Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Yes.” Nolan made a face. “And they are boring and stuffy, but they’re mine. And only here a week. Will you be back for New Year’s Eve?”
“Should I be back?” I countered.
“Cara’s neighborhood does this annual party. The girls have been talking about it all month. There’s food and dancing.” Nolan’s face lit up in the early dawn light at the mention of a party. “You and the twins could come.”
“Well, for the chance to dance with you, I’ll be there.” The surfing around New Year’s on North Shore was legendary, but for the chance to dance one more time with Nolan, I could put my grumpy self in an actual shirt with buttons and brave the neighborhood party.
I pulled him to me, his back to my chest so he was using me as a pillow, and we relaxed in the hot tub, watching the world start to wake up.
Inevitably, though, Nolan had to speak. “Do you have a Christmas wish?”
“I’m too old for wishes.” I kissed his neck, pretty sure he was fishing for present ideas, and I wasn’t about to help him out there. “And my only New Year’s resolution is to try to be more optimistic like you.”
“I’m touched.”
“Yeah, you are.” I swept my hands up and down his torso and thighs under the water.
“But I still don’t know what to get you.” Making a mournful noise, Nolan pouted.
“Maybe you’re my present this year?” I suggested, but Nolan’s pout deepened. “And I’m an only kid. I got spoiled enough growing up. I don’t need anything.”
“All right.” Nolan’s tone was all cagey, and his eyes had come alive with sparkles like he’d had some sort of brainstorm.
“You have a terrible poker face.” I tickled him lightly under the water. “Don’t get me anything.”
“I won’t,” he lied, and I let him.
“Is there a role you’ve always wanted to play?” I asked to distract him from thoughts of presents. Also, I was reluctant to leave the warm tub and rejoin the rest of humanity. As long as I had Nolan in my arms, everything else could wait.
“Hmm.” Nolan made a thoughtful noise. “The one that gets me a Tony?” He chuckled, then turned more serious. “I don’t know. I always say I want this leading role or that one, but some of my best experiences have been in a supporting part. And obviously, my first love is musicals.”
“Obviously,” I teased.
“There are certain numbers I’ve always wanted to sing. I guess that’s my answer. Not a specific part, but that sort of once-in-a-lifetime solo that becomes an iconic Broadway moment.”
“Good answer.” I swallowed hard because he wasn’t ever finding that on Oahu, and now, I didn’t know why I’d asked.
“But isn’t that what every actor wants? To be a legend?” Nolan shrugged against me. “Most of us, though, settle for making a living if we’re so lucky. How about you? Did you ever want to be a professional surfer?”
“No.” I huffed out a harsh breath. “Okay, that’s a lie. Before the twins, yes, I dreamed about that all the time. Dad and Grandpa supported me, and I was rising up the amateur ranks. Full-time doesn’t happen for many surfers, but the idea was to make enough at the shop and doing lessons that I could continue to compete.”
“Maybe you’ll return to it someday like your grandpa did?”
“Maybe.” It was my turn for the melancholy shrug. “But I’m happy being a dad. Life gave me a different wave to catch, and I’m okay with that.”
“That’s a great way to put it.” Nolan stretched his head back to give me a kiss, which I turned up the heat on until we were at risk for more than simply sneaking into the hot tub. Nolan straddled me as we made out in the hot tub, but what little common sense I had left spoke up.
“Race you back to my bed before brunch?”
“Absolutely.” Beaming, Nolan hefted himself out of the hot tub. “And if we hurry, there will be enough time for me to do some present-wrapping for you.”
“You sound almost more excited for that than the sex.” I followed him into the still-chilly morning air and collected Barney and his leash in short order.
“Both.” Nolan offered me a quick kiss before taking my hand. “I’m excited for both. Christmas is coming, and so are we.”
He giggled at his silly joke, and I couldn’t help but join in. I lived for his puns and good humor. However, inside, I was secretly dreading Christmas because it meant we were that much closer to the end of the month.
Eighteen
Welcome to winter break, ohana! I know everyone is so excited to have two weeks away from school, but trust that your teachers and administration are missing your smiling faces!
NOLAN
Save me
I texted Merry for the eleventh time since my parents arrived. Cara’s family had been loud and opinionated on subjects I’d rather not discuss during Thanksgiving, but my own parents had more than their fair share of opinions, most of them negative. As New Yorkers who rarely left the East Coast, my parents somehow managed to be even more out of place in Hawaii than me.