Page 7 of A Very Grumpy New Year

I’m not sure when I fall asleep exactly, but I start to stir as I’m lifted into a pair of strong, muscular arms.

“Shh, I’ve got you,” Huxley whispers, and I smile.

He actually might just be the best roommate that I’ve ever had.

FOUR

Huxley

“Storm has passed,”I say as soon as Cora walks into the kitchen.

“Huh?” She asks sleepily, and all I can think isfuck, she’s so adorable.

“The storm passed, and I was thinking… you said that you were bored and didn’t have anything to do. Well, what if you came to Semper Fly with me today? I can take you up for a tour.”

“You don’t have any tours already booked?” She asks me, and I shake my head.

“Not until the New Year.”

She bites on her bottom lip, and I can see her debating it in her head.

“Alright,” she agrees, and it feels like I just won the biggest prize.

She trusts me.

“Great. I’m ready whenever you are.”

“I’ll just go get dressed,” she says, turning and backtracking to her room.

She doesn’t know it, but I put her in the master bedroom. I just couldn’t stand the thought of her living in our house and not being in our bedroom. I’ll tell her soon enough.

She’s back downstairs a few minutes later, and I pass her a bowl as I head for the door.

“Thanks! This stuff is my favorite,” she says as she takes a big bite of the yogurt parfait.

“I know,” I tell her without thinking, and she frowns for a second.

Understanding dawns in her hazel eyes, and I’m sure that she’s figured out just how crazy in love with her I am. Part of me is eager for her to know the truth, for it to be out in the open so that we can both deal with it. I just need one of us to say it out loud, but when she opens her mouth, that’s not what comes out.

“Because the fridge is full of yogurt and fruit, huh? Sorry about that, I won’t buy this stuff in bulk next time.”

“What? No… no, it’s fine,” I say as I lead her over to my truck.

Disappointment hits me, but I push it aside as I help her into the passenger seat and climb behind the wheel. I’m alone with my girl, and we’re going to spend the whole day together. I’ll just have to show her how much she means to me.

It’s a short drive over to Semper Fly, and I park out front. We’re the only ones here, probably because Kip is at home with his girl. It’s quiet as we head inside, and I lead her past our offices and over to the hangar.

“You’re sure that this is safe, right?” Cora asks me as I lead her over to my helicopter.

“Yeah, visibility is good this morning, and the chance of icing is low. We’ll be safe.”

She nods, and I help her into the seat, passing her a pair of headphones so that we’ll be able to hear each other.

“I’m going to do a check, and then we’ll be good to go,” I tell her, and she nods, looking around at all of the buttons while I go to check out the helicopter.

I finish my check and climb inside next to my girl. I slide my own headphones on and look over at Cora.

“Ready?” I ask her, and she nods.

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