Page 97 of The Hero + Vegas = No Regrets

THIRTY-SIX

Sophia

It’s nearly midnight. Dinner ended so long ago, I just snuck some cheese and crackers from the board still sitting out on the counter. Frank Sinatra’s crooning about it being a white Christmas, Eira’s simmer pot is still making the house smell of oranges and cinnamon and nutmeg, and cozy, tipsy chatter fills the room.

It's the best Christmas Eve I’ve ever had.

Worth slides his hand over my thigh from where he sits next to me at the head of the table. “What are you thinking about?” he asks.

“How lucky we are to know such great people, and what a lovely evening I’ve had.” I turn my face to his and steal a kiss.

“It’s like you never left,” he says. “And it’s better than before at the same time.”

I nod. “I feel it too.”

“What are we doing tomorrow?” he asks. “We could fly back to Cincinnati if you’d like?”

I shake my head. “No, I want to stay here in New York. Maybe we can go house hunting.”

“You don’t want to stay here?” he asks.

I don’t, but I will if it’s important to him. “It might be nice to have a fresh start. A place that’s not yours, but ours.”

“That makes sense. Though I want a house,” he says. “I’m going to get you pregnant and we’re going to need the space.”

I press my lips tight together to stop myself from smiling. “You planning on enacting that plan tonight?”

“I’m going to do my best.” His eyes grow hooded and he looks at me like he wants to fuck me right here, right now.

I saw my teeth against my bottom lip and tilt my head. “Maybe we should aim for a year from now. I think I want you to myself for a little while.”

“I might be able to live with that idea,” he says.

Under the table, he links his fingers through mine. The heat of his skin sets something off in me—a timer racing toward zero. I’m done with having a houseful of people. It’s time for Worth and me to be alone.

“It’s officially Christmas,” Efa says. “Happy Christmas!” she raises her glass and everyone joins in the toast.

“It’s time for everyone to be going,” Worth says, and I can’t help but laugh. It’s such an un-Worth-like thing to say. He’s usually so focused on everyone else’s happiness, he doesn’t think about what he wants. But right now, the smolder in his eyes says he wantsme. I like it. It’s hot.

“You’re right, bud,” Fisher says, pushing out his chair and standing.

“I have dinner with the fam at the Peninsula tomorrow,” Jack says. “I need some sleep to be able to endure it.”

“Say hi to Pat for me,” Fisher says.

I’m not sure who Pat is, or why Jack is so bummed about spending Christmas with his family, but I’m going to be around this group for the rest of my life, so there’s plenty of time to find out.

Everyone starts to leave and heads into the hallway to retrieve coats and boots.

“What about you, Byron?” Leo asks. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“I’m headed to Colorado,” he says “Change is afoot.”

“What does that mean?” Leo asks.

Byron shrugs. “Just that I’m going to be spending a lot more time there from now on. I’m not sure how much I’m going to be in New York over the next couple of years.”

“What?” everyone choruses at once.

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