Chapter 20 #2
The title screen reads Single’s Inferno, and a cast of attractive people pose on a beach.
“The new season just dropped, and I’m hooked. I’ve binged the first three seasons. It’s addictive.” Her excitement is contagious.
I was going to watch whatever she chose regardless, but as she folds up her legs beneath her into a pretzel, and bounces on the cushion, sending her curls every which way, I’m sold.
“Let’s go.” I point my beer bottle at the TV. She’s unsure, but hits play anyway.
“Do you want the premise or to go in blind?”
What the hell kind of question is that? You have to prepare to watch a TV show?
“I’m along for the ride.”
“Wait, he gets to go to Paradise again with a different girl? He just went last with that influencer girl. What was wrong with her? I thought he liked her.” I wave my beer at the screen.
Mia’s moved to sit right next to me so we can discuss the show without waking up the kids. I won’t admit which one of us, but someone got a little loud during the first competition.
Our clothes brush with any slight movement. Does she realize how close she’s gotten?
“Just watch, it gets better,” she assures.
“Woooooah-oh-oh. Did you see him touch her hand on the table? The commentators are going nuts. He didn’t touch the other girl’s hand last night.” We’re three episodes in to the season. We could’ve been farther along if I didn’t pause it every five minutes to ask questions.
She pauses the episode with a sigh.
“Hey! They’re about to get in the pool!” I whine.
“It’s nearly midnight, did you want to watch the ball drop on TV? We can finish our episode tomorrow night…if you want.”
“Hell yes I do.” Anything to spend more time with this addictive woman.
“Okay.” That smile. Mia’s happiness is like the most powerful drug being pumped into my body by the gallon.
“I’d like to watch the ball drop, if it’s okay. I haven’t seen it in years,” she says.
“Queue it up,” I say, as she turns on a major broadcast channel.
From the corner of my eye, she raises her arm from her lap and tilts toward me and retreats back. Hoping to god she’s thinking what I’m thinking, I stretch my arm behind her, resting it on the back of the couch.
She wiggles a tad closer. It’s nearly midnight. This’ll take all night at this rate.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and curl her into me. She’s stiff as a corpse but when I don’t press further, she rests her head on the space between my shoulder and pec and places her hand over my galloping heart.
This close to her, I can finally pinpoint the sweet scent I’ve come to know as her. Sweet peach swirls with the faintest florals. I inhale deeply to get my fill—I may never get the chance to hold her like this again.
Warm breath seeps through the thin cotton of my shirt when she asks, “Do you have any new year’s resolutions?”
I’m not a “resolution” kind of man. If I want something, I make it happen. If I have a goal, I don’t quit until I succeed.
“Naw. How about you?” My hand takes liberties it’s not been granted as my fingers rub back and forth against her shoulder, relaxing her into me further.
Her focus never leaves the dazzling spectacular on the flatscreen, but her mind is right here in this room with me.
“A few?” she hedges.
“Yea?”
“Yea. I think I’d like to give the equine therapy a try, the girls think it could help me. I also want to try more new things. I had no control over my life for so long, I’ve missed out on countless experiences. Even if I only do one new thing this year, I’ll be satisfied.”
I’ll take her to do any new experience in the world, so long as I could see her smile.
“And…I want to be free from Carter for good. I want to divorce him and get full custody of Everly. I have no idea where to start, but I’ll make it happen.” This resolution is closer to being met than she knows.
The second she says go, I’ve got the paperwork ready for her to sign and have greased the wheels to get it approved quickly. That fucker has no idea what’s coming for him. There’s no bigger fool than the one who didn’t cherish this woman the way she deserves.
“Ten…nine…” the audience screams from Times Square.
“Those are great resolutions, and I’m here to help you accomplish them however you see fit.” I hug her to me tighter.
“Six…five…”
Mia pulls back from my embrace and looks into the depths of my soul.
“Thank you, Greyson.” She has no idea the lengths I’d go to for her.
“Two…one…happy New Year!” Merriment erupts from the freezing cold revelers.
“It’s not a resolution, but there’s one thing I want this year,” I say, my voice rumbling below the din from the TV.
“What’s that?” Mia’s eyes flit between my own.
“This.”
With one arm supporting her, I cage her in with my body and gently collar her throat high against her jaw, and seal my mouth to her plump lips, parted on a gasp.
Her small hand wraps around my wrist and melts into the kiss.
I don’t take more than she offers. I’d never push her to do anything she didn’t want.
Our mouths move together languidly, just lips and pressure. No tongues, no nips. Her breath hitches but she doesn’t move far away.
The silence stretches painfully long, and I fear I’ve royally fucked up. Goddamn it, what the fuck were you thinking, kissing the nanny?
Just before I try to undo my brazen lack of self-control, she leans in and gives me a single, sweet peck on the lips.
“Happy New Year, Greyson.” Her smile lights the dim living room.
And as she walks to her bedroom to turn in for the night, she takes my heart with her.