He doesn’t look convinced, but I pull him into a quick goodbye kiss that I wish could be more drawn out. “I’ll be fine, I promise.”
I leave another peck on his luscious lips before I open the door wide enough for me to slip out into the hall, seeing Hailey with her hair all over the place rubbing her eyes.
“Hey, sweetie.”
She rubs her eyes again, looking totally out of it. “I’m thirsty.”
“Okay, come on.” I take her hand and lead her to the kitchen, leaving the light off and just using the small night-light that’s always on in there for guidance. I take my time getting her a little bit of water, and she takes a drink.
I wonder if I’ve given Nolan enough time to leave and decide to be safe, keeping Hailey in the kitchen a little longer.
When we walk back to her room, I notice mine is empty and know Nolan got out without a hitch. My heart pangs quickly, knowing I’d much rather he was still warming my bed.
I tuck Hailey back in and kiss her forehead before creeping back to my bed that still smells like him.
I already can’t wait for the next time he’s here.
* * *
Please tell me it’s possible to cook a turkey in only an hour?
I stare at the message from Rafe for a minute before deciding to call him instead of figuring out that message through text. He answers immediately, “That’s a no, right?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never made a turkey.”
My mom is eyeing me from across the room, but she’s busy talking to one of my aunts at the moment and doesn’t come over. “You’ve never made a turkey? With your mom?”
I chuckle and step out onto the back deck so I can hear him better. The house is completely packed full of my family, and it’s worth stepping out into the frigid cold for a minute of privacy. “My mother doesn’t let me in her kitchen. Are you crazy?”
I can hear his laughter, but I also hear the stress in his voice. “My Aunt Jo is sick. She called just as we were about to get into the car to say she doesn’t want to give us the flu.”
“Oh, no.”
“Yeah.” He goes on, “So now, I have to figure out how to cook Thanksgiving on my own for the first time ever, and I already have a very disappointed five year old. The kid loves turkey.”
I smile, thinking of the adorable blond who has stolen my heart this year and her father—who may already have a piece of it as well. “So come here.”
“What?”
“Rafe.” I lean onto the railing of my parents’ deck, looking out at the cows in the pasture. “Get your ass over to my parents now. Don’t forget the sassy little blond person.”
“Are you sure?”
I laugh and shake my head, even though he can’t see me. “Yes. My mom cooks way too much even when her house is full. There’s plenty, and she’d kick my ass if she found out I let you guys spend Thanksgiving alone.”
“Okay. We’ll be there soon.”
I can’t deny the flutter in my stomach when we hang up, knowing he’ll be here soon. I’m getting way too attached, but then again, maybe not. Maybe this is exactly how it’s supposed to go.
Gavin is right by my side with a big grin on his face when I open the door for Rafe and Hailey about a half hour later. “So, you’re Rafe?”
Rafe looks slightly taken aback as my best friend reaches his hand out to him, but he takes it, shaking his hand. “Yes. You?”
Gavin’s smile only widens. “I’m Gavin. The best friend.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Hailey!” His daughter is all too eager to introduce herself, and Gavin looks down at the pint-sized cutie with a fond smile already on his face.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Hailey.” He releases Rafe and offers his hand to Hailey, who shakes it exaggeratedly. She was able to get her cast off, but I swear the kid barely noticed she had it on most of the time anyway. Definitely didn’t slow her down any.
When Hailey sees my mom, though, she shoots off toward her, leaving us long behind. I laugh as she wraps her little arms around my mom and can’t help the happiness when I see my mom embrace her. Rafe shakes his head as I close the door behind him. “She couldn’t be happier for the invite. Thank you.”
I catch his eyes, unable to look away from his handsome face even for a second. “You need to know that you’re always welcome.”
I feel Gavin’s heavy paw smack my shoulder as he laughs, “Yeah. The Burkes love adopting new people.”
Rafe looks at Gavin, an appraising glance darkened by suspicion. “They adopt you?”
Gavin, happy-go-lucky as ever, nods his head. “Long time ago.”
I wince, thinking about a young Gavin and his parents—who were total assholes. They kicked him out when he was sixteen and refused to pretend to be straight. His parents actually thought they were being good to him when they gave him the ultimatum—pretend to be straight for the rest of high school and then he could go to college out of state and do what he wanted.
He chose to live under my parents’ roof instead. “They’re good people,” Rafe says with his eyes on Hailey and an affectionate smile spreading over his full lips.
“That they are. I’m going to go harass your mom about what time we’re going to eat,” Gav says, already on his way to the kitchen.
“Good luck with that,” I holler after him, but he just waves me off.
I turn to Rafe, who’s still wearing his coat and looks uncomfortable as hell. “What’s wrong?”
His large shoulders shrug, and he keeps his voice down. “I couldn’t figure out the turkey today. I couldn’t do it on my own.”
I know he’s fiercely independent, and I can see the look of failure on his face and hate it. “I couldn’t cook a turkey either. That’s no big deal. You got Hailey to a family gathering, and the kid is happy.”
I watch his throat move as he swallows thickly. “I know. But I should be more prepared for this. I’m not always going to have Aunt Jo.”
I want to tell him he’ll have me, but I don’t want to freak him out. Right now is not the time for a big “what are we?” talk. “You’re doing a great job, Rafe. Trust me, I’ve seen plenty of bad parents. You’re a great parent.”
He offers me a small smile, but then nods slowly. “Thank you.”
“Any time. Now, are you ready to eat the best meal of your life?”
He finally laughs, relaxing a little bit. “Oh, God. If Aunt Jo hears that, she’ll kill you, despite not knowing you.”
I grin and wrap my arm around his shoulder, leading him toward the dining room. “I told you, she and my mom would get along well.”
I watch Rafe and Hailey mingle with my family, meshing perfectly into the crazy chaos.
And I know, without a doubt, I’m falling entirely too hard for both of them.
* * *
Today was amazing. I’ve never been around a family as large and loving as Nolan’s. They didn’t all blindly agree about everything, but you could feel the respect in the room. The love. The atmosphere was full of jokes and teasing, but you could also feel all the goddamn love.