but my heart lifts. “I’ve been thinking about you non-stop.”
I touch his shoulder because I want us to be connected in some way. “Me too.”
An almost boyish grin appears. “Also been thinking about us too?”
“I have,” I admit shyly.
He pecks a kiss on my forehead. “What’s going on between us is too strong. I can’t deny it. So what do we do about this? Because I have some ideas.” His voice lowers, and it sends vibrations down my body.
I bite back my half-grin. “There is a chance that I’m in agreement with some of those ideas.”
He pulls back a little, but we are still too close to be just friends.
“We’re more, Lainey. There doesn’t need to be confusion about it.
It’s clear to me now, and I don’t want us to go down the road of just benefits because I care for you too much, I want you too much.
It’s because of you that I have a fucking Christmas tree and handmade menorah even though holiday cheer isn’t for me.
But it’s because of you that I changed that thought. ”
My cheeks tighten from my smile. “And I’ve forgotten what it was like when we would irritate one another. In fact, I’ve been calm and excited when I hear your name.”
“Don’t we deserve to explore this thing between us?”
“I have Enzo. It’s not just—”
He cuts right in. “It’s not just you, and I know that. You two are a package deal, and I wouldn’t dream of anything else.” There is no disappointment or doubt intertwined in his words.
My heart can’t handle it because it’s far too perfect, I’m far too lucky, but he is right in front of me and I have no reason to believe otherwise.
“Tyler, I needed to hear that maybe, and I want us to be together. Explore what is more for us.” I squeeze his hand on my thigh. “We just have to be careful around Enzo. Give it some time before we spill the news, you know.”
“Got it.” He scoots closer to me.
I swoop in for a kiss, and he kisses me back with reverence. I could get lost in this the entire night, but there is a whisper in the back of my brain, and I pull away.
“Do you want the good news or bad news?” I ask, and Tyler looks at me peculiarly. “Good news is that we get to spend midnight together. Bad news, I only have juice boxes if you want to toast.”
His head falls forward as he laughs before driving his sight up to my eyes. “Juice boxes are perfect. Feels kind of like a sign that this is the way that we should celebrate us for a new year.”