Page 89 of Once Upon a Holidate
“I just want to go to bed,” she said, carrying her plate over to the sink.
“Take some cookies home with you,” Wynn said, getting out a small reusable container. “For later.”
Joylyn thanked her and left. While Hunter cleared the rest of the table, Garrick glanced toward the front door.
“She’s tired a lot. I know they said in the class to expect that, but I’m worried.”
“She’s fine,” Wynn assured him. “She’s seeing her doctor regularly, and everything is progressing as it should. At this point in her pregnancy, she’s uncomfortable all the time. It’s hard to sleep.”
Hunter finished his kitchen duty and excused himself to gohang out in his room. Wynn and Garrick moved to the living room and took their usual places on the sofa.
Funny how so much of what they did together had become familiar, she thought. Hanging out like this, having dinner with their kids. She and Garrick texted regularly, made out when they could.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“I was thinking we’re very couple-like.”
“We are. I like it. Do you?”
“Very much, but you’ve never once taken me on a date.”
His look of surprise made her laugh.
“It’s okay,” she added. “We’ve had a lot going on.”
“You’re right. I haven’t asked you out even once. I’m a terrible boyfriend. I’m sorry.” He reached for her hand. “Wynn, I’d very much like to take you out. How about The Boardroom?”
She was still processing the use of the word “boyfriend.” Was that what they were? Boyfriend and girlfriend? They were in a relationship—it hadn’t been planned, but it was where they’d ended up. But boyfriend and girlfriend?
“Are you making me wait to punish me?” he asked, his voice teasing.
“What? No. Sorry. I was somewhere else. I would very much like to go out with you, and The Boardroom sounds fun.”
“It’ll make things public,” he said. “You all right with that?”
He had a point—if they went together, all their friends would know. Of course her friends kind of knew already. “I am.”
“Good. Me, too.”
He leaned in and kissed her. The feel of his mouth against hers was instantly arousing. She rested her hands on his shoulders and parted her lips. His tongue had just touched hers when she heard Hunter’s door open. She and Garrick immediately drew back.
“Mom,” Hunter said, walking into the living room. “I was texting with Jackson and he asked me to spend the night.” He held up a hand. “I know it’s not allowed on school nights, but it’s not really a school night because we have a late start tomorrow. I don’t have my first class until ten thirty. What do you think?”
Wynn did her best not to look at Garrick. She had a feeling she knew what his vote would be—an opinion she shared. But was it the right thing to do?
She thought of how hard Hunter had worked to show her he understood what he’d done wrong. Honestly, if she wasn’t seeing Garrick, she would have no problem saying yes.
“You can,” she told him. “But try to be asleep before midnight.”
Hunter grinned. “That’s what his mom said, too. I’ll go get my stuff.”
He ran out of the room. Wynn glanced at Garrick, who was studying her.
“Joylyn sure seemed tired,” he said carefully.
“She did.”
“She’s probably in bed already.”
