Page 45 of Holly Jolly Heat
Two days ago, I'd invited them here, terrified but brave.
Today, I'd let Ro catch me on a mountain trail and held Lucas's hand over cookie cutters and let Dex into my family space.
Tomorrow? Tomorrow I'd probably panic again, overthink everything, try to rebuild my walls.
But tonight, I let myself feel it.
The possibility.
The hope.
The terrifying, exhilarating reality that maybe, just maybe, I'd found something worth being brave for.
SIX
Lucas
I was trying very hard to focus on building a virtual gingerbread house and not on the fact that my omega was sitting twenty feet away pretending to work.
She wasn't actually working. I could tell because she kept glancing at her laptop screen, then at me, then back to her screen without typing anything. Her scent, peppermint and pine with an edge of something sweet, kept drifting toward me even through the camera setup.
She was watching me stream. Trying to be subtle about it. Failing adorably.
"Okay, Cozy Crew," I said, placing another virtual wall section with precision. "The trick to structural integrity is making sure your foundation is solid before you add decorative elements. You can't rush the basics."
The chat was active tonight, a good Thursday evening crowd, lots of regulars, solid engagement numbers.
CozyFan22: this is so relaxing to watch
HolidayVibes: ur literally building a gingerbread mansion
StreamSniper: the DETAILS though
LukesOmega: can we talk about the cookie stream earlier? because THAT HAND TOUCH
I tried not to react to that last comment, but I felt my cheeks warm slightly.
The "cookie stream incident," as Ro had dubbed it, had been playing on repeat in my head for hours. Michelle's hand under mine, both of us reaching for the same cookie cutter, that moment of connection while thousands of viewers watched and speculated.
Her scent had spiked, sweet and warm, and I'd wanted to lean in, to close the distance, to kiss her right there in her mother's kitchen regardless of cameras or professional boundaries or anything else.
I hadn't, because I was trying to be respectful. But god, it had been hard.
"Chat's asking about earlier," I said, keeping my tone light. "Yes, we made amazing gingerbread cookies with Bill's help. Yes, they were delicious. And yes, my manager Michelle helped with the decorating. She's incredibly talented."
CozyFan22: "incredibly talented" HE'S BLUSHING
HolidayVibes: we see you lucas
StreamSniper: just admit you like her already
"I respect her very much," I said, which was true but completely inadequate. "And I'm lucky to have her as my manager. Now, let's add these candy cane fence posts?—"
From the dining table, Michelle made a soft sound, which might have been a laugh, might have been exasperation. I glanced over and found her watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read.
Our eyes met, and for a moment the stream didn't exist. Just us, in this cozy living room, in her family home, building something together even if she wasn't quite ready to admit it yet.
Then she looked back at her laptop, cheeks flushed.
