Ten minutes later, while deciding whether I should buy premade eggnog or make my own, all while trying to not think about Reed, my phone buzzed. I picked it up expecting a text from Cody to pick him up some type of snack he wanted-it was a regular occurrence.
It wasn't Cody.
Go to the greeting card aisle. Look in the For Her section.
Suddenly all the organs in my body reacted. My heart raced, my stomach felt like someone was using it for a slip and slide. I was shaking even though I was warm in my turtleneck sweater and jeans. Despite my out of control body, I hustled over to the greeting cards, looking for Reed as I went. Was he still here?
I looked at each sign detailing the different types of cards until I spotted For Her. There were a few people perusing cards. A couple were giggling to themselves as they read, in my way. This was no laughing matter to me. I needed to find my card.
I left my cart to one side and pushed my way between the two women. "I'm so sorry, excuse me."
I wasn't really that sorry, not even when their faces scrunched in that wow, she's rude sort of way. I was being totally rude, but if they knew what hung in the balance, they would surely understand. Not like I was taking the time to explain it to them. I was on a mission.
I scanned the cards. They had ones for birthdays, thinking of you, just because. Oh. There it was. A bright red envelope with my name on it in Reed's chicken scratch. I took several shallow breaths before I snatched it.
As soon as I opened the envelope and pulled out the card, everyone around me melted away. All that existed for me were my thoughts and the card in my shaking hand. I hardly bothered with the front, it said something about meeting under the mistletoe. I took that as a good sign. I would love to meet Reed under the kiss-inducing plant. But right now, I needed to know if he had a message for me. When I opened the card my heart soared. His scribble filled the whole left side.
1. I'm sorry.
2. I was a fool.
3. Please forgive me.
4. You look more beautiful than ever.
5. I want to kiss you.
6. Right now.
7. I'm going to have to head to the frozen food aisle, thinking about how much I want to kiss you.
8. I love you.
9. I'm going to need you to give me this card back so I can pay for it.
10. Did I mention I am in the frozen food aisle?
My eyes were so blurry after the I love you, I could hardly read the rest. I chased my heart to the frozen food section, not caring that I left my cart in the card aisle.
I wasn't exactly sure how I made it to the frozen food section or how many people I may have pushed out of the way, but before I knew it, I was there. He was there.
He was loitering with no cart, just waiting. Waiting for me. His grin said come kiss me. All right.
Holding his card, I met him halfway. Without thinking or caring who might see, I dropped the card, threw myself into his arms, and wrapped my arms around his neck. He leaned in and our lips collided. For a second he acted surprised and paused, but when I didn't pull away, he parted my lips. Yep, we were French kissing in front of the frozen French fries. My tingly spine was back, and he tasted better than I remembered.
We pulled apart when we heard a child comment to his dad, "Ooh gross, they're kissing." The dad wasn't too impressed with us either. "Grow up." He scowled on his way by.
Maybe not my finest moment, but I didn't care.
Reed ignored the grumpy man. He brushed my cheek with his hand. "You kissed me in public."
"I did."
"You know what that means?"
"I think we better talk to Cody."
"We?"
"We." I smiled.
"I like we."
"Me too. But, Reed," I took a deep breath, "I'm still broken. I don't know where this will go."
With his thumb, he caught the tear in the corner of my eye before it had a chance to fall. "Sam, I'm so sorry."
"What are you sorry for?"
"I asked you once if you wanted company on your journey. Somewhere along the way I forgot it was your journey. I got in a rush to make it to the finish line, so I ran when I should have been walking beside you. Showing you how a real man acts when he loves you. Instead, I acted like the boy I wanted you to forget."
Tears ran down my cheeks. "You know, thinking back, I liked that boy . . . when he wasn't booby trapping my room."
The back of his hand glided down my cheek. "That boy liked you, but not as much as the man in front of you loves you."
I swallowed hard. "I can't say that back right now, but I'm working on it." I had to be honest, even if it meant losing him.
"I don't expect you to. I'm not expecting anything from you."
"Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you."
"He sounds sure to me, lady." A gruff voice interrupted. "Do you think you could move out of the way?"
Reed and I turned toward the surly bald man who looked like he needed a cigar in his mouth and a gangster suit on.
"We're sorry." Reed pulled me to the side so the man could load up on fries.
The man gave us a half smile. "Mazel tov. Now go get a room or something."
I laughed and grinned up at Reed. "Does ‘or something' work for you?"
"I'll take whatever you have to offer. But just know, someday I plan on signing that NDA."
Chapter Forty-Seven
We were dashing through the snow, but in Reed's jeep, not a one-horse open sleigh. The weatherman was partially right-we got a foot of snow, but a day later than predicted. It did add something to the Christmas Eve holiday, but it made driving downtown a pain. Thankfully, Reed's jeep had four-wheel drive.
I turned back to talk to Cody, but took a moment to stare at him first. I thought back to a couple of days ago when I'd shown up at our house with Reed carrying in our groceries. Cody's brown eyes went from happy to see his coach to confused as to why he was at our house and why he'd walked in through our garage door. I think some terror showed up when Reed asked to speak to him. Maybe he thought he was in trouble at school. They sat down on the living room couch together. I sat on the coffee table so we were all close. Cody looked between Reed and me, not sure what to make of it.
I started off. "I know this has been a rough year for us and a lot of things have changed. But not all change is a bad thing." I smiled at Reed.
Reed took that as his cue. "Cody, I care about you and your mother."
Cody tilted his head.
Reed reached for my hand.
Cody's eyes bulged.
"I'd like your permission to date her."
I held my breath, waiting to see what my son would say.
Reed, on the other hand, took Cody's hand. Neil had never done that, at least not since Cody was small.
"Cody, I can only imagine how hard it might be to see your mom date, but I promise you, I'll take good care of her and you, if you'll let me."
Tears filled my eyes.
Cody looked down at his and Reed's hands. I could tell he thought it was weird, but his lip twitched, then a full-blown smiled appeared. "You guys aren't going to embarrass me, are you?"
"We might," Reed answered. "But we'll do our best to keep it to a minimum."
Cody nodded, but he gave Reed a I-mean-business-stare. "Don't hurt my mom."
"You have my word."
And that was that. They ended up playing video games while I made lunch. One of the best days ever.
I focused back on the here and now. It was a good thing to do. I smiled at my son sitting in the backseat. "You look sharp."
He flicked some lint off his black dress pants. "Do we have to stay long?"
"Define ‘long.'"
"Ugh."
"I'm with you," Reed agreed with Cody.
For a brief second, I rested my hand on Reed's leg. I wasn't sure how much affection to show Reed in front of Cody yet. Cody had given his stamp of approval, and if I'd been reading him right the last couple of days, he liked the idea of Reed and me. But I still wanted to tread carefully. This was new for all of us.
"I didn't make you come," I said to Reed. Though I was happy he was. Gelaire was downright tickled I was bringing him to Christmas tea.
"You made me," Cody complained.
Reed chuckled before taking my hand. He couldn't hold it long because of the snow and slick roads, but if felt good all the same. He felt good. The last couple of days had been perfect. We spent the days playing board games with Cody and making and eating lots of food. Nights after Cody went to bed were spent wrapped up in his arms, sipping wine in front of my fireplace. We weren't just sipping wine, but whether we were or not, I was still tasting it and gasping. Lots of gasping.