Page 22 of This December

“Oh no, it’s not that—mostly because she didn’t mention it. She’s freaked because she didn’t recognize you last night and had to hear the news from her nemesis, AKA their neighbor, Angela Agate.”

Cole’s shoulders shook as laughter bubbled out of him. “Your mom has a nemesis?”

“Oh yeah. Life’s not worth living unless you have a nemesis. Didn’t you know that?”

Cole grabbed his keys from the hook and grabbed my hand before pulling me toward the garage door. “I don’t think I got that particular life lesson from my parents.”

“It’s mostly just big with my mom. She’s all about one-upping the neighbors. Number of children. Number of grandchildren. Christmas decorations. Fourth of July decorations. Halloween decorations. Gardens.”

Cole hit the button to open the garage doors. We walked to his Range Rover.

“Although there was the one time that their basement flooded, and I always wondered if my mom had anything to do with it.”

He stopped next to the passenger door and gave me a disbelieving look.

I shrugged. “They were out of town and gave my parents a key to bring in their mail. I guess a toilet in the basement started leaking and flooded the whole level? Seemed like suspicious timing to me. Joke was on my mom though. They got a huge settlement from insurance and updated their basement into this kickass family gaming room. It wastheplace to hang out that summer.”

Cole chuckled as he shut the door after I’d climbed in then crossed around to get in the driver’s door. As he popped back inside the car, he was still laughing. “Your family is amazing.”

He was backing down the driveway when something occurred to me. “Wait. Shouldn’t we both drive? Doesn’t really make sense to go together then for me to run over again. I’m exhausted. I need to get some actual sleep.”

“Nah. Let’s grab a bag for you, so you can leave some stuff at my place. All this back and forth is getting to be ridiculous. And I’d feel better having you close with everything going on.”

I sank back in my seat with a smile. He wanted me to leave my stuff at his place! I fought the urge to squeal my excitement.

God, I was falling hard.

“You know I could’ve sworn you didn’t recognize me when we first met.” Cole slowed for a stop sign and signaled his turn. “You treated me like a regular guy—not an ounce of starstruck wonder on your face or in your voice. And I could tell you weren’t impressed with my whole flower schtick.”

“Right.” I shrugged. “In all honesty, I didn’t recognize you at first. And as for your whole flower schtick, I’m not going to lie—it was charming as hell. I just wasn’t in the best headspace to meet an amazing guy like you. That’s why I was so resistant at first.”

“But you gave in. And thank god you did.” He reached over and held my hand as he confidently drove one-handed through the snow-covered roads. “When did you figure out who I was?”

I groaned and let my head fall back against the headrest. “It was after the first grocery delivery. So you were right. I had no idea who you were when we first met. For the record, I did think you were hot though. And I was totally embarrassed when you found me making snow angels covered in your groceries like a hot mess.”

“You got the hot part right, but you were far from looking like a mess. You looked like you had zero fucks to give. It was so goddamn hot.”

I rolled my eyes, but I was grinning when I turned to look out the window as we pulled up to my parents’ house. Only my sisters’ cars were parked in front by the curb.

So far so good.

Famous last words and all that.

Chapter 8

“December!” my mom shouted from the kitchen before rushing down the hall to envelop me in her arms like I was a returning soldier she hadn’t seen in years and not literally just this morning. “I’m so glad you both are here. Come in, come in. Can I take your coats?”

This was…bizarre. I stepped back and gave my mom a wide-eyed look. Was she drunk? Her eyes were clear and bright. Shrugging, I took off my coat and threw it on the pile with the others next to the door. “That’s all right. We can just put ours with the others. Don’t forget to take your shoes off, Cole.”

“Oh, he doesn’t have to do that.” Mom tittered. “We’re not so fancy here. What can I get you to drink, Cole Jackson? I picked up some of that beer that was on your social media. Lazy Bones Lager?”

“You stalked his social media, Mom? Really?” I boggled. I never would’ve guessed she’d react like this. My mom was usually so calm and level-headed.

“What? It’s not like I followed him or liked his pictures or whatever.” Mom gave me an insulted glare. “I did the same thing back when you were dating Nathan Hunt in high school. I keep a watchful eye on all my kids, regardless of whether they’re dating a celebrity or Joe Schmo.”

I covered my face with my hands. “You cyberstalked Nathan too? Oh my god, this is mortifying.”

“I think it’s sweet.”

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