Chapter 7 Eve #2
Cheerful instrumental carols play softly throughout the house, getting louder as I approach the kitchen.
“You’ve been busy.”
She pops up from checking on the turkey. “There you are!”
“What can I help with?” I shrug out of Dad’s utility coat and drape it on the hook where he keeps it through winter.
“The food’s all cooking. Thanks for making the mashed potatoes this morning.” She gestures for me to follow her into the front room. “Look what I got for your door.”
After rummaging through the boxes, she presents me with a wreath. It’s smaller than the huge one she puts out every year with a sheer gold ribbon woven around it and tied with a big bow at the bottom.
She fluffs the pine branches, grinning joyfully. “Isn’t it so cute? It reminded me of you since you’re always tying ribbons in your hair. They came in a three pack and I had to have them. I’m sending your brother and Jess home with one, too.”
At my poorly contained amusement, she jumps in before I make a comment. “Don’t start. You’re my snow angel baby. You know how I get.”
“I do, and I love you for it.”
“Good. Take this for your bathroom, too. I put a set in all of ours.”
She hands me a couple of decorative hand towels and a battery operated tea light in a silver votive with tree shaped cut outs.
“Mom,” I say in fond exasperation. “It’s only me over there.”
“It adds atmosphere!”
“Okay, you win.”
She kisses my cheek. “Is Shawn stopping by for dessert? I’ll have Dad grab the extra folding chairs from the basement since we have Cole for dinner.”
I scoff. “Nope. I’m done with him. More dessert for the rest of us.”
There. Now the last person in my family knows and I can move past him.
Her brows fly up, though she recovers quickly. “My beautiful baby girl deserves the world and someone who cherishes that big generous heart of yours.”
I hug her. She squeezes me tightly.
“Love you.”
“Love you more, snow angel. You’re still my best gift of the season.”
A content smile curves my mouth. “I’ll be back in a minute. I’m going to hang up the wreath.”
It’s blustery when I leave through the side door to the driveway. The wind sends a fresh trickle of leaves to the ground. They’re nearly gone from most trees with winter approaching.
I wrap my long cardigan around me and hurry up the steps to my apartment above the garage. Once I run in to drop off the bundle in my arms, I use the hook Mom gave me to add the wreath to my front door. It looks great against the pink color I painted it last summer for a pop of personality.
Cole’s there when I come back inside. He has a wreath that matches the one I just put up.
I bite my lip around a smile. “She got you, too?”
He lifts it with a chuckle. “Yeah. She handed me this and said if I wanted to borrow anything else to ‘doll up’—” He does a scary good impression of her. “—my place, I was welcome to it. I’m surprised she waited this long into November.”
“That’s my doing. I convinced her to wait until this weekend so we could all be together to decorate as a family like we used to as kids.”
His smile is crooked. “Remember when we were trick or treating, and when we got back she had half of your Halloween decorations down and was putting out the wicker reindeer that light up?”
I laugh. “Oh my god, yes.”
Warmth flares in his gaze and an attractive dimple appears in his cheek. “You were dressed as a mushroom fairy.”
“I—yeah,” I stammer in astonishment. “I made the costume myself. You remember that?”
“I’ll always remember that.”
Butterflies dance through me. His gaze roams from my half-braided hair tied back with a tan suede ribbon to my signature boots.
“You look nice, by the way.”
I smooth a hand over the russet v-neck I paired with jeans beneath the cardigan.“Thank you. So do you.”
His unruly hair is styled. He has on dark jeans and a sweater with the collar of his blue plaid dress shirt sticking out at the neckline.
“Eve,” Dad interrupts gruffly while I’m trying and failing not to ogle the assistant coach like he’s a main course on our menu tonight. “We’re eating soon. Mom needs everyone’s help setting the table.”
I avert my eyes and bolt for the kitchen before he finishes. “Yup. Got it.”
“I’ll help.” Cole follows me.
I swear I hear one of Dad’s cryptic hums before we leave the room. I hope my crush on Cole wasn’t written all over my face.
“Pick a dish and take it out,” Mom directs while she oversees the gravy.
We reach for the same thing. Cole clears his throat and nods with his chin for me to go first.
“Do you need help carving the bird?” he offers.
Dad claps him on the shoulder with a hearty laugh. “That’s my job. Are you gunning for that one next?”
“No, sir,” he answers too quickly.
“Relax. I’m not that old, but I’m not that young, either. Eventually I’ll retire.”
I take a bowl of potatoes to the dining table. Cole trails after me with roasted vegetables.
“Where should I put this?”
“Anywhere you find room,” I answer.
The table is fully decked out with place settings and an autumnal centerpiece. I spot an open area. We move for it simultaneously.
Our hands brush when we set our dishes down side by side. The brief touch sends a thrilling jolt through me. I startle with a small gasp, putting space between us.
I move so quickly I hip-check one of the chairs. Biting back a grunt at the minor pain, I rub the dull ache. It’s not bad. In a moment it will be gone.
“Are you okay?” His hands hang in the air as if he’s reaching for me before he drops them.
“What? Yeah, I’m good. Excited to eat.”
He inclines his head, studying me from the corner of his eye. “If you’re worried, I’m not going to say anything.”
My breath catches again. I push him away from the table. He goes without complaint, watching me while I herd him backwards until he’s against the wall. His abdomen is firm beneath my palms. I enjoy it for a fraction of a second before I yank my hands off him.
I glance at the door to the kitchen, then back to Cole. All those what ifs I thought about come rushing back.
“I thought we promised not to talk about that?” I whisper. “You know, the thing that shall not be named that definitely didn’t happen.”
His green eyes flicker between mine, making my heart beat harder. “Right. Sorry.”
We stare each other down. He smells incredible. The spiced, woodsy aftershave makes my head spin in a good way. I rub my fingers together to keep myself from putting my hands back on him while he studies me, quiet and unwavering as if we’re the only two people in the world.
The moment between us breaks when Benson arrives with Jess. I realize how close we’re standing. We both tear our gazes from each other. He goes to greet my brother and his wife.
After a moment of saying hello, Jess sidles over to me while the guys talk. I give her a wry smile and she walks into my open arms, returning my hug. I love her laid-back nature. She’s been the perfect balance to my chaos since she became part of the family when she met Benson in college.
“Hey girl,” I say. “Missed my battle partner.”
She sweeps her sleek dark hair over her shoulder. “I know, I’m sorry. This new distributor insisted one of us fly out to sign the paperwork.”
“That’s so great. Soon enough you guys will be everywhere.”
She crosses her fingers with a smirk. I hook my arm with hers and we stroll together to get glasses of wine from the bar cart in the corner.
“Speaking of kicking ass at business, I feel like I have to tell you first.”
Her expression shifts with interest. “What is it? Wait—are you going to do it?”
I bite my lip, nodding. “I think so.”
I’ve had a few false starts since graduating from Heston. She was one of the first people I told about my idea for a lifestyle brand to sell the things I create and she’s helped me with suggestions for getting started.
“I want to get it up and running with what I’ve designed so far,” I say. “And… I bought a camper. I know that’s sort of cart before the horse, but I’m telling you it’s a great opportunity to do pop ups. It needs work first, though, so that’s down the line.”
“Oh my god, girl, that’s amazing.” She clinks her wine glass with mine. “I’m so proud of you.”
I relax from my instinctive defensive stiffness, glad that she gets it. “Thank you. I’m nervous, but really excited.”
“Are you still using the same name and branding you told me about?”
I touch my earrings, a trio of translucent resin maple leaves that dangle. “Yeah, Sweet Luxe, for living luxe with things that make women smile.”
“Love that,” Jess says. “You’ve got this. If you need any help, hit me up.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
A rush of motivation hits me. Usually at the end of the year I feel like my life is falling apart, but maybe I’m turning that around with the drive to start my boutique online business.
“Okay, let’s eat,” Dad calls all of us while carrying the turkey platter.
“Did someone get the rolls?” Mom asks on her way to the table.
“I’ll grab them.”
I go to the kitchen and find the basket of fresh baked rolls on the counter. My steps falter on the way back.
Mom and Dad sit at each head of the table. Jess and Benson are seated together on one side.
And Cole is on the other, next to my open chair. He shoots me a furtive glance meant only for me as I take it. Is the same thing on his mind?
Awareness buzzes along my side. I’m acutely conscious of exactly how much distance is between us at any given moment throughout dinner with my family.
He’s shared a meal with us hundreds of times before. I’ve sat next to him.
Yet this is torture.
Pretending I’m not secretly matching with Cole in front of my family might test me more than this old crush reawakening.