Page 102 of The Love We Deny
The snow has picked up since we came out here, and I don’t think I’ll ever be warm again, but Will isn’t pushing me away. “Addie, she…” he says slowly, the words I said sinking in.
“She’s getting help.” I take another step toward him, the clouds from our breath tangling together.
“She’s okay?”
“She’s getting there.”
He exhales, long and shaking, and looks up at the sky, letting the snow land on his face, and then he closes his eyes, letting some tension go from his body. “I hate you.”
“I understand.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know you are.”
He looks back down at me, and he’s so close, and he sniffles again, and I can’t stand it anymore. I take his face in my hands, and I press my lips to his.
It’s only meant to be a peck. I don’t expect him to put his hands on my hips and kiss me back, cold lips and snow covering our clothes. He pulls me in, the only warmth in our bodies where our tongues are sliding together.
It’s everything I’ve needed these past few days.
We’re too focused on the kiss, on touching each other again, to notice that, from somewhere off to the left, there’s a gasp, followed by my mother-in-law’s voice.
“Good heavens.”
Chapter 26
I can’t get my hands off him fast enough, my lips, his hands from my body. We’re tangled up together, and the cold seeps in when his body leaves mine, while every member of my family stands on the front porch watching, in various levels of shock.
Joyce has her hand pressed to her mouth, eyes wide.
Frank looks like he’s seen a ghost.
Jess is clutching her chest.
Ollie is looking around at the snow, none the wiser.
I think Addie might be smiling behind her hand.
Will takes another step back for good measure.
“We can explain,” I say to the group, looking sideways at him, hopefully conveying that he can chime in at any time.
“You can explain kissing my brother?” Jess asks, her voice rising with each word.
“Jess—”
“My brother.” She points at Will. “You were kissing my brother.”
“We didn’t—” Will starts.
“Don’t.” She turns on him. “You don’t talk.”
“I’m just saying, you left—”
“So you went after my husband?!”
“He’s not—”
