"Miss we are here. Do you need help with your bags?" The cab driver said pulling me back into focus. I smiled and shook my head at him.
"No thank you. I got it." I got out into the snow, sinking a good foot in. Where was Jules? I wondered as I grabbed my suitcases from the cab.
"Merry Christmas." The driver said as I gave him a tip and he drove off.
"Rose!" I heard a woman yell my name and my eyes focused on a group heading my way. I could make Jules and Miles out. The other guy I didn't recognize, "Finally you're here. We've been waiting for hours." Jules said as she wrapped me in her arms, "How are you? I can't believe it's been 5 years." She said as Miles joined in on the hug too.
"I'm sorry, the flight was delayed because of the snow storm." I turned to the tall stranger standing behind them, "Hi, I'm guessing these two dragged you to be part of my welcome committee." I said stretching my hand out to him.
"Alex." He said as he gave me a dimpled smile, "They have been talking about you non stop for the last couple of days. I feel like I've known you for as long as they have."
"All good things I hope." I said turning to look at Jules who gave me a wink. I wasn't even here for more than 5 minutes and she was already trying to set me up, "Alright, let's get inside." I said as they followed me.
I made my way up the steps as the guys grabbed my 2 bags, "Hey how long are you staying?" Miles piped up as we made our way into the foyer.
"A couple weeks. I'm hoping once all this legal stuff is finalized I could go back home." I said earning a visible frown from Jules.
"Rose this is your home. Don't run away again, please." Jules said as we all piled into the foyer.
"Let's not talk about this right now." I said focusing on taking my coat off. Being out there for only 5 minutes, I was already soaked to the bone.
"Are you guys hungry? I had the housekeeper stock up on groceries." I mumbled as everyone followed me into the kitchen, nodding in agreement.
"Yes, starving." Jules said sitting around the kitchen island like old times, this time with Miles wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
"So when did you guys start dating?" I asked averting my eyes, pulling out some beers and a bottle of wine. I turned to face the group, my eyes focusing on Jason much more clearly. He was well over 6 feet tall, like Miles. His dark hair wet and tousled from the snow, making his green eyes shine in contrast.
"A couple years ago," Miles said giving Jules a shy smile, "After you left, we started to hang out more and one thing led to another."
I nodded as I poured myself and Jules a glass of wine and offered the beers to the guys, "I'm guessing it's getting serious then?"
"It's been 4 years. So I'd like to think so." Jules piped up eyeing me up, "What's with the interrogation?"
"I'm sorry. I just didn't picture you and Miles." I said looking between the two of them. He was like this big brown eyed toddler and she was this beautiful woman who could be a model, "I don't know. I'm sorry, I'm not in a place to judge, love is love, right?" I said raising my glass as everyone cheered along.
"These guys told me you were this popular lawyer back on the east coast. What happened to that?" Alex pried as he looked me over with his bright eyes.
"I sold my firm. Went traveling instead." I said quietly, "Not much to tell really. My shit face of an ex left me at the alter for my assistant and so I said fuck this place and went on a soul seeking journey." I met his eyes, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"I think I'm in love with you." He laughed, "You guys were right, her dry humor is legit." He laughed as he shook his head. Definitely not the reaction I was expecting, "Did you find it?"
"What?" I asked as I threw water in a pot and put it on the stove, adding a box of pasta to it.
"Your soul." He said coming around the Island counter to stand next to me, "Are you saying you didn't have one before you left?"
"I don't know how to answer that." I mumbled half to myself, during these years I did not get the results with my esteem I was hoping for. It didn't matter how many dates I went on or how many men I slept with. The man I fell in love with chose another woman. There was really no recovering from that.
"So, what do you do Alex?" I asked turning the attention on him.
"I run my family's electrical company. Inherited it from my dad, he passed away a couple of years ago so it's just my mom and sisters now." He said running his hand through his hair.
"And do you have a girlfriend?" I looked over to where the other two were sitting but they were seated on the loveseat eating each others faces.
"I do not. Are you interested?" He laughed, as his eyes fell down to my mouth, "Call me too forward if you must, but you are just about the most beautiful thing I've seen in a while."
"Does that work on you often?" I averted my gaze back to the pasta, I could feel my cheeks getting hot. I was getting too old for this flirting thing.
"Your the first one I've tried it on. You let me know."