Page 6 of All in December
He mutters something under his breath, rubbing a hand over his face, and the desire that comes over me to help ease his stress feels like instinct. Iwantto help him in this situation, not only to spend more time with him but because I want to make his life better, easier. I want to solve his problems; let him know he can lean on me.
And I’ve only known him for hours.
“But,” I add, “Our room has two queen beds. You and Sam are welcome to stay with us.”
His eyes lift to mine, and I can see the hesitation there, probably debating between not wanting to impose but not feeling safe driving home. He looks to Sam, who is nodding his head, and then back to me with a gulp.
“You’re sure?” he asks, already sounding like he wants to say yes, but needs the out if he’s overstepping. His hesitation is adorable in this moment, when all I really want is to pull him into me and tell him I’ve got him.
“Completely sure. There’s plenty of room, and Benji’ll be thrilled, won’t ya, bud?” I ask, and his smile grows even bigger.
“Yes, please stay!” he shouts. “Then we can ski again tomorrow! There’s going to be so much fresh snow!”
I laugh, but Caleb still looks unsure. “Come here for asecond,” I say, tilting my head and stepping forward. He follows as we put a few feet between us and the boys.
“If you’re uncomfortable staying the night, I completely understand. There’s no pressure, and I’m sorry I didn’t ask you away from the kids,” I say quietly. “But if you’re only hesitant because you’re worried about being a burden, don’t be. I’d really like you to stay, and I know Benji would too. He was bummed that none of his friends from school could come up this weekend, and he and Sam seem to really be getting along well. It’ll be great,” I promise, hoping I’ll be able to convince him that we should definitely spend more time together, because no part of me wants him to go home tonight.
Caleb huffs out a small laugh, the tension softening as he looks back over his shoulder at our kids. “Yeah, okay. Sam already asked if we could ski with you guys again tomorrow when we weren’t even planning to come back tomorrow. I think he’d like to stay, and besides, driving home in this snow would be a nightmare.”
It’s laughable how happy that makes me—to know he agreed and that his son likes mine enough to want to spend more time together. I should probably play it cool since I have no idea if he’s single, or into men, but I’m grinning like an idiot at the opportunity for more time with him.
God, I really hope he’s single and into men.
And feeling even a fraction of what I’m feeling for him.
“Great,” I exclaim. “We’re staying at the Summit Lodge. We’ll head over, and you two can meet us there.”
“Thanks, Nash.”
“It’s no problem at all,” I say, going to turn away to help Benji and get out of my gear when I realize I don’t even have a way to contact him. “Actually, put your number in my phone. I’ll text you what room we’re in.”
He sends himself a message from my phone, and I feel like a teenager again, about to text my crush for the first time.
CHAPTER 3
Caleb
Okay, okay. This isfine.
It’s not weird or a big deal. People share hotel rooms all the time. In movies. On ski trips. In, like… survival situations. Which this kind of is, right?
Thereisa snowstorm, and knowing how Colorado works, it’s very likely that the road will close if it hasn’t already from everyone trying to get back and sliding into each other. I can’t take that risk with Sam, especially when it was hard enough to drive from the base of the mountain to the hotel. It took ten minutes when it probably should have taken two, and the last thing I want is to multiply that for an almost two-hour drive. It’s simply not worth it.
Tonight is just two dads trying to make it through the night with their sons and their dignity intact.
Sam is thrilled about the sleepover invitation. He, of course, is totally unfazed by the fact that we’re about to share a hotel room with strangers. Well, technically not strangers. I know Nash and Benji’s names. And the fact that Nash’s eyesare crazy blue, and he has really nice hands, and he looks unfairly good in ski gear, and I am undeniably attracted to him.
I’m trying to remain calm about this situation, but I feel like I’m coming across as awkward. I can’t tell if Nash is flirting with me or is even into men, and I have no ideahowto flirt with men, especially since I’ve never been good at it in the first place with women.
My ex really did a number on my self-esteem when she left me.
“Dad, did you hear me?” Sam cuts through my thoughts. “Benji said there’s a heated pool at the hotel! Can we go? Please?”
“Yeah, bud,” I say, trying to pull my head out of my ass. “Let’s just get to the room first, okay?”
The whole way over here, he’s told me he had the best day ever—making a new friend, skiing until he could barely stand, and now he gets to have a sleepover in a hotel during a snowstorm in the mountains. He’s over the moon. And I’m trying not to overthink the fact that I’m about to share a hotel room with the most attractive man I’ve ever met. A man I talked to for the first time this morning.
I’m happy for Sam. Really. He deserves this kind of joy. But my brain is running a mile a minute overthinking every awkward possibility—what if I snore? What if I have to pee in the middle of the night? What if I accidentally say something embarrassing and Nash regrets his invite?
