Page 41 of The One I Want
“Listen. That’s completely different. Balloons have a mind of their own. And there were environmental factors.”
“Whatever you say,” he teases. “Either way, I’ll take you up on it. It can’t be worse than what I’d do.”
“I’m sure you aren’t that bad.”
“Oh, just you wait.”
We share a smile as each of us reach for our drinks, taking another sip. This is nice. In the three weeks I’ve been working here, we haven’t had many nights where it’s just the two of us. Not that we’re supposed to. I’m here for the kids. There have been a few nights where the kids are either doing homework or getting ready for bed, and we’ve had a few moments while I’m finishing up. But nothing like this.
It’s nice. Comfortable. I like talking to Wes. He knows the hot mess I am. I know the struggles he’s going through. There are no fronts or facades. I don’t know if I’ve ever been able to talk to anyone besides Whitley like this. Yes, I had other friends in college and when I was in Birmingham, but those were all friends due to circumstance and social status. Those conversations and friendships were surface level at best. And the men I’ve dated? Ha. They never saw the real me. Mostly by design. My thought then was the situationships didn’t need to know and men I really wanted to get serious with needed to be eased into knowing the real me.
But not Wes. The man knows me, warts and all. Which is why I have given myself a pass when I think about him and the gray sweatpants. Or now in the white T-shirt that is clinging to his biceps. We’re never going to happen. Between me being me, him being him, and the fact that I’m now the nanny, I have a better chance of winning the lottery.
“So these presents,” I say, needing to get back to the conversation so I quit staring at him. “When you buy them, do you just want to bring them to my house? That way I can wrap them away from the kids and you don’t have to worry about a hiding spot.”
He looks at me with a sense of relief on his face. “That would be great. Then again, that would require me actually going to buy the gifts.”
“That would help.”
“I just,” he begins then stops, frustration now overtaking the relief. “This is the first Christmas, you know? It’s the first Christmas that their mom and dad won’t be waiting for them at the bottom of the steps. I want it to be perfect.”
“It will be,” I say.
“I’m trying. I just need to figure out how the hell I’m going to get that new gaming system that just came out. That’s all Hank has asked for, and I didn’t realize it was going to be sold out in five minutes.”
“You know, if you don’t get it, he’ll understand,” I say, patting Wes’s hand.
He lets out a sigh. “I know. But the kid has been through a lot. They all have, but I think Hank is taking it the hardest. He was a mama’s boy. He’s trying to hold it in, because I think he thinks he has to, but I know it’s just a matter of time before he blows.”
“Listen,” I say, letting my hand rest on his. “I know you think Christmas is riding on this. Will you be disappointed if you don’t find it? I’m sure you will be. And Hank might be a little sad. But in twenty years, he’s not going to remember that he didn’t get the gaming system. He’s going to remember that in what could have been the worst Christmas ever, his Dad went above and beyond to make sure it was the best.”
“Do you really think that?” Wes asks. “Because I remember when I was ten and I didn’t get the bike I asked for. It’s still a sore subject with my dad.”
“Hmm,” I say, all of a sudden remembering back many years ago. “I didn’t get the Bratz doll I asked for. It’s all I wanted. But of course, my mother didn’t think children should have toys, or fun, so I didn’t get it. But that’s my screwed-up childhood. Not Hank’s.”
I go to pull my hand back, only I can’t. I look down to see that Wes has taken a hold of it and isn’t letting go. When I look back up, I’m taken aback by the look in his eye.
Want.That’s the only word that comes to mind. Like the first night we met, my body is coming alive because of his touch.
Does Wes want me? He can’t, can he? Again, let’s list out the reasons why I can’t want him and why he shouldn’t want me.
But there’s no denying the look in his eye right now.
Wes wants me.
And I can’t deny it either. I want him.
“Wes.”
My word comes out as a whisper as we slowly lean into each other. We’re like magnets right now, unable to pull away even if we want to. Even though we should. I know this is a bad idea, and it’s going to change everything, but I can’t stop this.
I don’t want to.
I see his eyes look down at my lips, which might be the sexiest thing he’s ever done. I come in a little closer, wanting to be as close as I can. His hand is slowly sliding up my arm, giving me goosebumps all over. I can feel his breath on me. I close my eyes, wanting to revel in the moment.
“Daddy, I don’t feel good.”
The sound of Magnolia’s voice is an instant ice bucket dumped over us. We jump back from each other before we snap our heads to the stairs, where Magnolia is standing, baby doll in her arms.
