“Even the squeaky bed?”
Alexander smiles brighter and pulls me in, cradling his hands around my behind. “I love the squeaky bed.” As if on cue, the bed makes a loud noise and we freeze in place, laughing into each other’s necks.
Alexander suddenly turns very serious and pulls back to get a good look at my face. I tilt my head and wait for him to ask a question.
“Did you enjoy growing up here?” he asks. I have no idea where the question is coming from.
Taking in the room, I look around at the yellow walls, decorated with the awards I won at recitals and concerts. A picture of the Eiffel Tower over my dresser and boudoir-type mannequin bust in the corner where I hang my costume jewelry. Even as a teenager I was trying to exude class when I should have been drooling over boys in movie posters and running silly like Leah.
I had a great childhood. Playing in the tree house in the backyard and having movie night on Fridays, life was good. It was peaceful.
“Yes, I loved growing up in this house. We had everything we needed,” I reply.
“And what was that?”
“Love. We have a lot of love in this house.”
Alexander takes in my answer and seems to be assessing it. I lay my hands on his chest and look at him, waiting for him to give me some insight into what he’s thinking. Instead I just watch him absorb what I said.
After a minute or so, he looks back at me and runs his finger down the length of my nose. “Let’s go have breakfast with your parents. I’m sure your dad is in tears at the thought of his baby girl upstairs in bed with a man!”
My face forms into an honest look of dread but instead of dwelling, Alexander pulls me to my feet and the two of us get up. He steps out to Leah’s room for his overnight bag and some clean clothes. When we are both dressed, we make our way downstairs and, thankfully, Leah and Adam are here so we all flow easily into a conversation about last night’s wedding.
Mom invited Alexander to stay for Christmas but he said he couldn’t, that he had a deal that was closing on Christmas Eve. I hate the idea of him being alone for the holiday so I announce to the table I’ll be heading home in a few days to spend Christmas with Alexander. My mom looks disappointed and my dad seems like he’s going to cry but I just squeeze Alexander’s hand under the table and smile at him.
The time for Alexander to head back to New York comes in the blink of an eye. Dad is insisting on bringing him to the airport, and Alexander surprises me by liking the idea, so the two of us say good-bye in the foyer of my parents’ house. I am going to stay for a few more days and then I’ll take a flight home on the twenty-third, just in time for us to celebrate Christmas together.
When he is out the door, I walk to the kitchen and Leah takes her wedding veil from the garment bag she brought over and places it on my head.
“What are you doing?” I ask, feeling the comb of the veil dig into the back of my head.
“Trying it on. Looks like you’re gonna be wearing one pretty soon,” Leah says, and my mom starts nodding and smiling.
I take the veil off and throw it at Leah, who is now laughing. I give her an eye roll and walk back to my room and think about what it would be like to be Mrs. Alexander Asher.
I am beyond excited to see Alexander. The last forty-eight hours without him have been torture. I guess that’s a product of being in love.
Stepping off the plane, I am greeted by Devon, standing by the black SUV holding the front passenger door open. A part of me was hoping Alexander would be here to greet me but I’m sure he is waiting for me at home.
The giant greets me with a smile. “Good evening, Emma. How was your flight?”
“Next time I’m booking my own flight to ensure I fly commercial. Where’s Asher?” I climb into the car and Devon shuts the door behind me.