Waiting for December, page 15
So that’s what I do when I write him back. And then I hit send.
twenty
I’VE COME TO expect the unexpected while working at the inn. Every day poses a myriad of challenges, with different guests coming with their own particular needs. I was just telling Jesse last week that at this point, nothing would surprise me.
But I was wrong about that.
Totally wrong about that.
Because Jesse has just walked into the inn following breakfast to inform me that I have a visitor, and as soon as that visitor walks through the front door, I’m so stunned I think I might in fact faint.
“What . . .” I start, as my visitor tips his hat. His pilot hat.
Sky is here. In Vermont. At the inn. Right in front of me.
I think I’m excited. But I’m also confused. And now I’m dizzy because Sky’s lips have found my mouth, and it’s just as it was when I saw him last.
Only not.
Because he’s not supposed to be here yet. And it’s not just the two of us—Jesse is in the room.
I break the kiss off, pressing my hands to Sky’s chest.
“Jesse,” I say turning toward him. “This is Sky . . .”
My voice trails off when I notice that Jesse isn’t where I saw him last. I cast a look around, and he’s not even in the room. Over Sky’s shoulder, I see the front door swinging shut.
I can’t say I blame him for leaving. Who likes watching public displays of affection? Introductions will have to come later.
I turn my attention back to Sky for now.
“What are you doing here?” I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that he’s in front of me instead of in my inbox. It’s been three days since I called him out for forgetting to write me. I was expecting to hear back from him, sure, but not until next week, and definitely not in person.
“I felt so bad about not emailing you last Wednesday,” he rushes to explain. “I can’t believe I did that. I’ve had a crazy past couple of weeks at work. So crazy that the weeks sort of blurred together and I forgot. I forgot to check the countdown I had going on my fridge too.”
He captures my hands and leads me to a bench beneath a windowsill. We sit, and he keeps my hands in his as he continues to explain.
“When I got your email saying how bummed out you were, I freaked. I didn’t want you to question how strong my feelings were because I do still think about you constantly, Harper. It’s just that I was thinking about so many other things during the past two weeks too. And I didn’t think apologizing in a letter would be enough. I needed to apologize in person. I know I’m not supposed to be here until Christmas Eve. But I had to make sure you forgave me. I hope you’re not mad.”
I am a little mad, honestly, because this wasn’t the arrangement. But it was super sweet that he flew all the way out here just to apologize. I did have doubts, and those doubts might have lingered and expanded if he hadn’t shown up. He’s right about that. I’ve also really been missing Sky, and that part of me is excited he’s here.
“How much time do we have?” I ask.
“I have to catch a flight to Atlanta late tonight,” he says. “I’ve got to work in the morning.”
That’s not much time. But it’s more time than I thought I’d have with Sky today.
“I still have to work,” I say.
“I figured as much. What can I do to help?”
—
Given the flirtatious tone of our emails, the kiss Sky gave me when he arrived, and all the little touches he’s given me since, I’m a little surprised he doesn’t immediately start kissing me when we finally make it back to my cottage after clearing breakfast. Instead, he looks around a bit, poking his head into the bathroom and checking out the kitchen before making his way to my bed and reaching for the novel sitting on my bedside table. It’s the new one Jesse just finished and gave me.
“Are you a reader?” he asks, flipping through a few of the pages as he takes a seat and removes his pilot hat.
“Trying to be,” I say, sitting beside him.
“I’m not,” he replies in a way that seems to say “I hope that’s okay.” It is okay.
“I like our differences.” For the most part, I think. But it’s not worth adding more to the conversation because I don’t want to be having a conversation.
Desire is crackling under my skin, as instant as it was the last time I saw Sky. Every casual brush—and not-so-casual brush—as he helped me pick up the breakfast plates got me heated. Seeing him on my bed only reminds me of the last time we were on a bed. It makes me want to do what we haven’t been able to do for the past six weeks.
“Is this book good?” he asks, now eyeing the back-cover copy. The book reminds me of Jesse, and I don’t want to think about Jesse now.
“I don’t want to talk about the book,” I say, taking it out of his hands and tossing it to the side.
Sky’s eyes find mine, and I can tell the only reason he was leading with conversation was because he was trying to be polite.
“You’re right,” he says. “Conversation is overrated.”
Sky’s mouth covers mine before I can respond. And this time kissing him is exactly as it was when I saw him last. In fact, it may even be better, because I bet Sky brought condoms! Which means this kissing could lead to more.
So much more.
Chills cover my entire body as Sky presses me down onto the comforter and crawls over me, pulling at my sweater and pressing his lips to my neck.
I wish I’d worn fewer layers.
I wish I’d worn a cuter bra.
And cuter panties.
Oh, well. None of my clothes will be on very long. Sky seems determined to make sure of that. He’s already pulled my shirt off over my head, and now he’s sliding a hand between my legs as he reaches behind me with his other hand and unclasps my bra. When it breaks free, he pulls it off and sits back.
“Damn.” His eyes are wild as they admire me. “That picture you sent was amazing, but in person . . .” His voice trails off and he shakes his head. “Damn.”
More chills cover my body as I bask in his gaze.
“Okay, enough,” I finally say, propping myself up with my elbows. “My turn to stare.” I point to his shirt, and he pulls it off over his head in one swift motion.
Once it’s on the ground, I raise a brow. “Did you get even more abs?”
He grins. “I work out whenever I’m missing you. It’s a good distraction.”
He must spend a lot of time missing me.
“Oh, before I forget!” He’s on his feet, rummaging through his suitcase for something. When he returns, he has that something tucked behind his back.
“What have you got there?”
His grin grows wider as he presents me with the surprise. It’s a box of condoms. A big box of condoms wrapped in a red bow.
“You didn’t forget,” I say.
“I didn’t forget.”
Only he did forget something. Two things, actually. To write to me. And that he’s not supposed to visit me until Christmas Eve.
But why am I thinking about those things now? And why does the voice in my head still sound upset? I’ve already decided I’ve forgiven him. Haven’t I?
What I need to do is refocus. Sky makes this easy when he puts on his pilot hat after setting down the box of condoms and pulling one out.
Oh, this is about to get good.
As he starts to unbutton my pants, I mess with his, and seconds later the rest of our clothes are in a pool at the foot of my bed.
Excellent.
But when Sky climbs on top of me and finds my mouth again, my attention is pulled in yet another direction.
“Do you hear that?” I ask.
“Hear what?” Sky breathes. I get the sense there could be fireworks going off and Sky wouldn’t have a clue. He’s that into what’s happening. I thought I was that into it too, but apparently I can block out any and all noises except when those noises are coming from next door.
What is Jesse doing in there? Humming? Singing? Cooking? All three?
And why can I hear him? I’ve never before noticed that I can hear him. But I also haven’t ever paid that much attention because I’ve never minded before—I’ve never cared if he could hear me. I do care now because Sky is capable of coaxing a lot of noises out of me. A lot of noises. And if I can hear Jesse, he can hear me. I don’t want Jesse to hear me. That’s weird. And I don’t want to be thinking about Jesse when I should be thinking about Sky because that would be even weirder, and that could end up happening because he’s literally right there, and I’m thinking about him now!
I press up and push Sky back. “Oh, do you want to be on top?” he asks.
I’m envious of Sky’s one-track mind. I want a one-track mind too.
When I sigh, Sky seems to realize I have more on my mind than sex positions. He leans in closer. “What is it?”
I sigh again. “My coworker is right next door.” I’m not sure why I just referred to Jesse as just my coworker when he’s my friend, one of my best friends. But it seems beside the point to correct myself now.
“Okay, and . . .?” Sky starts kissing my neck again, trying to lure me back in.
When I sigh a third time, Sky sighs too. He must recognize I’m no longer in the mood and that I’m not going to get back into the mood. At least not right now.
“It’s just too weird, having sex when he’s in there and can hear us.”
He sidles up beside me. “I get it,” he replies. “Kinda. I mean, I wasn’t thinking about it. But if I were to think about it, I could see what you mean. You’re the only staff here. A person can’t unhear that.”
I curl up closer to him. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
I perk up suddenly. “Can I interest you in a consolation prize? Do you want to see the chickens?”
Sky narrows his eyes. “The chickens?”
“Yeah. They’re really cute.”
“You’re really cute.” He sits up and kisses me gently on my neck, exhaling slowly through his nose so the air hits my ear just enough to resurrect goose bumps. Seeing that my nerve endings are already primed to be tickled, he starts running his fingers up and down my sides, prompting a laugh so hard I’m sure Jesse has to hear it. But at least it’s not the sound of me having sex. I can’t help but blush at the thought of Jesse hearing me having sex.
twenty-one
I THOUGHT SHOWING Sky the chickens would be a fun activity. But after being in the coop with him for ten minutes, I’m rethinking that. Sky’s hands are still in his pockets. He looks uncomfortable, grossed out, and as if he’s counting down the minutes until we can do something else. Anything else.
“You sure you don’t want to hold one?” I try one more time. I’ve got Xylo in my hands and—not to offend the other chickens or anything—I think Xylo is the cutest. How could anyone not want to hold her?
“I’m fine,” he says.
I try not to act bummed out even though I am. I want Sky to be into this. But that’s not fair of me. That’s wanting him to be someone he’s not. That’s wanting him to be like Jesse. He’s not Jesse, and that’s a good thing because I don’t have a thing for Jesse, I have a thing for Sky. And if Sky doesn’t want to be here, I should come up with another idea for how to spend our time. We don’t have much of it.
Xylo looks confused when I set her down because I usually like to hold her longer. She also looks confused that Sky is here and Jesse is not. I feel the same way, so it’s probably a good thing that Sky and I are headed elsewhere.
Reaching for Sky’s hand, I lead him out of the barn . . . and right into Jesse.
I clear my throat. I’ve been wanting to make introductions, but now that I have the chance, I’m nervous. I think it’s because Jesse is my good friend, and I want him to approve of the guy I like, and on the flip side I want Sky to like my friend, Jesse. “Jesse,” I say, “meet Sky. Sky, this is my coworker, Jesse.”
Jesse’s jaw hardens and I instantly know why. I just referred to him as my coworker, not my friend. But it’s too late to fix it without drawing too much attention to it.
What is wrong with me?
Sky nods and says, “I know.”
Oh, right, technically they met earlier when Sky first arrived. They probably introduced themselves.
“Jesse and I went to high school together,” Sky informs me.
Okay, way earlier.
“You did?” I don’t know why I’m so surprised. It’s a small town. I should have figured they knew each other. Or knew of each other.
“Yep,” Sky says.
“Were you two friends?” I ask.
“He was older,” Jesse says, at the same time as Sky says, “He was younger.”
That didn’t answer my question. Or did it? I guess in high school, your grade often determines who you hang out with. To be honest, even if they were in the same grade, I can’t really picture them being friends. Sky is so . . . adventurous and athletic and charismatic. And Jesse is so . . . calm and outdoorsy and intentional with every single word he says. I imagine Sky was popular and Jesse was probably too busy doing his own thing to care about popularity.
“I was in Jesse’s brother’s grade,” Sky says. “How is Brendan, by the way?”
It’s normally pretty quiet on the property, but even so, you can always count on hearing something—the chatter of guests, the cluck of the chickens or, at the very least, birds chirping. In this moment, however, the entire property is silent.
Clearly Sky has no idea about the accident. You’d think his family might have found out and told him since it’s such a small town. Then again, Sky isn’t close with his family. Maybe they did find out but never shared the news.
Jesse looks at me, and I can tell he doesn’t want to talk about it. I don’t blame him. I feel bad that this topic came up, and so soon into the conversation. I wasn’t expecting Jesse and Sky to become best friends, but I was hoping all of us could bond. They’re both important people to me. That’s clearly not going to happen in this moment.
“I’m going to finish giving Sky the full tour,” I say. Jesse nods and heads into the barn. I take Sky to the parlor. It’s in the opposite direction and there are cocktails in the parlor. I know it’s only noon, but today has been full of surprises. That calls for shaking things up a bit.
—
“What was that about?” Sky asks once it’s just the two of us and I’m pulling out the alcohol from behind the bar.
“Brendan passed away,” I share.
“Seriously?” Sky is behind the bar with me, putting ice in two glasses. He stops and shakes his head in disbelief. “How?”
“Car accident,” I say. I don’t share more because I don’t know if Jesse would want me to share more. Jesse shared his feelings about the accident with me in confidence, and I’ve always tried to be the kind of friend who keeps what’s shared with me between me and the person who shared it. It’s not my place to tell another person’s story.
“That’s awful,” Sky says. And that’s all he says. He doesn’t ask me any follow-up questions, and I’m kind of relieved because I don’t have to worry about which details I should share and which I shouldn’t.
Instead, I shift my focus entirely to the task at hand and open a bottle of tonic. I didn’t even ask Sky what he wanted to drink. I just decided I’d make us gin and tonics because ever since we drank them together in the air, I’ve thought of it as our drink.
“You remembered,” Sky says when he sees me start to pour the gin.
“Of course I remembered.”
Sky comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. I lean back into him, reveling in the fact that it’s so easy to touch him.
“I’ve had a few gin and tonics since I landed,” I say. “And every time, I can’t help but think how they aren’t as good on the ground as they are in the air.”
“Well, I’ve had one gin and tonic in the air without you since we met, and I’m thinking drinking this one on the ground with you is going to give that a serious run for its money.”
I smile as I reach for a lime to slice. “I forgot how much I love when you say things like that.”
He kisses my earlobe and tugs on it gently with his teeth. Goose bumps break out on my skin.
“What else did you miss?” Sky whispers in my ear before lowering his mouth to the side of my neck.
I grin as I drop the lime slices into the drink, an idea forming. I also forgot how playful Sky can make me. I spin around in his arms and say, “Lots of things.”
“Like?”
“Like your lips,” I say, leaning in and kissing those.
“And your neck,” I say, kissing him there next.
“I also missed your ears and your . . .” I’ve just kissed Sky’s second ear and am about to name his nose when I see his eyes widen at something behind me.
“There’s someone at the bar, isn’t there?” I ask.
He nods.
I assumed an empty room when I shouldn’t have. I turn around, mortified to address the guest. Only it’s not a guest. It’s Jesse.
And now my cheeks must be at least five shades darker.
“Can I steal you for a second?” Jesse rubs the back of his neck, embarrassed, as if he didn’t want to see what was just happening any more than I wanted him to see it.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Xylo’s missing.”
The gate to the chicken coop. I must have left it open when Sky and I walked out. “Shoot, Jesse, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I repeat, moving from behind the bar and following him outside.
“Just start looking,” he says.
I nod and begin to scan the property. While I search, I can’t help but steal glances Jesse’s way. He’s normally calm in a crisis, but he looks totally stressed out about this one. I know that Xylo is his favorite chicken too, but that alone doesn’t seem like the cause. Especially since we’ll obviously find her.
“There she is!” I spot her a second later, hiding in the brush by the small pond behind the barn. After reaching down to pick her up, I cuddle her into my chest. She clucks happily when she sees me and even more exuberantly when Jesse comes up from behind. Then again, she’s just a chicken. Her anthropomorphic reactions are likely all in my head. Jesse strokes her feathers, and we escort her back to the coop together, setting her in with the others.
