Page 90 of Crashing into Love

Drew Oakes: Landed. I already miss you, too. And you can always tell me how you feel, even if it’s a bad thing, like you think I’m being an asshole or something. You’ve done that before, and I think it works for us. Also, I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Selma, and I can’t believe I get to tell you that now, too. When you call me tonight, we can talk about whatever you want. If you want me to come there again, I will. It might be a little awkward, with Gia and your grandma there, but I’ll get my own room, and we’ll figure it out. If you want to come here, you can walk through my door anytime, and I will always be happy. Let’s talk more tonight to plan something, though. And text me when you’re home safe, please.

Selma smiled as she read and reread the message. Drew was totally different than the woman she’d first encountered a little over three years ago. Their circumstances, of course, had been different as well, but after their interaction at the Olympics, Selma never would’ve predicted that her crush on a fellow snowboarder would turn into real feelings for Drew. Now, she was worried about the distance between them, the fact that she had a daughter who was clearly obsessed with Drew, and what Gia might go through if it didn’t work out between her and Drew. If she was being honest with herself, though, she was also worried about what she might go through if they didn’t work out.

“Mommy!”

Selma smiled when she saw Gia standing by Kirsten at the front desk. Gia had turned to see who was walking in through the front doors, saw Selma, and ran toward her.

“Hi, baby.” Selma bent down to hug her kid. “Oh, I missed you.”

“I missed you, too. And Kirsten said I could have a cookie. I wasn’t just taking one.”

Selma laughed against her daughter’s neck.

“You can have a cookie. It’s okay.”

“We were doing homework upstairs before that, I promise.”

Selma pulled out of the hug and said, “I believe you, Gia. Want to go back up after you get your cookie?”

“Can Kirsten come?”

“If she wants to and Kelly says it’s okay, sure.”

Selma was grateful that Kirsten had wanted to go up for a few more minutes because that gave Selma a minute to catch her breath, and with that minute, she showered quickly and texted Drew that she was home.

Drew Oakes: I just got home, too. How’s Gia?

Selma Driscoll: She’s hyper, as always. And she’s with a friend right now, so I have a minute.

Selma’s phone rang right away.

“Hi,” she said with a wide smile on her face.

“I’ll see you in two weeks.”

“Yes, you will.”

“I can’t wait,” Drew added.

“Me neither.”

“Have you booked your room yet?”

“Yeah,” Selma replied. “Why?”

“Do you maybe want to cancel it?”

“My room?”

“Yes, Selma. I was thinking I could book a nicer room for both of us, and we could stay in one room. Specifically, one bed.”

Selma smiled shyly and blushed a bit before she said, “Yes, to all of that, please.”

CHAPTER 27

Six hours from now, Drew would be seeing her girlfriend of just over two weeks. No, they weren’t celebrating it like a big anniversary or anything, but Drew had been keeping track of the days like a schoolgirl with a crush who had finally gone on a date with the person she liked. Drew had turned into a romantic sap, and she didn’t even care.

They’d texted pretty much non-stop when not in training or otherwise working, and they’d talked on the phone every night and, sometimes, in the mornings if Selma had time before Gia woke up and she needed to get her to school or make her breakfast. At night, they would use FaceTime, and Drew loved staring at Selma across the screen while they talked about literally anything. She would have, of course, liked it even more if Selma were actually with her in person, but seeing her in any way was still better than not seeing her at all.

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