Page 55 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
“I think you’re due for a new laptop, aren’t you?” he asked.
I’d had the same laptop for several years, and I was definitely in need of a new one.
“This is amazing. And way too much.” I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you so much.”
“You deserve everything, sweetheart.” He smiled.
“And so do you.” I stood and walked to my room, the one I’d grown up in. We’d lived in this little two-bedroom house right down the street from my father’s mechanic shop my entire life. I leaned forward, pressing my hands on the top of the package as I pushed the large gift out to him, and his eyes widened.
“And what did you do?” He chuckled as he tore the paper off and unveiled his new Craftsman rolling tool chest. “Wow. This is amazing.”
“Apparently it holds hundreds of pounds of tools.”
“It sure does.” He leaned forward and kissed the top of my hair. “Thank you very much. But you should be saving your money.”
“I’m doing pretty good now that I don’t have someone emptying the bank account anytime there’s something in it,” I said as my phone vibrated, and I saw an incoming FaceTime call from Archer.
My father glanced over and chuckled. “Your boss sure calls you a lot.”
I moved to my feet. “I promised Melody we could FaceTime this morning so she could show me her gifts.”
My father was right. Archer and I talked several times a day. Sometimes about Melody.
Sometimes just about life.
About the weather, our families, friends, work, books, movies—we talked about everything.
He nodded and waved me off as he tore open the box to start building his tool chest.
“Merry Christmas!” I smiled as they came into focus on my phone screen.
“Winnie! I misses you!”
“I misses you, too, sweet pea.”
“Merry Christmas, Winnie,” Archer said, his hair disheveled, as a sexy grin spread across his handsome face.
“What time are you guys heading over to your aunt and uncle’s house?”
“In an hour. We’re just talking about how much we miss your pancakes,” he said.
“Oh yeah?” I walked into my bedroom and closed the door. “I miss you guys, too.”
I really did. I was surprised at how much I missed them, when I’d only been gone for a few days.
After spending years in a relationship with Jaden, I’d felt nothing but relief after I left.
And a few days away from Archer and Melody had been much more difficult than I’d imagined.
And I couldn’t wait to get back home.
Home.
Rosewood River felt like home.
Archer and Melody felt like home, too.
fifteen
