Page 31 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
“He chose a name so popular, they assigned him a nine-digit number after it to make it unique,” I offer him between laughs.
It’s Asher’s turn to cross his arms and huff as he leans back on the couch. When he does, Iz loops her arm through one of his, which he readily gives to her so she can hug it.
“No one should make fun of your childhood gamertag,” she says with a certain amount of cooing.
Asher’s mouth opens, then shuts, before his body deflates a bit. “It’s only five years old.”
The room is quiet only a split second before it’s filled with raucous laughter again.
Chapter Twenty
Izzy has fallen asleep on my shoulder, hugging my arm like a child would a plush toy. Her grip had been tight, but is now loose from sleep.
Will has been watching her with a certain reverence, like he’s looking at an angel from heaven, both beautiful and frightening.
And I can’t disagree with that notion.
On the other side of us is Matthew, whose expression is torn each and every time he glances at her while pretending he’s watching the telly.
I’m not privy to the whole story there, but as long as Izzy is okay with having him near, I have no issue with it. If she didn’t want him here, pack brother or not, he wouldn’t be welcome.
That goes for both me and Will.
Something about the energy and comfort level of us all being together is reminiscent of old friends reuniting after a long time apart. As if we simply belong.
“Should we wake her to go upstairs?” Will whispers in the low light of the room.
“I hate to wake her,” I admit, then look to Matthew. “Would you care to carry her upstairs?”
The question is only somewhat painful. I’d love nothing more than to carry her in my arms upstairs myself. Well, maybe notnothingmore. The night would be absolute heaven if I could share her bed.
Not yet.
Matthew frowns, then shakes his head slowly. “You should do it,” he tells me softly.
Surprised, I look down at her raven hair shining in the dim lighting before carefully moving the arm she’d been hugging to behind her back, then scooping my other arm beneath her knees. I lift her as gently as possible from the couch, and as Will leads the way up the stairs after grabbing a key from behind the desk, Izzy sighs in my arms, her face snuggling into my neck where she breathes in deep, then wraps her arms around my shoulders with another sigh of contentment.
The move nearly makes me trip over my own feet, and I hold her tighter. My whole body warms as this close, her lemon blossom scent invades my lungs, fogs my mind, and something inexplicable happens. A vibration in my chest. A purr.
Never in my forty-two years on this earth have I purred for anyone.
Yet I do this for Izzy without a thought.
By the time I make it up the stairs, Will is holding her door open for me and gives me an understanding look as I pass him by, obviously hearing the sounds emitting from my chest.
Matthew comes from behind me to pull back the covers on Izzy’s bed, and as I place her down with great care, my eyes grow hot as Matthew removes her slippers and pulls the blankets over her body, leaving her to snuggle into her pillow instead of into me.
My vision is blurred as I sweep the hair off Izzy’s face, still purring, body compelling me to climb in beside her, comfort and keep her safe.
I never expected my feelings to grow exponentially so fast, but here we are.
Whether it be due to instinct, fate, or both, I’m falling in love with Izzy Ross.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Girl, you look good. Maybe a little frazzled, but good.”
After planning out my day, sending a few texts, I FaceTimed Bec as I’d promised yesterday. Her smug face fills my phone screen, her blond hair, as usual, perfectly styled in loose curls all about her face and shoulders.
