Tyler cursed under his breath. “Jess, there is no good news.”
“Believe me, you two finally getting it together is good news all round. I was worried it might end like Romeo and Juliet and believe me that would not have been good news.” Jess pressed Send and finished her chocolate. “Right. Let’s go and choose the Christmas tree.”
* * *
BRENNA DELVED INTO the box for another decoration and handed it to Jess, who hung it on the tree they’d dragged back from the forest. Jess was talking nonstop about skiing, and Tyler answered every question patiently.
Brenna wondered how he could ever have worried about being a good father.
She watched as he reached to hang a decoration on a branch that was too high for Jess.
“I’d say we’re done here. If we hang any more decorations, there will be no tree showing.” He stepped back. “Switch on the lights, Jess.”
She scrambled behind the tree, and Ash bounded after her, tail wagging and smacking into the low branches.
Tyler hauled him away, and Jess switched on the lights.
Brenna sat down on the sofa, and Jess came and sat next to her.
“Wow. What do you think, Brenna?”
“Great tree. It’s beautiful.”
It could have been difficult, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t awkward because she already loved Jess and even if nothing had happened with Tyler, she would still love Jess.
“Can we watch skiing together? All three of us?”
Knowing how hard that would be for Tyler, Brenna stood up. “Why don’t you and I do that while your dad clears up here? I’ll grab some drinks and nachos.”
She saw the disappointment in Jess’s eyes, but they walked into the den together, and Brenna picked a DVD.
They were sitting side by side on the sofa, Ash and Luna on the floor, when Tyler walked into the room.
He handed Brenna a bottle of beer and sat down next to her so all three of them were side by side on the sofa.
Jess looked first at Brenna and then at him. “You’re going to watch with us?”
“If you want me to coach you then this is an important part of learning.” Tyler stretched out his legs and lifted the beer to his lips. “Go on. Press Play.”
His thigh brushed against Brenna’s, and she felt the instant response of her body.
It might have been an accident except that the pressure continued, and she knew he was as aware of her as she was of him.
He kept his eyes fixed on the screen. “Watch him make the transition to the new edge—” he took the remote from Jess, paused and rewound the DVD “—did you see that? The end of that turn blends with the beginning of the next. He’s pulling a tighter arc and cutting seconds off his time.” He talked her through it, analyzing every turn, every movement, and Jess listened intently, asking endless questions about technique and his racing experience.
They’d been watching for over an hour when Jess’s phone rang.
She dug it out of her pocket. “It’s Mom. She hasn’t called me for weeks.”
Brenna felt the tension ripple through Tyler.
“You’d better answer it.” He sounded calm. “No need to rush.”
Jess glanced from her phone to the screen and back to her father. “You’re not going anywhere?”
“No. I’ll be right here when you’re done talking.”
Reassured, Jess slid out of the room, and Tyler leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes.