Chapter Eleven
Samantha
So I kissed a stranger. I guess he wasn’t really a stranger by then. But pretty damn close. After all was said and done, he opened my heart up, and I genuinely started to feel like the holidays could be different. I was already making some new memories.
We sat outside, just enjoying the crisp, cool air for hours. He asked me all about myself. What I loved about my job, what I loved about my life. I told him my favorite Christmas memories with my parents. The flamingos—I told him all about those silly flamingos—and for the first time in five years, I reminisced without anguish. I relished in sharing my stories, instead of dreading the return of their memory.
We walked back toward the houses, and I had a spring in my step. I felt lighter. Many of the families had gone back home, including my own. They’d taken Emily back with them, and it seems that my sister and Jason had arranged via text that he’d bring me back home where he could then pick up his little girl.
On the walk back, he’d casually reached for my hand, which I willingly nestled into his. I hadn’t felt so connected and at peace with someone in as long as I could remember. Just the two of us, without all of the chaos, all the noise of the holidays, was calming.
When we arrived back at my sister’s house, the little girls were all dead asleep in the living room. With three tiny, little bodies amassed by innumerable pillows, it looked like they’d passed out in the middle of playing.
“Hey guys,” my sister whispered when we walked in. “They finally crashed from all the sugar,” she joked.
“They look so peaceful,” I said.
“It’s a trick. When they wake up, the chaos begins again,” Jason said.
“Jason, if you want, Emily can sleep here tonight. I’m going to let the girls camp out in the living room. It’s vacation, after all. I can bring her by tomorrow after breakfast?” Robin suggested.
“Are you sure? I don’t want her to be an inconvenience, Robin,” he replied.
“Once you have two eight-year-olds, you may as well have ten. It’s no trouble at all. Besides, they’re all sacked out anyway.”
“Okay, that would be great. Thanks, Robin.”
“You’re welcome.” Her eyes shifted to me and back to him again. “I’m going to head off to bed myself. You two have a good night now.” She grinned knowingly, which was completely embarrassing. I suddenly felt like a teenager who was doing something she shouldn’t be.
“I should head home myself,” Jason said. Robin walked off to her room, and I could hear the door shutting softly. He turned to me, taking my hands in his. “I had a really good time tonight. I’d like to see you again. You’ll be at the concert tomorrow night?”
“I will,” I replied. Nervousness washed over me, and I could feel my face getting warm.
“So, until tomorrow,” he said just before leaning down to kiss me. It was a deep kiss, the kind that tangled up your insides and made your knees weak. I steadied myself, placing my hands against his chest.
As he pulled away to leave, I opened my eyes, taking him in. His dark hair contrasted with his light eyes, and he seemed to be thinking something he didn’t want to say. “What is it?” I asked.
“I don’t want to go,” he replied, a broad smile forming.
I grinned back shamelessly. He was so handsome, and his charm was downright captivating.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said.
“Okay, okay.” He pulled away and then leaned in for one more quick kiss.
“Get out of here!” I pretended to shove him out.
“Good night, Sam,” he said as he walked away.
I shut the door gently, and then leaned up against it and put my face in my hands. I wanted to squeal. My heart was racing, and I practically danced my way back to my room.
The next morning when I walked into the kitchen, Robin was already up and sitting at the counter drinking her coffee and reading something on her phone. The girls were awake, and having pancakes at the table, giggling and laughing about something.
“Well, hey there, sister,” she said mischievously.
“Good morning,” I replied with a sly smile.
“I trust you had a good evening?” she asked.