Dear God, Thuong knocked me out, every time.
His fearlessness filled me with pride and happiness and something very like dread, because for Thuong to do that… For that sweet, broken boy who'd been abandoned in some way by everyone to have gone there first…
Thuong was so goddam brave it hurt my heart.
“I love you too.” I whispered.
"Don't stop." His expression said or else.
"I promise." With a laugh, I wrapped my arm around his neck and dragged him in for a kiss that was longer and deeper than either of us planned—at least until my nephew called for his mom because we were squishing him.
“Ooh, the mushy stuff.” Becky gave Ben a coy wink as she took him from me. “I remember that kind of thing.”
I put my hand to my forehead and reeled dramatically. “I’m having trouble remembering anything right now. I might need a refresher course.”
“Oh really?” asked Thuong.
“Well, it’s been quite a while, and—” Finally feeling the chill of ice all around me, I gave a violent shiver.
“Are you cold, baby?” Thuong looked down at my feet. “You knew it was winter. For God’s sake, people need to wear socks in winter.”
“How was I supposed to know it was going to snow?” And anyway, socks were forbidden to me now per Echo and Gayle.
“Always expect the unexpected,” Minerva said with great dignity.
“I’ll be taking Luke home now,” Thuong announced. “See you at the house, Minerva.”
“Be there before nine,” she reminded him. “I may be your fairy godmother, but there’s always catch.”
“Guess we’ll see you in the morning?” Dad said. “Hey Thuong, why don’t you join us. We’ve got reservations at Bistro.”
“I’ll be working, I’m afraid.”
Dad nodded. “Fit us in sometime. We won’t be going home until the twenty third.”
Chaz said, “Home for Santa.”
“Right,” Thuong gave his hair a fluff. “How else would Santa find you?”
Chaz shrugged. “Santa can.”
“Night, boys. Be safe.” Mom put her arms around both of us and hugged.
“Night, Mom. Dad.” Dad joined the hug in progress.
Amid a chorus of goodbyes, Thuong and I left the festival.
Behind us, the “snow” was a foot deep in places, but it no longer fell from the sky. Maybe the chilly night air would keep it for a little while—enough to let the kids play for another hour or so.
To my delight, Thuong had driven the scooter.
“Here,” he handed me the spare helmet before putting his on with a wicked grin. “Do you trust me?”
I eyed him. “Define trust.”
“I’ll keep you safe,” He got on and held out his hand to steady me as I swung my leg over the back. “You just hold on to me.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Like this?”
He turned his head. “In the interest of transportation safety, I think you’ll need to hold on a little tighter.”
“Like this?” I tightened my arms around him.
“Little tighter still. You can’t be too careful, you know,” he deadpanned.
“Okay.” I couldn’t get tighter, but I locked my hands around the opposite wrists. “Got it.”
“That’s better.” He brushed his fingers over mine.
I laid my cheek against his shoulder as we wove through the quiet streets.
“You’re right.” I murmured the words against his neck even though he'd never hear me. “That’s much better.”
At my door, I checked my phone. Eight forty-five. There was no time to explore the connection between us, no time for seduction or even a smidge of canoodling. No way to spend the night learning each other’s bodies. No chance of awkward morning kisses.
We gazed into each other’s eyes.
Regret filled me. He must have seen it, because he reached for my hand.
“Carrier pigeons, remember? Sweet dreams, Luke.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it, then folded it between his own.
“You too.” My hand trembled when I took it back.
This could be maddening. And it could be really, really cool.
I tapped my cheek. “Can I get a kiss?”
He leaned over and kissed my cheek, making that sweet sound, muah.
“What about here?” I pointed to an area closer to my lips.
I felt his grin when he pressed a kiss there.
Without speaking, I pointed to my mouth. He leaned in and that kiss…
Oh, that kiss lasted.
As if he were prying me open—contents under pressure and do not puncture and keep away from open flames—everything I felt for him burst inside me. Boom. Fireworks sparkled behind my eyelids.
I gripped his jacket lapels and clung to him. He wrapped his arms around me and showed me just how Thuong Harper kissed a man when he wanted that man to catch fire.
Goddamn, Thuong. Goddamn.
“Wow.” I leaned heavily against the door when he released me. “Oh my.”
His smug, happy smile broadened. “We have all the time in the world, right?”
“Mmmhmm.” I let my fingers drift over the sharp curve of his cheek. “All the time in the world.”
Epilogue
Winter Solstice, one year later
Minerva’s mechanical snowstorm quickly became a St. Nacho’s legend, prompting the St. Nacho’s city council to propose a second event the following year. Due to an unlikely attack of common sense, I wore leather combat boots and thick socks.
Thuong had volunteered to help with the audio equipment, but we were expecting him to join us. So much had changed in the single year I’d been in St. Nacho’s, I could hardly fathom it.
The biggest change? Echo and Gayle had called in their favor. Thanks to a really, really embarrassing couple of trips to their house in early January, and science, or something—I didn’t need to know—Gayle had a baby with Echo’s family’s DNA. My DNA. Oh my god.
Born on Halloween, Elvira Rose—Ellie—was on schedule to be the most frequently fought over and spoiled baby in all the land.
“Let me hold her for a while. You’ve hogged her all night.” Giving Gayle and Echo a sheepish grin, I placed the baby in my mother’s arms.
“We’d better get her back pretty soon.” Gayle’s eyes were maternally fierce. “She needs to nurse.”
“No problem,” Mom said. “I just want to make sure she knows her auntie loves her. You know that, right sweetheart? Auntie loves you.”
As if Gayle’s words had held some incantation, Ellie started to fuss. Mom sighed.
“Okay, baby.” Mom let Gayle take her. “Don’t fret. There you go.”
Echo looked on fondly as Gayle expertly slipped Ellie a boob. Echo draped a shawl over baby and nursing mother for the sake of warmth, not privacy. Gayle had no fucks to give when nursing, more power to her. Hungry babies came first in our family.
I looked up to see Thuong ambling over, more handsome than I’d ever seen him, which seemed to be a daily thing. How did he just keep getting better and better? Dressed head to toe in black—boots, jeans, turtleneck, peacoat, and beret, for God’s sake—he was a cross between a cat burglar and a member of the French resistance. He’d filled out, and the haunted pallor he’d worn for close to a year was entirely gone.