Page 84 of When in December

“The kids,” I clarified softly. “I think you’re good with them whether you realize it. I think you could be a pretty amazing uncle. You’re … you’re doing great. You’re a good man.”

And it was quiet again.

“Good night, Poppy.”

My chest was still heaving as I nodded repeatedly.

“Good night, Aaron,” I whispered.

eighteen

. . .

Poppy

It couldn’t happen again.

I shouldn’t want it to happen again.

That kiss haunted me through the night until I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I fell asleep, and then I still imagined it in my dreams. The feeling of his hands gripping my hips tight, as if he was afraid of me getting away. The scrape of his tongue against my bottom lip.

When I got up in the morning, it was the first thing I thought of, bringing my fingers back up to hover over my mouth as if I could still feel what had happened last night there.

Aaron was already awake. When I looked out the back windows, he was outside with Oz, leaving me time to get the couch back in order and get dressed for the day in another pair of jeans and a loose sweater.

I shook my hair out in the mirror before loosely braiding it back. There. It wasn’t great, but when had I ever put my most fashionable self forward since the first day I’d arrived anyway? At least now, I was presentable when the final load of furniture arrived, which I still had to get the cabin ready for, double-checking that the rooms were cleared and the spaces I’d planned for each piece were marked for easy delivery.

Everything moved easily in the morning. Aaron came back in. The kids were packed up and getting ready to go.

The thing that wasn’t easy? Aaron was avoiding me.

We’d kissed last night.

The man who had become one of my biggest challenges ever, and I’d kissed him. My heart still hammered in my chest every time I thought about it. He, on the other hand, couldn’t look any more unruffled.

The kids were eating dry cereal when he passed me again.

“Good morning.”

“Huh?” He glanced at me as if he’d forgotten I was standing there. “Morning.”

A honk sounded outside.

“Mom’s here!” Gavin screeched.

Both of them gathered up their stuff before Aaron ushered them toward the mudroom for their boots, which, at some point, he must’ve gone back out to unlace so neither of them struggled to pull them back on.

I followed Aaron outside, the early morning sunlight casting a golden glow on everything it touched. The air was crisp and cold, sending a shiver up the back of my neck.

Aaron was busy loading the kids’ bags into the car, his movements smooth and efficient. I stood awkwardly by the side, unsure of what to say or do. Part of me wanted to bring up the kiss, acknowledge it and maybe even talk about it. But another part of me hesitated, afraid of what his reaction might be.

He didn’t want to talk about it. Or look at me.

I caught Aaron as he walked by me. “Aaron?—”

Just as I was about to open my mouth, Aaron straightened up and turned to face me. His eyes held a mixture of emotions thatI couldn’t quite decipher. There was something like regret, but also a hint of longing.

He glanced over his shoulder, raising his eyebrows. Nothing passed between us. As if nothing had happened.

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