Page 17 of Starts With a Bang

“Right back at ya.”

“My costume isn’t too on the nose?” Dom asked.

“It’s perfect.”

We stood there, neither of us moving, as if we didn’t know what to say or how to act. We never had this problem during our movie-night chats. Conversation flowed freely as we debated and discussed the chosen entertainment. Someone cranked themusic higher downstairs, reminding us we weren’t alone and anyone could stumble across us.

“Hungry?” I asked.

“Always.”

Leading the way downstairs, I felt the intensity of his stare on my ass. I hoped he didn’t miss a step and stumble. I desperately wanted to be under Dom’s weight, just not during a tumble down the stairs. I stopped when I reached the first floor and smiled when I noticed Kerry and Keegan slow dancing. Kerry wore a T-Rex costume, and Keegan had dressed up as Alan Grant fromJurassic Park.Every couple had their thing, and who was I to judge?

Dom came to a stop next to me and let out a snort. “Damn, love will find a way.”

“Pretty sure the quote is about life, not love.” I waggled my brows at him. “Ready to pay up?”

Dom’s gaze dropped to my mouth. “I’m not ready to surrender.”

There was so much I wanted to say, but I wouldn’t risk another setback. I’d wait for a signal from the universe that it was time to make my move. But I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t give him a little razzle-dazzle. I straightened my shoulders and swiped my tongue over my bottom lip. Dom’s nostrils flared, and he took a step toward me until he caught himself.

“Oh, I think you are. You’re just not ready to admit it.” I sauntered away, feeling the intensity of his stare on my ass. I had no doubt which pucker he wanted to kiss just then.

Dom

“Just do it.”

Talking to myself—out loud, no less—had to be a sign that I was as pitiful as Kerry had described me two years ago. In his defense, he hadn’t used those exact words when he interrupted the sexiest kiss I’d ever had just because I was experiencing it with his brother.

Parked in front of Kerry and Sven’s parents’ house, I tried to work up my courage to go inside and make my move on Sven. I’d been waging this war ever since I woke up and was no closer to finding the bravery the situation required. Our random hookup had developed into one of the most beautiful and meaningful relationships I’d ever experienced, but it wasn’t enough. Iwanted more, and that scared the hell out of me. But why? Sven had made his feelings abundantly clear, and yet my legs bounced hard enough to shake the van.

What was I afraid of? That I wouldn’t have enough time to dedicate to a relationship. Look how many movie nights I missed. Just thinking about it made my stomach cramp. I lived for Sven’s colorful commentary each week because my life felt dull without it. His flirty texts made me feel sexy and desired and alive. Sven was ready to take the leap and explore the crazy chemistry between us. I came close to surrendering on a few occasions but managed to pull back in time. What would happen if I gave in? “I could hurt him. I could disappoint myself. And I could ruin my friendship with Kerry.”

The DJ rolled out of the commercial break with Thanksgiving Day football scores. When the opening strands of a popular Christmas song came through the speakers, I turned the radio off with a savage growl. “Thanksgiving Day isn’t over yet!” And now I was yelling at the radio.

A silhouette in the big picture window caught my attention. I knew exactly who it was, and I begged the universe to throw me a bone.Please don’t let Sven part the curtains and see me hiding in my van in front of his parents’ house like a coward.He might come outside to see what was going on, and I would be tempted to pull him inside and do very wicked things to him. My phone rang, and I jumped at the shrill intrusion. How dare someone disrupt my pity party. I expected to see Kerry’s or Sven’s name on the caller ID, but a photo of my smiling mother greeted me instead.

I accepted the call and held the phone to my ear. “Hi, Mom. Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Happy Thanksgiving!” The volume of my parents’ combined voices made me cringe. They thought they needed to shout to be heard through the speakers. I could tell them it wasn’t necessaryuntil I was blue in the face, or I could hold the phone away from my ear.

“How’s Arizona?” I asked.

“Beautiful!” Mom yelled.

“Perfection!” Dad added. A wet, smacking sound came through the phone, and I knew he’d just kissed his fingertips. The gesture was as familiar as my own face.

“He can’t see you, dear,” my mother said. “This isn’t one of those face-to-face calls.”

My parents were only sixty-two years old, but they sounded one hundred and two when they talked about technology. And it never failed to make me smile. “FaceTime.”

“Whatever,” Mom replied. I didn’t need video call to know she waved off the reminder like a pesky fly.

The name of the technology didn’t matter to her. She only cared that I used it often to stay in touch with them. My parents had moved to Arizona a few years after I graduated high school. Dad had received an incredible career opportunity in Phoenix, and my folks were tired of Colorado winters. Not once in twenty years had they expressed remorse about their decision, and I flew to visit them during holidays whenever I could.

“I added a chef’s kiss,” Dad explained.

“I thought maybe you kissed Mom after calling her perfection,” I said.

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