Ten

I arrived at the Kiszka's an hour or so before Olivia to help Mrs. Kiszka with some of the cooking and preparation for dinner that night. This was our second time meeting, and she felt like the second mother I never had. I could effortlessly carry a conversation with her, which I was usually shit at, especially when I'm just meeting someone for the first few times. She taught me more about cooking in that one evening than my own mother had my whole life. That wasn't her fault, of course. I couldn't blame her for her knack for always managing to burn everything, and I mean everything. Dad was always the chef at our house and a damn good one, too.

"My two favorite ladies," Josh said as he entered the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around my waist and planted a soft kiss on my cheek while I stood at the counter cutting vegetables. I said hello to him through a goofy grin he always managed to make me do.

"You two are just the cutest," Mrs. Kiszka pointed her whisk at us. "Ah, to be young again."

"Well, she's definitely the cutest," Josh said into my neck with his arms still around me. I turned around kiss his cheek in return, then continued to slice the veggies. He let me go and said, "I'm gonna run to the store with Sam real quick. We forgot to get whipped cream for the pumpkin pie, which is an essential, obviously."

Mrs. Kiszka nodded, "Don't be late getting back, Joshua."

*

Josh made it back on time, and Olivia arrived soon after. Seeing her light up when she saw Jake and then watching him pick her up off the ground, hugging her and spinning around, made me smile. Then we were all sitting around a huge rectangular table loaded with food. Looking around the table, I met eyes with Sam. He smiled. A real, genuine smile that, although may have held a hint of pain, seemed to clear the air between us. I hope the two of us could have a new beginning. As friends. I'd be really thankful for that.

We all ate, talked, and laughed together like a family at Thanksgiving should. I was comfortable here, and I found myself hoping I would sit at this very same table with these very same people for many holidays to come.

"Come with me, Kate," I heard Josh whisper from beside me, and then I felt a hand on my thigh under the table. I didn't hesitate. Everyone was talking, and no one else heard him. We both stood and left the dining room without a word.

"And where the hell are they going?" Jake questioned, but we were already halfway to Josh's room. "Really, right in the middle of dinner?" We both chuckled.

The familiar scent of his room, which had come to be my favorite scent, engulfed me when I stepped through the threshold. He closed the door behind us and immediately starting spinning John Denver on his record player, his favorite. It was growing on me, too, with how often he played it.

He approached me and held out a hand, "Dance with me."

I took his hand, and he pulled me in close to him, almost close enough that our noses were touching. We stood swaying in the middle of his room to the sound of the music and the faint sound of his family talking over Thanksgiving dinner.

"You know I'm thankful for you," he said through a smile, causing me to blush and look at the floor.

"And I am for you." I moved in even closer and rested my head on his shoulder, taking in the moment. Moments like these didn't feel real. I never imagined being fortunate enough for a love like in books and movies and dreams, the kind so epic and great that it feels bigger than anything else in the world. And maybe that sounds crazy, even, but anyone lucky enough to have the same thing would understand.

"I was going to wait until after dinner, but I couldn't wait anymore. Seeing how you are with my family, how much they love you, how well you fit in here..." he trailed off. "I couldn't wait. It had to be now."

I pulled away from my shoulder to look him in the eyes. "Wait for what?"

"You're so beautiful," he whispered.

"You're so beautiful," I echoed, touching his cheek with the palm of my hand. "Now, tell me. What couldn't you wait for?"

"To tell you that I love you."

I felt this coming, especially after Sam told me that Josh loved me when we talked in the coffee shop the other day. I felt it when I woke up this morning and when the first thing I thought about was him and how lucky I am and how much I loved him too, more than anything.

"Joshua, I love you even more than you know," I said softly, leaning my head towards his, our bodies exchanging heat in the closeness of them.

Our lips were touching slightly, but we didn't kiss yet. We lingered there, so close together, and it truly felt like two people becoming one. After a moment, he fully connected our lips. The kiss was as our first was- overwhelming electric. The intensity and passion we shared gave me every hope that everything would be okay whenever I was with him. We'd protect and love each other always.

After a while of kissing, Josh said, "We should probably get back in there. Everyone probably thinks we're having Thanksgiving sex in the middle of dinner."

I giggled, "That doesn't sound like a bad idea, but I agree. We should probably get back."

We walked back hand in hand and returned to find the table empty except for two slices of pumpkin pie in our spots along with a can of whipped cream. Using probably half of the can, we topped our slices and headed into the living room where everyone was sitting on the couch and watching a Hallmark Thanksgiving movie.

Jake exclaimed, "Finally! And what the hell were you two doing up there?" He winked, earning a playful slap on the arm from Olivia.

"Definitely, not what you're thinking," I replied. "Now scoot over."

Jake made room for us, and Josh took a seat on the couch while I took a seat on his lap. And we watched the entire Hallmark movie and another one after that until everyone eventually left or went to bed. Then it was just Josh and me sharing kisses and body heat on the couch, the room dimly lit by the glow of the fireplace.

"It's not Thanksgiving anymore," Josh said, nodding toward the clock above the fire that read 12:04am.

"I guess it's not," I agreed.

"Same thing next year," he smirked, moving my hair behind my ear.

I kissed his cheek. "Of course. I'll be here. I'll always be here."

//

a/n

and that's a wrap ladies! sorry if there are any typos, I didn't feel like reading through it and I wanted to get it up asap!! also stay tuned because I'll be starting a Jake fanfic soon (which will probably be a bit longer) :) thank you for reading!