Page 83 of Dump and Chase

Why did he have to go and ruin a good moment?

I’m not fucking up this time.

We’ll see.

While Tangi slept, I got online and played a video game with Craig and some of my teammates. I don’t know how much time had passed but I heard the shower running in Tangi’s room and checked my watch. Shit. It was almost five o’clock. Where had the day gone?

I told the guys I had to go and logged off. Minutes later, Tangi came out of her room, her hair still damp and falling in waves around her. Fuck, she was gorgeous.

“That helped,” she said. “I needed the sleep. I’m going to get started on the ham. It’s probably too early for you to prep the mac and cheese?”

“Yeah, but I think I’ll hit the shower too. I want to smell clean for dinner.”

She giggled a little and my heart soared. But all I could think about was Craig telling me that New Year’s Eve was right around the corner. Why did he have to jinx it?

ChapterThirty-Nine

Tangi

Iput the ham in the oven, thankful it was just a small one that wouldn’t take long. I’d napped for a while. I blamed the exercise and the fresh air. We’d also been lucky to be blessed with a sunny day.

Next, I rummaged through veggies we’d bought yesterday. I figured I’d steam them and come up with some kind of garlic butter sauce to make them more exciting. As I shut the fridge door, I spotted my reflection in the stainless steel. I touched the necklace he’d given me and felt warmth surge through me. He’d actually put thought into the gift, like he’d cared. Maybe he really did care, more than I was giving him credit for.

He came into the kitchen and went straight for the fridge. He pulled out a few different cheeses and started grating them. He smelled so nice, like soap and cedarwood. I shook the thought from my head.

“How hungry are you?” he asked.

“Lately, I can eat everything.”

“Got it. I’ll make extra.”

I worked on my garlic butter sauce while he boiled pasta. When I was done, I switched over to a salad since we needed to eat something with nutritional value. The buzzer on the stove went off just as Ethan was putting the pasta in the boiling water. Perfect timing. I shut the stove off but popped in the cherry pie we’d bought so it could warm while we ate.

“I got this,” Ethan said, holding up sparkling cider. “It’s like not drinking but pretending to.”

“Oh, I like that.”

He poured two generous glasses and we toasted to Baby Kildare-Grant’s health. It seemed appropriate.

We sat down to dinner and my plate was just as big as Ethan’s.

“Where are you putting all that food?”

“I don’t know, but I’m eating every last bite.” And I did. Every. Last. Bite.

“I have an idea,” he said. “Let’s not do the dishes until tomorrow. Let’s watch a movie now, then have dessert, and watch another movie?”

“You read my mind.It’s a Wonderful LifeorMiracle on 34th Street?”

“You pick.”

“Miracle on 34th Street.”

We at least brought our plates to the kitchen and put away the leftovers that I was sure to devour the next day. We settled on the sofa, careful not to touch each other. I knew that if we got too close, things could happen, and I wasn’t ready for that. So while we watched the movie, I tried not to think naughty thoughts, focusing instead on the movie and cherry pie I was going to have later. The last few weeks had felt like old times with Ethan, and I understood how dangerous that was. I was pissed about missing Christmas with my family, but these few days with Ethan had been almost magical. Every part of me wanted to cuddle in his arms, feel his body next to mine, but I couldn’t go down that path. Way too thorny.

When the credits rolled, I jumped up and suggested we have that pie. I needed some space and sugar.

“I’ll get it,” he said. “Want some tea too?”

---