Page 12 of Not In The Christmas Plan
“Because it’ll make their lives easier?” he says like it’s obvious. “If they’re downstairs with the twins, they won’t have to come all the way up to change them.”
He’s got a point, but I hate that him making sense is ruining my vision for a beautiful, double nursery. Maybe it’s the lack of sleep making me cranky or that I’m cocoa-deprived or that I’ve spent the last two hours in this room smelling Grant and being aware every time he’s breathed, but I need him gone. For real this time.
“Look Grant, I appreciate your help, but I’ve got this. I can finish up the nursery for my nieces without your help. Besides, I’m sure you’ve got a lot that you could be doing back at your own home. In San Antonio.”
Grant lifts a brow. “In case you’ve forgotten, they’re my nieces too.”
I take a step towards him. “Well, this is my house.”
He crosses that middle invisible line that had been keeping us separated and scowls down at me. “Wrong. This isn’t your house anymore. It’s Braxton’s and I have every right to be here.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’ve got it anyway.”
Even though I’m average height for a woman, my dad used to say the way I carry myself makes me seem bigger. So, while Grant may tower over me, I make my spine as straight as possible so it feels like we're eye to eye.
We’re standing so close, I feel the warmth of his body heat and the small puffs of air as he breathes against my forehead. I smell the chocolate lingering on his lips.
That’s all we do—breathe and stare until the air crackles with electricity that makes me feel dizzy and reckless.
And then Grant’s eyes dip to my mouth.
I can’t help but wonder, if he bent and kissed me right now, would it be one of those slow, exploratory kisses we shared at the wedding? Where I’d been desperate for his connection yet still wounded from Eddie and afraid it wasn’t enough, that I wasn’t enough? Or would we kiss like we’ve practiced a thousand times already? There's only one way to find out.
What am I doing?
I take a step back. It’s not nearly enough, but I think hurling myself against the wall to get away from him would be a bit of an overreaction.
“Look, Eve,” he says, his voice steady and firm. “I know you haven’t been comfortable around me since…”
My whole body starts to lock up at where I think he’s going with this.
“…everything,” he finishes. “But I’m not doing this anymore. I’m not going to just stay away frommyfamily because it makesyoucomfortable. I care about my nieces, and Braxton, and Ivy just as much as you do.”
At his pause, I wonder if he’ll say he cares about me. Is it foolish to actuallywantto hear him say it?
“I want to be here for my family,” he says quietly, though the steel in his voice is unmistakable.
I inhale slowly. I could tell him that they aren’t simply family—they’re all I have left. Grant has another sibling. Grant has both parents. I only have Ivy. Now Ivy and Nia and Amani. And while this may not be my house anymore, it’s the one thing I can keep from falling apart.
The unyielding earnestness in his eyes, however, keeps me from revealing my stingy, desperate thoughts.
“So, Eve,” Grant says, inching toward me again. “I don’t care if your plans include rearranging furniture in the whole house, cleaning the gutters outside, or watching a marathon of Christmas movies, I want in. I’m done letting you push me out of the picture just because it’s easier for you.” All I can do is blink up at him as he takes another step forward so that we’re impossibly close. “I’m here Eve, and I’m not going anywhere.”
He stares at me like he’s daring me to deny it. To deny him.
For once, I don’t know how.
Chapter six
The dryer buzzer goes off, but instead of heading straight for the laundry room, I grab the paper I’ve been scribbling on all afternoon.
My mind hasn’t stopped replaying Grant’s words.I’m done letting you push me out.
As if he can just bulldoze his way into my life more than he already has and I’m just going to sing Christmas carols and take it. No sir. If he’s staying, then I’m putting him to work.
Slam!
