Perfect Embrace (Mason Creek)

I might not have laid eyes on him, but I have talked to him. He calls me every night once the girls are in bed, and we talk on the phone for hours. We’re dating, but our actual dates are few and far between. That’s okay, because we’re getting to know one another on a deeper level.

There are also his text messages. Grabbing my phone, I pull up the one from this morning.

Grayson: Have a great day, beautiful.

My reply was a lame “you too.” If Grayson only knew that the blush he confessed—on one of our late-night calls—he loves so much was present this morning when I read his message. Who blushes over a sweet text message? Me, I guess. I crushed on Grayson hard in high school. As an adult, I still thought he was sexy as hell, but it wasn’t the same as when I was in high school. I was a young girl, and he was hands down the hottest guy in school, at least in my opinion. As an adult, he was just another gorgeous man, one who was untouchable.

It turns out I was wrong.

I would never have imagined that Grayson and I would be dating, then or now. However, when my phone rings every night at nine, I know it’s him. My heart flutters in my chest, and I’m giddy to hear his voice in my ear.

I hear the chime of the door, alerting us to a customer, and even that is distracting me. I just can’t seem to focus today. When I hear, “Where’s Waken?” it’s not just my face that lights up with a smile. My heart does as well. Harlow and Hayden Davis are a breath of fresh air and a welcome distraction from the numbers I’m supposed to be buried in at the moment.

Standing from my desk, I smile as I walk out of my office. “Waken!” the girls exclaim.

“Ladies, are you ready to pick out a book?” I ask them.

“We wanna tell you another story,” Harlow says.

“Yeah. It’s so good,” Hayden adds.

“Hey, Jackie,” I greet Grayson’s mom. I try to act as I always have around her, but it’s different now that I’m dating her son.

“Laken.” Is it just me, or does her greeting hold something new? I’m sure it’s all in my head.

“You want to join us?” I ask her.

“I think I’ll find myself something to read while I’m here.”

“Perfect,” I tell her. “Ladies.” I look down at the girls. “Shall we go to the reading corner?”

“Yay!” they cheer. Each girl takes one of my hands as they tug me to the plush green carpet.

I take a seat on the carpet, resting my back against the small array of pillows against the wall. The girls each take a side, and I’m surprised when they snuggle up against me.

“Once upon a time,” Harlow starts.

“—there was a bunny and a sheep,” Hayden adds.

Line by line, the girls retell their story. Well, I assume it’s a retelling. They could be making it up as they go. The imagination of a child is a wonderful thing. I don’t know how long we sit here, but I make sure to give them my full attention. Jasmine has the store covered, and honestly, I’m just too enthralled by the light in their eyes from creating their own story to worry about anything else.

“The end,” they say together.

I clap, and they both offer me huge grins. “That was so good. I’m so proud of you. Umpff!” I say when they both attack me, wrapping their little arms around my neck. I look up to find both Jackie and Grayson sitting in the area for adults. Both of them are watching me with the twins.

“Girls, guess what?” I ask, pulling my eyes from Grayson and his mom.

“What?” They let their arms fall from my neck and watch me with anticipation. “Look.” I point to Grayson, and they scream and take off running.

Grayson barely has time to stand before they launch themselves at him. I avert my gaze, giving them time to say hello. Taking my time, I stand and adjust the pillows before making my way to the register to check on Jasmine. I want to be in that back corner with them. I want to hug Grayson and feel his strong arms around me, but I hold strong. It’s not my moment. It’s theirs. Sure, maybe before we started dating I might have gone over to say hello, but now, well, things are different.

The bell chimes over the door, and I turn to see Lenora and my nephew, Trace. “Hey, you two,” I greet them. Trace comes to me and gives me a hug.

“We were out running errands and wanted to see if you wanted to come to the park with us.”

“Waken! You go to the park?” I turn to see the twins standing behind me with Grayson and his mom. I don’t know which one asked the question; I struggle when I’m not looking at them.