the program was only an hour, because the texts were getting dirtier and dirtier, and I was getting hotter and hotter. I was thankful when it was over and walked out to the lobby to search for Drew. My phone dinged in my hand.
Drew: Heads up, sweetheart.
I looked up to see Drew across the lobby. He flashed me a smile that could melt any woman’s heart, not to mention her panties. We both tried to twist our way through the crowd towards each other, our eyes staying glued on one another. Then I saw him stop.
“Miss Piper!” Jack jumped in front of me, followed by Rob and Ellie.
I hugged Jack then looked up at Drew frozen on the other side of the room. Rob hugged me and kissed my cheek, and Ellie did the same. I politely smiled as my eyes searched for Drew, but he was already gone. He definitely had a knack for disappearing. I thanked Rob and Ellie for their support and made small talk. Then I found myself surrounded by other parents and kids. My phone vibrated in my pocket, but there was no way I was getting out of here anytime soon.
*
DREW
This was one of my favorite spots in McAdenville—the lake right in the heart of town. And at Christmastime, it was even better. Christmas trees of all sizes surrounded the lake, their twinkling lights reflecting in the water. I was sure my parents would be pissed that I didn’t stick around after the program. I’d planned on staying, hoping to catch Piper after, but Rob and Ellie had beat me to it. My stomach turned at the sight of it—my brother’s arm around her. Piper must not know about our torrid family history; otherwise, I didn’t think she’d be so buddy-buddy with my big brother. The town’s gossip mill must be broken.
I leaned up against a bench in front of Old Man Winter cascaded in Christmas lights. Watching the kids running through the snowflakes he blew into the air, I took a sip of hot chocolate, which was now ice cold. I texted her after the play asking her to meet me here, but that was over an hour ago. Maybe she didn’t want to meet me. I took out my phone to see if she’d called or texted back, but there was nothing. I tossed my cup into the trashcan, wondering how long I should wait.
“I’m so sorry,” Piper called out over the Christmas music playing from the Baptist church.
I walked towards her and, with each step, felt the smile on my face getting wider and wider. Piper just had that effect on everyone she met. She met me halfway, and I slipped my arms around her. Her hands slid up my back, then she kissed my lips tenderly.
“I just couldn’t get out of there. Every parent wanted to chitchat. Wish you would’ve hung around.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were ready for us to be ‘outed’ or not,” I said, nuzzling her nose with mine.
She didn’t answer. Instead, she cuddled into my chest and released a little moan. “You’re so warm.”
I held her close to me, burying my head in her blonde hair, smelling the scents of the holiday blended together—peppermint, holly, mistletoe. I wiped some snow off the bench then sat down and pulled her between my legs, wrapping myself around her. She melted into my body like she belonged there, like we’d been together this way a thousand times. We sat quietly, watching the fountain in the lake change colors from red to green to blue. For the first time, I felt like I was home. The funny thing was—I wasn’t with my family. “I thought the program was beautiful—the sets, costumes. You did a great job.”
She lifted her head from my chest and looked up at me. “That’s sweet. I could’ve used your expertise building things a few weeks ago.”
“Maybe next year,” I said without thinking. I didn’t want to be in McAdenville next year. That wasn’t in my plans. Why the hell would I say that?
“I’d like that.”
I wanted to kick myself, but I knew if Piper ever needed me, I’d be there for her, no matter where this thing between us went. She was that special to me, always had
Drew: Heads up, sweetheart.
I looked up to see Drew across the lobby. He flashed me a smile that could melt any woman’s heart, not to mention her panties. We both tried to twist our way through the crowd towards each other, our eyes staying glued on one another. Then I saw him stop.
“Miss Piper!” Jack jumped in front of me, followed by Rob and Ellie.
I hugged Jack then looked up at Drew frozen on the other side of the room. Rob hugged me and kissed my cheek, and Ellie did the same. I politely smiled as my eyes searched for Drew, but he was already gone. He definitely had a knack for disappearing. I thanked Rob and Ellie for their support and made small talk. Then I found myself surrounded by other parents and kids. My phone vibrated in my pocket, but there was no way I was getting out of here anytime soon.
*
DREW
This was one of my favorite spots in McAdenville—the lake right in the heart of town. And at Christmastime, it was even better. Christmas trees of all sizes surrounded the lake, their twinkling lights reflecting in the water. I was sure my parents would be pissed that I didn’t stick around after the program. I’d planned on staying, hoping to catch Piper after, but Rob and Ellie had beat me to it. My stomach turned at the sight of it—my brother’s arm around her. Piper must not know about our torrid family history; otherwise, I didn’t think she’d be so buddy-buddy with my big brother. The town’s gossip mill must be broken.
I leaned up against a bench in front of Old Man Winter cascaded in Christmas lights. Watching the kids running through the snowflakes he blew into the air, I took a sip of hot chocolate, which was now ice cold. I texted her after the play asking her to meet me here, but that was over an hour ago. Maybe she didn’t want to meet me. I took out my phone to see if she’d called or texted back, but there was nothing. I tossed my cup into the trashcan, wondering how long I should wait.
“I’m so sorry,” Piper called out over the Christmas music playing from the Baptist church.
I walked towards her and, with each step, felt the smile on my face getting wider and wider. Piper just had that effect on everyone she met. She met me halfway, and I slipped my arms around her. Her hands slid up my back, then she kissed my lips tenderly.
“I just couldn’t get out of there. Every parent wanted to chitchat. Wish you would’ve hung around.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were ready for us to be ‘outed’ or not,” I said, nuzzling her nose with mine.
She didn’t answer. Instead, she cuddled into my chest and released a little moan. “You’re so warm.”
I held her close to me, burying my head in her blonde hair, smelling the scents of the holiday blended together—peppermint, holly, mistletoe. I wiped some snow off the bench then sat down and pulled her between my legs, wrapping myself around her. She melted into my body like she belonged there, like we’d been together this way a thousand times. We sat quietly, watching the fountain in the lake change colors from red to green to blue. For the first time, I felt like I was home. The funny thing was—I wasn’t with my family. “I thought the program was beautiful—the sets, costumes. You did a great job.”
She lifted her head from my chest and looked up at me. “That’s sweet. I could’ve used your expertise building things a few weeks ago.”
“Maybe next year,” I said without thinking. I didn’t want to be in McAdenville next year. That wasn’t in my plans. Why the hell would I say that?
“I’d like that.”
I wanted to kick myself, but I knew if Piper ever needed me, I’d be there for her, no matter where this thing between us went. She was that special to me, always had
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