Page 21 of Not In The Christmas Plan
After three strokes I’m sure he’s got the flour off, but this time his hand doesn’t move away. Neither do his eyes. They’re intense and sure, and as the air between us thickens all I can think is that this man keeps surprising me.
He’s knowledgeable, helpful, funny. Attractive. Too attractive.
His eyes dip to my mouth and before I can stop myself, I wet my lips. His jaw sets with quiet determination as he leans in, and even though I should step back, I tilt my head up.
As the space between us narrows, his hand moves to cup my face. Our breaths mingle, mouths centimeters apart.
Ring!
Back to life. Back to reality.
“Ivy’s calling,” I say breathless, immediately recognizing the ringtone.
“Give me a break,” Grant utters quietly enough forme to act like I don’t hear.
My pulse races and my knees wobble like Bambi on ice as I scramble to the table where I see Ivy wants to video chat. The phone doesn’t want to stay in my jittery hands as I fumble to pick it up, but I manage to get a solid grip and swipe to answer as I bolt from the kitchen. Away from Grant and what could have been a kiss I’m not sure I’d recover from.
Chapter nine
Whew, Lord. Saved by the ringtone.
I don’t slow down until I’m safely in my room, with a door, stairs, and kitchen to separate me from Grant.
“Hey Twinnie,” Ivy says once her picture pops up.
“Ivy!” I cry, fighting back emotion.
The whiplash from getting swept up in Grant to seeing my sister after so much worrying is nearly enough to bring on a wave of tears.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” she asks.
I step away from the door while shaking my head. “Nothing’s wrong. You caught me finishing something up in the kitchen and I ran upstairs.”
Ivy hesitates. “Is… the kitchen still standing?”
“Hardie-har-har.” I let out a dry laugh. “Don’t worry, the kitchen remains intact.”
She wipes invisible sweat from her forehead, and I cut my eyes at her while also inspecting her as much as I can through the screen. She rests against a gray headboardletting me know she’s not at the hospital. Some of the pregnancy-induced swelling has dropped from her face, which I’m unsure is a normal part of being post-partum or a sign that she’s losing weight too quickly. Her eyes have dark circles underneath, letting me know she isn’t getting enough sleep.
“I’m so glad you called,” I tell her, making my way around a box and to my bed. “Braxton’s been keeping me up to date, but it’s not the same. Are you getting enough rest? Eating? Do you need anything? I still have your in-laws’ address saved in my Amazon from the gift I sent on their anniversary. Just say the word and I’ll have whatever you need sent over.”
Ivy closes her eyes in the middle of my rambling, but a faint smile spreads across her lips. “I’m fine.” She hesitates. “I’m doing okay. I’m eating. And no, I don’t need you to send anything up here. I’ve got everything I need.”
At least she doesn’t try to lie and tell me she’s been sleeping.
She opens her eyes and looks at me. “Braxton is doing a good job of taking care of me and the babies.”
“And how are my beautiful nieces? I can’t wait to meet them and love on them.”
“They’re fighting to get strong enough to come home. Braxton’s mom and dad are at the hospital with them right now. I’m supposed to be sleeping but I can’t,” she admits. Her eyes water and she closes them before any tears can fall, taking a moment to compose herself. “My nurse says if I want my milk to come in then I need to take care of my body, but it’s so hard.”
I wish I could reach into the phone and pull her into a hug. “It’ll come in Ivy, try not to stress about it. You know that will only make it harder.”
“I know. It’s just…” She takes in a shaky breath full of unleashed emotion. “None of this is what I pictured. I don’t even care about the c-section or these big ass underwear they gave me that practically sit under my boobs. I just want to hold my babies all day without a timer or the sound of breathing machines in the background.”
“Oh sissy, I’m so sorry you have to go through this. Just know everything you’re feeling is natural,” I tell her softly. It kills me we have to do this over the phone instead of in person where I can be there for her to lean on. “This part is temporary. Nia and Amani will be out of there before you know it and you’ll get all the time in the world with them.”
“You can’t know that,” Ivy whispers.
