Page 104 of If Only In Our Dreams

It was easy to get swept up in this. To feel like I mattered in his world. And it was more than a little satisfying to know that I could take care of him, even at moments like this. The truth was Robin could provide anything and everything for himself, which was why the fact he was allowing me to do this for him meant so much to me.

He eyed a booth full of Christmas ornaments, one in particular that was full of ravens. When he wasn’t looking, I purchased it, careful to slip it into one of the other bags so that I could surprise him with the gift later. So that he’d have ornaments that represented him up on our tree.

Robin carried the bags again, which I appreciated. I needed to lay down at some point, or pop a pain pill or two before I was ready to carry anything heavy. I could feel the foam roller I kept under my bed calling my name, but I didn’t complain.

And despite my irritation that my back was affecting me, I was able to push through. Robin’s smile helped more than he probably realized.

We bought cow sweaters for Miles and Bubba. A small fake tree covered in baubles for Trent. A new e-reader cover for my mother. Art sets for the twins. Furry socks for every one of the kids in Miles’s classes. (That bag was the largest, and lightest somehow).

“Sweetheart,” I murmured softly when we were halfway through the venue. Robin stopped his eager hopping—trying to see over the shoulders of the couple in front of us—and turned his attention to me.

“Yeah?” he asked, arms laden with bags, and yet, one of his hands always remained free to stay snug inside my own.

“Aren’t you going to pick something for yourself?”

Robin blinked at me, brow furrowing like he’d truly forgotten that was his mission in the first place. There was icing on his lips from the cinnamon roll and I reached out to gently brush it off, licking the pad of my finger while he watched.

His cheeks went hot, hisfuck-meeyes returning.

Immediately my dick twitched to life.

“It’s hard to pick something for myself,” Robin admitted, instead of beating around the bush. “Will you…pick something for me?”

“Only if you pick something for me,” I countered, heart thumping.

Robin grinned, as if I’d just issued the most amazing challenge he’d ever heard. “Deal.”

He leaned up, waiting expectantly for me to bend so he could smack a kiss against my lips.

“Ew,” a small voice sounded behind us.

I startled, twisting a little at the same time Robin did. Laughter burst free when we both saw who had interrupted us.

Bubba Johnson was staring up at us, face scrunched, his hand clutched tight in Jeremy Collin’s grip. They were sharing a bucket of nuts of their own and eyeing us curiously.

“Bubba!” Robin said, immediately forgetting about me as he tried to surreptitiously hide the bags of presents he’d bought just in case Bubba could see inside them.

“Are you guys on a date?” Bubba asked, eyes gleaming.

“Areyou?” Robin countered, only for Bubba’s eyes to go wide and confused. Jeremy’s face was bright red. For a twelve-year-old he sure looked grown up. Reminded me of what I’d been like as a kid, quiet and large and serious.

“Ew, Duncle Robin,” Bubba laughed. “I’m too young to date.”

“Damn right,” Trent’s voice popped up from behind the two. He was nursing a thermos, probably with the powdery cocoa crap he stocked at his house. I grimaced at him. “Mama didn’t tell me you guys were coming to visit the booth,” Trent said, a knowing glint in his eyes.

“Mama didn’t know,” I countered, eyes narrowing. “No one knew.”

“Ididn’t even know,” Robin piped up, grinning at me. “It was a surprise.”

Trent stared at Robin, then me. He was silent for a beat, processing this. “So you’re here…to surprise Robin—andnotto visit the family booth?” He blinked. Trent knew better than anyone how much I hated it here. I avoided it like the plague, I always had. Last year I’d helped out when he’d gotten sick, but that had been out of love for him, and not because I enjoyed this place whatsoever.

My cheeks felt hot as he pieced together what was happening.

The second he did, to his credit, his eyes went round and he jumped to my rescue.

“Alright kiddos—” Reacting quickly, Trent grabbed them both by the shoulders, turned them right around, and steered them in front of him. “Let’s leave the two love birds alone.” He flashed me a grin and a wink. And then he ruined his good brother moment by adding, “Your Uncle Ben’s never been on a date before. We don’t want to mess it up for him.” Trent made sure to speak loud enough I heard.

And I wanted to die.

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