Page 155 of Stuck With You
SLADE
Avoidance. Complete and utter avoidance is what’s happening.
Sarah and the kids arrived thirty minutes ago, and she has spent each of those minutes averting all direct eye contact or being left alone with me. And I’ve about hit my limit.
When she met me in the driveway last night, I had no idea what she was doing until she made it very clear. I have thought about that kiss and every other thing I wanted it to turn into since. In fact, I’ve been planning how to make sure it happens again as soon as possible, but that won’t be the case if she’s unwilling to get within five feet of me.
I need to know why.
The day we spent together was like none other, and what was once hazy became crystal clear. I know what I want, and that’s Sarah and the kids. She’s going through a lot and might have a battle ahead, but I want to fight with her. I want her to want me to, but right now, it feels far from it, and it burns.
“All right, who’s ready to exchange gifts?” Krissy clasps her hands, standing over an array of presents. “You all remember the rules. There are no exchanges, and you are required to be grateful for the time and effort put in.”
“I will not be grateful for another year of finding tiny ducks everywhere, Krissy,” Trig says.
She grins. “So much love was put into placing each one.”
“Tell that to my foot when I stepped on them,” he grumbles.
“Can we just get on with it?” I snap, wanting this over with so I can figure out how to get Sarah alone.
Sarah folds her legs under her on the floor as far from me as possible and pulls a few of Frankie’s toys from the diaper bag.
“C-can I help?” Ollie stands beside Krissy.
“Sure,” she grabs his hand, but stares the guys down. “There better not be anything inappropriate in here.”
“I might need mine back, then.” Trig laughs, and she glares at him.
My knee begins to bounce as my annoyance builds.
“Hold on. Kids go first.” Carson hands a wrapped box to Ollie and then passes one to Sarah for Frankie.”
“We all went in on these,” Trig says.
Ollie plops on the floor and rips through the paper. He pulls out the tiniest baseball glove I’ve ever seen and a baseball.
His eyes grow wide as he grins from ear to ear. “Can we p-play catch right now?” He hops up.
“Maybe in a bit, bud,” Sarah says, and his smile turns to a pout. “What do you say?”
He hugs the glove. “Thank you so much! Now I can play T-t-ball.” He holds the glove in the air.
Sarah’s eyes meet mine, but only for the briefest moment. “Thank you, guys. That’s so thoughtful.”
“We expect season tickets when he hits the major league.” Wind says, holding his hands out for Ollie to lob him the ball.
Krissy sits beside Frankie. “Let’s see what this little princess got?”
Sarah helps Frankie pull the snowman paper away to reveal her first tool bench.”
“Alex would be so proud.” Krissy smiles.
“Any little girl of ours will know how to change her oil and complete a tune-up.” Carson leans back on the couch, rolling the baseball for Ollie to scoop up in his glove.
Sarah’s shoulders fall, blinking back tears as Trig pulls out his pocket knife to open the box.
“You guys. Thank you so much. These are amazing,” she says softly, still avoiding all direct eye contact with me.
