Page 29 of Reeve

“Me too.”

“You want to go out again?”

He asks so fast I giggle with surprise. “You could’ve asked me anytime this week, and you wait until now?”

“I didn’t want to be pushy at rehearsal.”

“Better to be pushy at my oldest brother’s house, huh?”

“I’ve had two beers,” he confesses. “Maybe I’m just relaxed.” He tilts his head to the side. “So? What do you say?”

“The play’s tomorrow, and Christmas is next week…”

“What’re you doing for New Year’s Eve?”

“Going to bed early.”

“Come out with me instead.”

“For New Year’s Eve?”

“I have two tickets for the New Year’s Eve party at the Purple Parsnip. Be my date.”

“All of my siblings will probably be there.”

“…and you don’t want to be seen with me?”

“Aaron,” I tell him earnestly, taking a step closer to him. “I’d be proud to be seenanywherewith you. But they might hassle us. They’ll heckle you, for sure. Fair warning.”

“I can take it,” he says. He reaches for one of my hands, and because it’s so crowded on the porch, and dark in this corner, noone notices. No one can see. It’s even possible that nobody cares. “I know you said no hand-hol—”

“Shut up, Aaron,” I tell him, entwining my fingers through his, and stepping as close to him as I can, with my parka flush against his and our boots toe to toe.

We stand like that for a few minutes, staring at each other, palm to palm, warm inside, until Hunter knocks on the window behind Aaron and yells:

“REEVE! You’re here! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Get in here and give me a hug, little sister!”

I grin at my drunk brother, nodding at him that I’m on my way.

“I’ve been spotted,” I say to Aaron. “I guess I better go.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow at the show, but I’m guessing that’ll be a busy night for you,” he says, squeezing my fingers in his. “And I’m headed back to Anchorage for a few days for Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Aaron,” I say, leaning forward on impulse to kiss his cheek.

He shifts his face at the last second, and the edge of my lips brush the edge of his. I linger there, on the corner of his mouth, for a second, my eyes closed, my heart racing like a runaway train. In a dark corner of a busy porch, at a crowded Christmas party, no one pays us any mind. His fingers tighten. Mine do, too. When I lean away, we’re both wide-eyed and breathless.

“I’ll pick you up at nine on New Year’s Eve,” he says, his voice low and gritty, his eyes seizing mine. “Sound good?”

“Perfect,” I tell him, pulling my fingers away so I can go and find my brother.

***

I have no idea how Hunter and Isabella get the cabin completely cleaned up by the following night, but they invite the whole family back over for a chili supper the following evening.

Because it’s the night beforeRebecca, Sawyer, and Ivy opt out, staying in for a good night’s sleep…but the rest of us are there—Gran, Paw Paw, Dad, Hunter and Isabella, Harper, Joe, and Wren, Tanner, McKenna, and Madden, and Parker, Quinn, and Emily Anne. Although I hate to hijack Hunter and Isabella’s weekend with the family, I know I need to spill the beans about college tonight. It’s time. And I’m ready.

I mean, IthinkI’m ready.

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