Giggles bubble out of me, followed by my face contorting with the images filling my mind. I could have gone without the creative imagery my mind seems to have at the moment.
Muffin follows me up the stairs and to our room at the end of the hallway. Quietly, I open the door and push inside, balancing the tray in my hands, careful not to spill either of the drinks.
Kat is still sleeping peacefully, so instead of waking her up, I opt to set it on the nightstand. I glance at Kat and feel a wave of protectiveness wash over me.
She looks so innocent and sweet when she sleeps. I could watch her like this for an eternity. She deserves to sleep this soundly every single night.
Nic pops up in the edges of my mind, and anger fills me unexpectedly. He isn’t enough for her. She is worthy of a partner who puts her first. Not someone who brushes off her passions as less than their own.
Walking to my side of the bed, I rifle through my purse and pull out a slip of paper and a pen. I write a note to set on the tray.
Good morning, beautiful.
Xoxo,
Noelle
After setting it down, I decide to crawl into the bed with her for just a moment.
Muffin hops up and curls into a white fluffball at the end of the bed, clearly liking my decision.
Sliding across the sheets, I wrap my arm around Kat’s waist and pull her into me. I’m overwhelmed by her scent, and I breathe it in even more, bathing in the notes of cinnamon and spice—my new favorite smell.
Nuzzling my face into her, I close my eyes, feeling so at peace and comfortable that I don’t even realize I’m falling asleep. Before I know it, I’m fast asleep with Kat in my arms, dreaming of us together in my home after the holidays. We’re happy, and Nic is long gone. It is a dream I fight to not wake up from.
“Abby, wait! I’ll go with you!” Kat calls out to Abby, who is dragging a bright blue sled to where the hill drops off.
Kat looks back at me and smiles as she lightly jogs over to Abby.
“We like her a lot,” my mom says as she walks up to me and stands at my side.
I do too.
“I’m glad,” I mumble, unsure of what to say.
My plan is working after all. They never questioned that Kat might not be Kate. My family loves and adores her exactly how I wanted them to. I’ve gotten everything I wanted. But I’m starting to think it’s not enough and that my wants have changed.
My mom’s arm drapes around my shoulders, and a wave of warmth settles into me. The kind that reminds you of your favorite childhood memory.
“What’s wrong, sweetie? Are you guys having issues?” she asks quietly.
My shoulders drop as I sigh. “No. I just don’t know about the longevity of our relationship.”
Which is the truth. I don’t know if this will last longer than Christmas.
She rubs my shoulder. “No one ever does. What’s giving you doubts?”
“We had more of a short-term agreement. We didn’t want anything more than that,” I say, feeling more despair prick at my heart than I expected.
Abby and Kat shout as the sled picks up speed, going down the hill.
“Has that changed, what you want?” she asks.
Abby and Kat slow at the bottom of the hill.
“I don’t think I want it to end.”
“You don’t think?” she questions.
