Only when our kisses slowed, my head rested on his chest while my body molded against him, did I whisper, “I’m pretty sure I love you too.”
He smiled and squeezed me tighter. His mouth came down on mine. With one hand, he cupped my face while the other pressed me closer. This time, the flavor of his kiss was sweeter than ever before. This time, his kiss tasted of promise; of devotion. It tasted like teasing eyes and a crooked smile. It tasted like nine to five and a house full of babies. It tasted like forever.
I felt something scurry across my foot.
Scurry.
There was only one thing thatscurriedanywhere. I broke away from Chase in time to see a small rodent scampering into the hallway. And it hadtouchedme.
Immediately, I started jumping up and down, squealing. Chase looked both confused and alarmed at my sudden outburst. I pointed toward the hallway. “Mouse. Ran over myfoot!”
For a brief moment, we were both hopping up and down, clutching each others’ hands, literally freaking out, for lack of a better term. Chase must have realized what that looked like and finally pulled us both onto the couch.
“Matt and Gina are going to get some serious points knocked off their rental profile,” he said, as his eyes scanned the room.
My hand flew to my cheeks. “I left my bedroom door open.” Stick a fork in me, I was done. Officially never getting off this couch.
His horrified gaze met mine. “Me too.”
He looked so alarmed I had to laugh, even though my plight felt just as desperate. “Whathappenedto you?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“I guess this means you’re not going to save the day?”
He glowered at me as he tickled the side of my stomach. I laughed and tried to turn away, only to have him pull me in closer.
“I vote we pretend the floor is lava and we don’t get off this couch all night,” Chase said, his eyes trained on the hallway.
“That seems dangerous. Although very probable since I won’t be getting off this couch until Helga is dead.”
“Helga?”
“Harold’s girlfriend. Out for revenge. Seemed appropriate.”
“It fits. Alright. New plan. We stay up all night watching movies and we don’t leave this couch.” He eyed me suspiciously. “No funny business. Just movies.”
I smacked his chest. Apparently, he had more faith in my bladder than I did, as well as my self control. But I thought I could probably handle both for the night. A mouse running wild about the house, probably rummaging through all my things at the moment, did not scream romance to me.
I smiled. “Sounds perfect. You grab the remote.”
At his confused look, I pointed to where the remote lay next to the TV, after being flung across the room in our mouse frenzy.
He groaned.
* * *
I awoke feeling cozy and in love, but with a crick in my neck. Chase and I had fallen asleep on the couch. We had been nicely barricaded off the ground so Harold’s family couldn’t have access to us. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have to pee, but bad experience or not, I would be making Chase go first. I had to have some girlfriend perks. The TV in front of us showed a blue screen, which had, long ago, went silent after our third movie of the night. The lighted Christmas tree in the corner gave off the most beautiful, cozy atmosphere, and I realized that today was Christmas. I looked at Chase from where I lay next to him and began kissing his lips, soft and slow. He smiled, tightening his arms around me, without opening his eyes.
“Merry Christmas, Blister.”
I smiled, reaching out to pinch him when all of a sudden the front door swung wide open, slamming into the wall. Chase and I both startled, turning our heads to see who or what was about to enter.
Matt entered the cabin, keys dangling in his hand while he set down a load of luggage. He eyed us on the couch, almost triumphantly. “Hey guys.”
Two small bodies, one boy and one girl, raced inside the room, holding toys and shouting “Aunt Penny! Aunt Penny! It’s Christmas!”
I laughed and gave awkward hugs to my niece and nephew as they piled on top of me and Chase, showing us all the race cars and babies and toys their chubby hands were holding.