Page 100 of On My Side
i hope you jerks leaving the most important night of my life early was worth it.
Millie
it high key wasn’t but also shut the fuck up.
Ren
i mean…speak for yourself.
Millie
i WAS
jesus christ give me a fucking break
Alex
we love you millie
Leo
ehhhhh, speak for yourself.
In. Out. In. Out. In… Fuck.
I forget to breathe, because there she is: on the coldest morning of the year so far, thermos in hand, and bundled up with a light blue hat with a pom-pom on top. Audrey and I reconvened our daily walks after we decided to officially date a few weeks ago.
I had assumed she wouldn’t come this morning due to a dramatic overnight drop in temperature. But here she is.
“Hey,” I huff, slowing to a stop and pulling out my earbud. “I’m surprised you braved the cold today.”
Audrey peers at me. Her scarf is wrapped so thoroughly around her face that only her gray eyes framed by her glasses arevisible. “I hate the cold,” she says, voice muffled by the scarf. She gets to her feet. “I want to be inside. With a mocha. And a good book. Not outside. But Iamoutsidebecause some sexy lunatic thinks it’s cool to run in the arctic tundra.”
I smile and cup her waist, pulling her into me as I peel down her scarf. I silence her gasp when I capture her mouth with mine.
“Ren,” she gasps, looking around after breaking the kiss.
We’re still keeping our relationship to ourselves right now, and I know she’s nervous about anyone seeing us together, and what that would mean for me.
Personally, I think it would mean I’m the luckiest son of a bitch in the world.
“No one’s here,” I reassure her instead kissing across her jaw and down her neck. “Though I wish there was, I want everyone to know goddamn lucky I am. But unfortunately, they’re all inside with a mocha and good book…”
She grumbles and pulls away. “Dammit. You were being sweet and then you ruined it. Jerk.”
I pull her back to me, wrapping my arms around her waist. For as feisty as she is, her body relaxes against me, and she loops one arm around my shoulders. “Whatever you say, dear,” I murmur into her ear. “As long as I’m your jerk,andyour sexy lunatic.”
She pulls her away and playfully shoves my chest while retching.
I laugh. “Too corny?”
“Waytoo corny,” she agrees, wiggling her nose. “Corn casserole level.”
“Speaking of corn casserole,” I say, reaching forward and tugging her scarf over her nose. “What are you and Pipe doing for Thanksgiving?”
“Cheesecake for breakfast, a viewing ofMiracle on 34th Street, and I go and cover breaks at the inn while Piper plays piano in the lobby. We do the same on Christmas, too.”
“Would you… um. Would you two want company?” I ask, staring intently at my cup.
