Page 114 of All for Love

MERCEDES

Christmas Day turned out to be the best one I’d ever had. By the time dinner was done and we were saying our goodbyes, I was kind of sad that it was over.

Kaden and Brooke left first, with her mother following them home in her car. Kody was packing all our things into my car, and I gave my mom a warm hug. “Thank you. For everything. This really was amazing.”

“It was,” she murmured her agreement, holding me close. “I’m sorry I almost ruined it. Almost ruined everything.”

“Same.” I gave her one last squeeze, my eyes filled with tears. I released her and smiled. “I’m just glad it’s over now. Fighting with you like that was awful.”

“Let’s never do it again,” she said firmly before giving me a stern look, her voice hushed when she spoke again. “Don’t let that boy push you around, Mercedes. Not ever. Do you hear me?”

“I do hear you, and I won’t let him, but neither will he. You’ll see.” I reached out to take her hand. “Trust me, Mom. He’s a much better person than we thought he was. You just have to give him a chance.”

“So everyone keeps telling me.” She exhaled through her nostrils, then gave me a soft smile and squared her shoulders. “Coffee sometime this week? You and I just need to sit down and talk. I want to hear more about him, and you, and I want to get to the point where I can support your relationship, but I won’t get there if I’m not convinced that he’s the right guy for you.”

“He is, but yes. Let’s have coffee. I’d love that.” I grinned and moved my hands up her arms to squeeze her shoulders. Then Kody hugged his dad and I said goodbye to him next before we got into my car and took off.

I glanced at him as the metal gates swung open. “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive? It didn’t go so well for you last time.”

“Last time, I was upset and speeding. I’m the opposite of upset right now and I’d never speed with you in the car. We’re good, baby. You just relax. You should’ve let me help with the damn dishes.”

“Nah. It was fun doing them with Mom and Brooke. It felt normal, you know?”

He nodded, sending me a sidelong grin. He pulled away once the gates were open. “I was actually thinking about that earlier. How nice it was that stuff felt normal.”

I smiled. “Too many people think normal is a bad thing, but normal is great. This was a good day, don’t you think?”

“It really was, but it’s not over yet.”

“Yeah, about that.” I fidgeted with my hands, my gaze on the snowy landscape outside as we drove into the dusk. “What happens now? We made our big stand, you left your car, and we’re on our way back to the city together, but what do we do now?”

“It’s not my car. It’s my dad’s. He let me use it this week because I’m only getting my new one after the holidays. Day after tomorrow, but this saves me the trip to bring it back, so thanks.”

I chuckled. “You’re welcome. I kind of thought it was just because you wanted us to leave there together.”

“Oh, no. It was absolutely that, but it still saves me the trip.” Moving his hand off the gear lever, he wrapped his fingers around my thigh and squeezed but never looked away from the icy road. “What happens now is up to you.”

“Well, uh, were you planning on dropping yourself off at home?”

“And spend my first Christmas night as a man in a committed relationship alone? No.” He scoffed, but then he laughed. “I mean, I was hoping I’d be dropping us both at my place, but if you want to go home, it’s not a problem. I’ll get a cab from there.”

“Since when are you so easygoing?”

He shrugged. “I’m not, but I have no fucking idea what I’m doing. I want to make you happy, which means taking things at a pace you’re comfortable with.”

“We slept in the same bed last night and we’ve done the same thing many times before. I think we’re way past the point where we have to pretend that we’re protecting my virtue. What do you want to do?”

“I want to take you to my house, to my bed, and then spend the rest of the night and tomorrow right there.”

“Sold.”

He grinned. “Well, that was easy. Maybe this relationship thing is easier than people make it out to be.”

“I think it can be. With the right person.” I leaned back and slid my fingers between his on my thigh. “Do you think everything is really going to be okay now?”

“No, but I think it will be eventually. You’re going for coffee with your mom this week?”

I turned my head to face him. “You heard that, huh?”