Page 57 of Grasp The Moment

Georgia grins at the girl in her arms before turning to me. “This little lady is all shopped out.”

I chuckle softly, rubbing my knuckle down my sleepy child’s cheek as she smiles, trying to hide her face. The girls all went to the nail salon and a few boutiques at Denver’s request.

“Oh girl, let me see those pretty nails!” I exclaim, holding out my palm for Delilah’s hand.

Deli giggles, holding her nails out to me. I can’t help the smile that breaks out on my face at her little yellow nails.

She’s always been obsessed with the color, so to see her rocking it for her first-ever manicure does something to me.

Georgia grins at Delilah before holding up her left hand, and the emerald dazzling her finger sparkles as she shows off her golden nails as well.

“Gorgeous.”

Georgia’s cheeks and ears flush as she looks away. Her smile is contagious as she looks down at Delilah in her arms.

When our friends make their way over to the kitchen and dining room, I lean in close to her ear, careful of my volume as I whisper, “Leave Delilah out here for a minute, I’ve got something to show you…”

She gives me a curious glance and purses her lips. “And if I don’t?”

Pausing for dramatic effect, a slow smirk creeps across my face as I lean in closer, my lips a breath away from her ear. I feel giddy as the smell of perfume hits me. She smells like the warmest of hugs, the coziest of clouds.

What the hell am I thinking?

Reel it in, Dere…

“There’s only one way to find out, Blondie,” I say, and in that moment, our eyes lock.

The space between us is minimal; we’re so close that it’d feel more illegal to back away from one another than to step further into one another’s space. In Georgia’s eyes, the world resides. They’re vibrant and earthy like a fairy grotto that you can’t help but get lost in.

Without words, she slowly lets Delilah down, who runs straight for her uncles in the living room. A soft grin plays at her lips as she takes a step toward the bedroom—the skin on the back of my neck rises from nerves.

When Georgia’s feet land on the polishedhardwood floor of our bedroom, a gasp escapes her lips, and I tense up immediately.

Does she hate it?

Fuck, I knew she’d be upset?—

“Derek… you didn’t.” She whines, her voice soft as she twirls around the lit-up room.

Pink and red hearts swirl around the room from the small projector on the bed. I hold my breath as Georgia takes a step toward the rose petals and presents laid out for her. Her shoulders deflate as she sucks in a breath of air before turning to me.

“I, uh… I wanted to say thank you for everything. I know it’s only been a month, but you turned your entire life upside down to help me?—”

She takes a step toward me, her cold fingers clutching my cheeks as her eyes meet mine. There’s a softness to them that I’ve never seen before. I want to fall into them—lose myself inher.

She gives me the softest of smiles, while her gaze flickers between my lips and eyes.

“It’s perfect. I mean, you decorated the entire room in rose petals and candles, only to put the corniest, cutest things on the bed. Two microphones and cupcakes? I think the only thing that would make this better is if we had a real TV,” she jokes, her eyes straying to the blank wall behind us as I chuckle.

“Who says we don’t?”

Georgia’s eyes nearly bug out of her head as she turns to face me, “You got us a TV?”

I try to play it cool by shrugging, but with her being so close to me, her hands still on me—I’m anythingbutcool. I gesture my head back and grin as her eyes widen. Her loud gasp causes me to laugh, and our eyes lock once again.

“We’re having a karaoke night tonight! After your game, prepare to be fucking amazed.” She giggles, giving me a hugehug as she jumps. I can’t contain my amusement as I laugh along with her.

“I know it isn’t a lot, but?—”