Page 83 of Wild Nights

I nodded, trying to ignore the scrutiny from everyone else. "She did."

Then his smile turned down. "I miss her. Why couldn't she stay?"

"She had to see her family, remember?"

"You like this Carolina?" Mom asked Joey.

Joey nodded as he returned to his mountain of new toys. "She's fun. She went sledding with us and baked cookies."

Mom nodded. "She does sound fun. Where does she live?"

My shoulders slumped. Too far away. "Maine."

"Mmm. Are you planning on seeing her again?" Mom asked pointedly.

"She has a conference scheduled here in April," I said.

"That's too long," Joey pouted.

"Come on. Let's see if we can find some bacon. I'm starving." Xander held his hand out to Joey, and thankfully, he took it.

When they were gone, Mom asked, "Is there something we should know about?"

I chuckled nervously. I was not talking to my mother about a fling. "Not really."

"Do you like this woman?" Dad asked.

I wanted to talk to someone about this. Xander wasn't thebest choice, and Eli was too wrapped up in Scarlett to have time for relationship advice. "I do."

"Then why aren't you together?"

"It's complicated. We haven't told each other how we feel yet. She might not feel the same way."

"Well, how are you going to know if you never talk to her?" Mom asked.

I ran a hand through my hair. "Now you sound like Marcus."

"Marcus is smart. Something happened between you two when she was here, and now you and Joey are missing her?"

"That's right."

"Is she good to you both?" Mom had concerns about anyone I'd dated after Tina. She didn't like her.

"She is actually. She's so good with Joey. She plays games with him, bakes, and even helped me build a fort here the night we were snowed in. She loves Christmas and family."

Mom made a noise in the back of her throat. "You're not going to let her go, are you?"

"I think I already have. I didn't try and stop her from leaving. I didn't tell her how I felt. It feels like it's too late now. I can't talk to her over the phone about something like this."

Mom frowned. "No, you can't."

That had me lifting my head to meet Mom's gaze. "What are you saying?"

"You need to go to her. Tell her how you feel."

"I can't do that. I have Joey. Work."

Mom just gave me a look. "If you think she's the one, then you need to tell her how you feel, and what better way than showing up at her house?"

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