She nudged against him, until he was on his back. She rested her head on his chest.
“Jace?”
He recognized her lilt of insecurity. “Yes, Bree.”
“Is it bad that we always do this?”
“No, honey. It isn’t bad. Nothing this perfect could ever be called bad.”
“But—”
“No, no buts. I love sleepin’ next to you. I love making love to you. I’m not going to let you tarnish it by labeling it with the word ‘bad.’” He raised up and turned so he was on his side, facing her, and she was facing him.
“Bree, I care about you. It’s more than that, and I think you know it. We do this because it feels right. I’ve never once regretted waking up with you in my arms. Never once.”
“I haven’t regretted it either, Jace. That isn’t what I meant. Not really. It’s just that we aren’t together, yet we always end up together.”
Why weren’t they together? Why couldn’t they be together? Whenever he thought they could be, she pushed him away. Each time she did it, his first instinct was to push back. He assumed she didn’t want him, not the way he wanted her, but what if he was wrong?
“How much longer until the academy is on break?”
“For the holidays? Another two weeks. We’re back a week, and then there are finals. I’ll be done by the middle of the following week.”
She’d be finished right before the end of the rodeo finals in Las Vegas. He’d have a break then too, until the beginning of January. He took a deep breath and prayed she’d give him the answer he was looking for.
“I’d like to spend Christmas with you this year.”
“Oh.” Bree’s eyes looked everywhere but at him. He watched her struggle with what to say. He was close to pulling away from her, when she answered.
“Where will you be?”
“Wherever you want me to be.”
“In Palmer Lake?”
He closed his eyes tight and willed himself not to let the joy that was building inside his chest escape. He was as happy as any time he’d ever been in his life.
When he opened his eyes, she was watching him.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
He smiled. “I’ve never been better.”
“I don’t want to miss Christmas with Cochran.”
“We’ll figure it out when I get back from Las Vegas. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“And, Bree?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re gonna have to break things off with Officer Friendly.”
“Who is Officer Friendly? Oh. Wait. Oh, God. Kaleb.”
“Yeah, Kaleb.”