69. Not Quite New Year’s and Not Quite Gone
SIXTY-NINE
Not Quite New Year’s and Not Quite Gone
TARA
Tara, Steve, Kiro, and Celeste finished off their dinner and had moved on to their dessert, complements of Jenna’s Boulangerie.
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.” Tara smiled as she grabbed one of the chocolate-filled croissants and tore off a small piece to nibble. She immediately closed her eyes and moaned, “Oh my god, this is so good.”
Steve arched a brow at her.
“Jenna,” Kiro announced, grabbing one for himself. “Best baker around.”
“Mmhmm.” Celeste gave him a sideways glance. “Just remember whose sweets you like best.”
He leaned over and kissed Celeste’s cheek. “I could never forget.”
Tara and Steve chuckled at Kiro and Celeste’s sweet exchange, grateful for a fun evening before New Year’s.
“So Tristan is already back in San Diego, huh?” Celeste popped the last of a chocolate croissant in her mouth.
“He and Emily went back the day after Christmas,” Tara said. “Heck, he’s already reported back for duty. Tiff only had two weeks. She flies back to Norfolk in a couple of days.”
“What about Theo?”
Tara sipped her coffee and sighed. “Back to Athens next week after New Year’s for his final semester at OU.”
“And your parents will go back to being empty nesters again.”
“Yep.”
No one wanted to mention Tara’s return to Chicago just yet. As far as everyone knew, she planned to leave for the city the day after New Year’s, but she was seriously contemplating going to Chicago after she took her sister to the airport on Thursday. She just couldn’t bring herself to tell anyone.
Celeste set her coffee on the table and wiped her hands with a napkin. “I could eat these all night, but I’ve got to get Mocha’s open in the morning. I also need some alone time with my man.”
Kiro stood and spread his arms wide. “The sacrifices I make to keep my woman happy.”
Celeste rolled her eyes, but couldn’t disguise her love for him. “I know it keeps you happy, too.” She let out a sigh. “I can’t wait until I have a full-time opener.” Celeste hugged her best friend. “Goodnight, Tara Roxanne.”
“Goodnight, Gloria Celeste.”
Kiro motioned back and forth between Steve and him. “We don’t have to call each other by our full names, do we?”
Steve shook his head while Tara and Celeste both rolled their eyes.
“You know,” Celeste backed up with arched brows and her hands on her hips. “I still can’t believe you’re actually going back to Chicago.”
“I know.” Tara wrapped both arms around Celeste’s shoulders. “Had to happen eventually.”
“But it was nice having you here for Christmas.” Celeste returned the hug. “I’m going to miss you.”
Steve closed the bedroom door. He finished unbuttoning his shirt when Tara turned to stare out the window overlooking the square. The street lights lit up the falling snowflakes, each like little sparklers happily drifting toward the earth below.
She leaned into Steve as his arms wrapped around her stomach and pulled her close.
“Hey.” He pressed his cheek against hers. “You okay?”
“I don’t know. To be honest, I’m torn. I’ve worked so hard to help turn the shop around, but…I have to keep my current job so I can save up for a down payment.”
He brushed his lips against her neck, just below her ear. “Come to bed, Sugar.”
Later that night, Steve peeled his body off Tara’s with a satisfied grunt and rested on his back. He let his arm cover his face. Tara rolled and rested her head on his chest while allowing her heart rate to slow. Her head rose and fell with each breath he took. He squeezed his arm around her shoulder to hold her against his body.
“Steve?” She asked without opening her eyes. Instead, she pressed her palm from his abs to his chest, her fingers toying with his piercings.
“Hmm?” He squeezed her hand. “Tickles.”
“Do you think I should buy the shop?”
Steve opened his eyes and pulled his arm out from behind her shoulders to rest on his elbow. He gazed into her eyes. “I think you can run it.”
“So you don’t think–”
“Not finished.” His gentle voice cut her off. “I know how much you love the shop and how hard you’ve worked to save it. I know how much of yourself has gone into it.” He licked his lips and tucked some hair behind her ear. “I think in your heart, Between the Lines is already yours. The plan they have for you to buy it would just be a formality.”
Tara pondered his comments. Her parents had never objected to any of her suggestions. Not a single one. They went along with every change she’d made in the last few months.
“I’ll support you in whatever decision you make; but I won’t lie, I’ll do everything I can to keep you here with me.”
Tara reached her hand around his neck and pulled him back down on top of her, kissing him like there was no tomorrow. She pulled back to catch her breath. She loved this man, but telling him would only make leaving that much harder.