Either way, I’m finally trying to give myself the space I need and keep a healthy—OK, healthy-ish—distance while I continue building my life here.
So it might be two months behind schedule, but I’m finally exactly where I want to be—back in Jackson, with my girl. That’s if she’d ever come out.
I tap my knuckles on the counter and muster my best feminine voice. “Do you think you can make an exception for a lost-out-of-towner? I thought this was the place with the famous Honey Badgers, I’ve heard so much about.”
A second later Kelsey pops her head out of the kitchen. “OK. Maybe I can ma?—”
Her eyes widen when she sees me, and the smile that spreads across her face was worth running through the airport and dodging the hoards of holiday travelers. I think I’d run over an elderly priest just to see her smile at me like I’m her world.
“You’re here!? What are… no, how are you… you know what? Nevermind. I don’t care.” She sprints around the counter and I barely have time to brace myself before she leaps into my arms and wraps her legs around my waist.
Yeah. I’d definitely mow down a priest and his traveling sisterhood, in an airport days before Christmas, to be greetedby her like this. I’d go to hell because I’d even do it on Christmas Day because I’m never going to let anything keep me away from her again.
“I missed you so damn much,” I say, holding her tight, planting a kiss to the top of her head. I relish in the feeling of her soft hair, remembering what it feels like when we wake up in our bed together with her pressed against me.
Technically, it’s the bed in TJ’s guesthouse we’ve been staying at while remodeling the upstairs of Gloria’s the past few months. It doesn’t matter though because while I’ve come to love Jackson as my home, nothing compares to how much I love her and being a part of her world.
“I missed you too,” she whimpers as she nuzzles her face into the crook of my neck. Breathing in her coffee and cinnamon-spiced scent, it immediately washes away all the travel day nerves and stress. Reminding me that I can finally—truly—focus on us. “I can’t believe you came home early. You weren’t supposed to be here until Christmas Eve. And why didn’t you come see me first?”
I drop my hands to her waist, setting her back on the ground. I feel like it’s abundantly clear why I wanted to be home. Every second we’re away from each other feels like I’m missing part of myself.
“I already told you. I wanted to order a Honey Badger,” giving her a wink before I continue, “but I figured Felix and Oscar had been cooped up in the guesthouse all day, so I grabbed them then came straight here.”
She rolls her eyes and sighs, playfully shoving me in the chest. “Seriously, is everything alright?”
I nod. “More than alright. I actually finished early. Everyone’s trained. Their reservations systems are squared away. The menus are set. They’re finally ready for trial by fire in the holiday season without me holding their hands. I’m done.”
That’s only part of why I came home early, but I’m not ready to tell her therest just yet.
She tilts her head. “Done?”
“Yes. Done done.”
That’s when it registers and I swear by the unrestrained smile spreading across her face, she might full-on tackle me this time.
“Done with Seattle? Like fulfilled-your-blood-pact-with-your-brother-and-I-finally-get-you-all-to-myself done?”
“I mean… you still have to share me with our fur children, and I’m pretty sure TJ would starve without me, but yes. I’m all yours now.” I lean down and press a kiss to her lips. “So about that Honey Badger?”
She glares back at me and shakes her head, but that damn smile tells me she’s just as happy as I am that I’m finally home for good. She slowly unzips my jacket, looking back up at me. “I think I can make one for you before we go back to the guesthouse. You really want a Honey Badger though? You never order them, even if it really is a local specialty.”
I let out a contemplative hum, but I can’t control my grin. “Hmm. I think I’m looking at the best local speciality.” I turn toward the door and hitch my thumb over my shoulder. “How about we skip the coffee and get out of here?”
“Yeah, just let me grab my—” Her eyes land on my backpack and she groans. “What did I tell you about bringing Oscar into the shop?”
I shrug. “Felix was sitting by her backpack and wouldn’t stop whining. I had to bring her. What was I going to do? Tell our son no?”
She laughs and heads back into the kitchen, emerging with her bag and parka a moment later. “Alright. Let’s go dorks.”
I throwmy SUV into park, right by the stairs to our apartment.
“Um, why are we stopping here?” Kelsey asks. “I thought we were dropping Felix and Oscar back off at the guesthouse and then having dinner with TJ and Grace?”
“We’re still meeting them, but I needed to grab something from here first.”
I hop out of the car but she stays put. I shut my door and walk around to the passenger side. Opening her door, I find her sitting in the passenger seat with her eyes closed, the massaging seat quietly rumbling. I lean into the open door and she waves dismissively at me. “I’ll wait here. Don’t mind me.”
I chuckle, reaching in to shut off the car, turning the massaging seat off in the process. Her eyes fly open and she casts me a sidelong glare. “Really? Did you have to do that? You couldn’t just let me enjoy my passenger princess moment of solitude?”