Page 96 of Revelry
“You’re running out of space,” he sighed, looking around and then poking in the freezer, trying to make more room.
“It’s fine, I’ll store some at the ranch.”
He closed the freezer door, nodding again and then looked at the countertop, strewn with ingredients, powders, utensils and Tupperware. I expected him to panic, but he only clicked his fingers once before shaking his head.
“Make some more and then I’ll help you take it over.”
I bloomed under his words. “Really?”
He smiled. “Of course, what are friends for?”
My smile dipped, only for a second before I reinforced it. “Of course,friends.”
“I have to be somewhere, but I’ll be back in an hour,” he said.
“Where are you going?” I asked, feeling needy and insecure. It was none of my business. But I needed to know he wasn’t running away from whatever this was.
Friends.
“Just an appointment, I’ll be back.” He grabbed his keys from the sideboard in the hallwayand then he was gone. The house grew empty and cold, like he’d taken all the life out of it when he went. I shook my worries off and turned back to making more ice cream.
After I finished, I stacked the containers on the side and then went upstairs and picked up my clothes. Iaccidentallyleft my panties where he would find them and hurried to shower and dress.
When I looked out the window and saw he wasn’t back, I got in my little VW and drove to the Christmas tree farm in searchof exactly what I needed. So close to Christmas they wouldn’t have much left but I found exactly what I hoped for, laughing as I pictured Tate’s face.
One of the assistants helped me strap it to the top of my car, it didn’t take much effort though. I grabbed a couple of the gaudy decorations they sold and then headed home, ecstatic to see that Tate wasn’t back when I pulled up.
I unstrapped the tree and began dragging it into his house, stopping every five feet to make sure he wasn’t pulling up, and laughing to myself.
It was taking so long what with checking for him every few minutes, that I got frustrated and panicky.
“This is stupid,” I muttered before pulling out my phone and shooting him a text…or three.
Me:This ice cream isn’t gonna freeze itself…
Me:Are you coming back?
Me:Like, ever?
I waited, tapping my foot and exhaling in the cool winter air, seeing it balloon in front of my face. Finally my phone pinged his response.
Tate:Sorry.
Tate:Got held up.
Tate:Be one hour.
I grinned. “Perfect.”
I hurried inside and got to work putting the tree up. I pulled out the gaudy baubles, laughing at how hideous some of them were. Then I ran next door looking for ours. I had picked through our decorations when I put our tree up the other week, and we also had some less than stellar ornaments.
Snagging some of the worst ones, I ran back to Tate’s, adding the finishing touches and stood back to survey my work. I understood Tate now. If I had gone with some gloriously lush,bushy tree, he would have hated it. But this? I assessed my choice. This was perfect and I couldn’t wait to see his face.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tate
“So last time we checked in on your tasks, you hadn’t done a single thing I asked, and this time you’ve done them all?”
