I grinned. When I came home tonight and saw more presents, I added mine in there. I’ll wait until tomorrow night to fill the stockings and add a few more unwrapped presents under the tree to look like Santa’s been here. We take the water to the tree, where I point out where to put it.
“Only good water,” I say.
“No tinkle,” he says.
“That’s right, no tinkle.”
Elle chokes back a laugh again and I pretend to give her a stern look.
She takes a deep breath and repeats after us, “No tinkle.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
YOUR CUES
ELLE
Now
“Areyou sure they’re really okay with having us?” Rhodes asks. “Levi and I can stay home while you go to your parents’ house.”
“They invited you, yes. And if you’d rather stay here, I’ll stayhere too.”
“No, I don’t want you to miss being with your parents. I just don't wanna, you know, push this more than you want…the whole fake-dating scenario with your parents,” he says.
He put fake dating in quotations, so I do the same, mimicking him.
“Rhodes, even if we weren’t fake dating, I’d still want you to come to dinner with my parents on Christmas Eve. Usually your parents are here by now and we’re trying to spend as much time together as we can. Why would this year be any different?”
He moves my bra strap over and places a kiss on my shoulder. “I’d say things are a lot different this year. I’m just trying to read your cues, see what you really want me to do.”
“I really want you with me,” I tell him.
“I’m there,” he says, placing a soft kiss on my lips. “And I want to spend tomorrow with you too.”
“Perfect.”
We smile at each other in the mirror.
“Forever, if you’ll have me,” he adds softly.
My mouth drops and he nods like he knows he’s made me lose my words.
“You heard me right,” he says, but he goes on then like he hasn’t just floored me. “There’s been a loose plan for everyone to come here tomorrow night after they’re done with presents, remember?” he asks. “A few weeks ago I thought you wouldn’t be here.”
“I’ll be here,” I say, giving him a wobbly smile.
He leans over and kisses my shoulder again. “Nothing could make me happier. You should invite Calista and Javi…they’re the only ones I haven’t reminded.”
“Okay, I will.”
We’re getting ready in his bathroom in front of the dual sinks. He already pounded into me in the shower earlier,but watching him smooth aftershave onto his cheeks, with nothing but a towel around his waist, I’m ready for another round.
I try to squash down my insatiable need for him. If we’re going to make it to my parents’ in time, we need to hurry.
“Did you ever hear from your parents?” I ask.
“No, their flight was canceled and it’s not looking good,” he says. “So many flights were delayed. It’s looking like they might not make it for Christmas.”
