A Very Grumpy Thanksgiving (Wolf Valley: A Very Grumpy Holiday #3)

Chapter 10

TEN

Nolan

I wake up alone, and it takes me a few moments before I remember where I am and what happened yesterday. I smile as I remember everything that Saffron and I did to each other last night. I sit up in bed and frown as I look around. Saffron’s side of the bed is cold, so I know that she must have gotten up a while ago.

I toss the covers back and pull on my boxers as I go in search of my girl. I can’t help but wonder if it’s a bad sign that she wasn’t still in bed with me as I make my way through the house.

It takes me only a few minutes to realize that Saffron isn’t here. She must have gone to the bookstore already.

I frown as I stand alone in her half-remodeled kitchen and wonder what to do now. I want to talk to Saffron about last night and our future together, but I know her well enough to know that she won’t want to have that conversation at work.

So, I’ll stay here. I’ll work on the house and practice what I want to say to her when she comes home. Then we can have our talk and get on with our relationship. Our real relationship.

I’ve finished a lot of the bigger renovations around here already. The bathroom cabinets came in a few days ago so that room is done. The kitchen counters are on backorder so that will be a few more days, so instead, I get to work on a special project.

Saffron has a room off of the living room that she has no idea what to do with, but I know. It’s going to be her home library. I’ve already sketched out the layout for the custom built-in bookshelves and a cozy reading nook.

I head into the room and start bringing in all of the supplies and cutting the boards to size. I’m going to leave the wood raw and let Saffron pick out all of the colors that she wants.

The repetitive task and the hum of the saw helps me clear my head and figure out what I want to say to Saffron when she gets home. I want to tell her that this was never fake for me and ask her to officially make this relationship real.

When my phone rings a few hours later, my heart lodges in my throat, and I hurry to answer it, hoping that it’s Saffron calling to tell me that she’s coming home early. Instead, it’s my mom. I debate ignoring the call, but I know that she’ll just call me again.

“Hey, mom.”

“Nolan! I was just calling to make sure that you and Saffron made it home safely.”

“Oh, yeah, sorry, I should have let you know.”

“No worries. I know that you two were probably busy. We loved meeting her by the way! She sure is a keeper.”

“She sure is,” I agree.

“Are you going to bring her back for Christmas?”

“Um, I’m not sure. I think that she might be celebrating it with her sisters.”

“Oh, well, you two could come down before or after too! We’d love to see you both again. Oh! Or maybe for New Year’s!”

“Maybe,” I tell her noncommittally. “I’ll have to ask Saffron.”

Right after I ask her to be my girlfriend for real.

“Okay, well let me know. I’ll let you go and talk to you later.”

“Sounds good. Talk to you soon, mom.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I hang up, and a minute later, I hear Saffron’s car pull into the driveway. My heart takes off like a shot, and I head out of the library to greet her at the door.

I take a deep breath as she walks up the front porch steps, and as soon as she walks inside, I open my mouth and blurt out, “We need to talk.”