“A whole year?” he asked. “Man, I wish it was always Christmas.” He unzipped his jacket as he headed down the hallway to his bedroom.
Now that Derek was here full time, our lifestyles were really different. We used to have privacy, to take impromptu trips to the beach house, to have sex in the living room, go out to dinner whenever we wanted. Now our only alone time was at night in the bedroom. The rest of the time, it was the three of us, not two of us.
But that was okay with me.
I loved having Derek in our lives. He was a sweetheart, a gift.
When he returned, he brought his coloring book and his colored pencils. “Cleo, you want to color?”
I knew Deacon needed to shower before getting dinner started, so keeping his son occupied for a while was beneficial. But sitting in front of the TV and coloring actually sounded relaxing after the long day we’d had. “Sure. Let me go get my stuff.”
“Cool.” He sat on the floor and put his materials on the coffee table.
Deacon and I moved to the bedroom, carrying our things.
“I think he likes you more than me sometimes.” Deacon set everything on the dressers in the closet.
“I just color better.”
He chuckled. “I think it’s more than that.” He stripped off his jacket and tossed it on the dresser. “I’m gonna get in the shower then get dinner started.”
“Alright.” Every time I looked at him, I felt gratitude. He didn’t make my life better because he was rich and I was poor. He made my life better because he made me so wealthy with joy, made me fall deep in love, in a blissful way I’d never imagined. I didn’t realize it was possible to be happy all the time…every single day.
“I wish you could join me.”
“Me too.” A nice hot shower with a hot man sounded nice after days in the snow.
His hands pushed into my hair, and he cupped my face as he leaned in and kissed me, embracing me in the confines of his dark closet.
If it were just the two of us, I’d take him then and there.
But it wasn’t just the two of us, and it never would be again.
He kissed the corner of my mouth before he turned away.
I watched him go, watched him strip off his sweater and leave it on the floor as he walked away. All muscle under that tanned skin, all sex in those chiseled grooves. I sighed as I watched him leave, missing him the second he was gone.
Derek had a great time.
He invited all of his friends from class to come to the party.
Deacon rented out the planetarium for the day, so the kids had a full schedule of activities, lectures, and behind-the-scenes experiences that weren’t offered to the public. Since pizza was Derek’s favorite, that was what he got, even though Deacon didn’t like it.
But Derek had the time of his life.
All wearing party hats and the planetarium shirts that were laid out on the tables before they walked in, they looked like a tourist group. All the kids got along, and Derek was just as popular as I expected him to be.
I also saw him with one girl a lot.
He had three boys with him, his main crew, but some cute brunette somehow made it into their group.
We sat at a different table while the kids ate, acting as chaperones and hosts.
“This was such a good idea, Cleo,” Margo said. “Look how much fun he’s having.” She eyed her grandson with fondness at the other table. “And pizza…that boy is in heaven right now.”
“This is way better than any birthday I ever had.” Tucker shook his head.
Margo rolled her eyes and gave him a playful slap on the wrist. “That is not true.” She leaned forward and looked at Pria. “Don’t let him convince you I was a terrible mother. His father and I were awesome.”
Pria chuckled. “I know Tucker exaggerates sometimes.”
Deacon had his arm around my waist, watching his son across the room with an obvious look of pride.
“Notice that girl who’s always with him,” I said.
He nodded. “I did notice that.”
“He’s never mentioned her.”
“Interesting,” he said. “We’ll question him later.”
“Don’t embarrass him,” Margo said. “He obviously didn’t tell you for a reason.”
“Mom, you used to embarrass us all the time,” Tucker countered.
“I did not,” she said in mock offense.
“Whatever, Mom.” Tucker rolled his eyes and turned to Pria. “She was a terrible mother.”
Margo smacked him in the arm again, this time harder.
Deacon seemed oblivious to it, more focused on Derek.
I turned to him, seeing his handsome expression, the stubble coming into his jawline because he’d skipped the shave that morning. He was such a hunk. Even when I was with his family, it was impossible not to stare, not to think about how lucky I was to have him in my life.