Her heart thudded. “Oh. Did you make New Year’s Eve plans?”
“I’m, uh…” He shifted in his seat. “I’m leaving in the morning, MJ.”
The words landed like a blow. MJ blinked, trying to process them. “You are? But… Oh. That’s so sudden.”
“I’ve been here since Thanksgiving.” He gave a small shrug, though his eyes were shadowed. “It’s time.”
She swallowed, her throat tight. “So you’re going back to Florida?”
For a fleeting second, something flickered across his face—pain, maybe. Regret. Then he shook his head. “For a while, yes.”
The disappointment hit harder than MJ expected. She had pictured him at the party tomorrow night, a quiet anchor amid the joyful celebration.
She’d imagined—just maybe—that the new year might bring something new forher, too. She was going to dress up, sip some champagne, and…have a midnight kiss?
Nowthatwas taking her famous optimism too far.
“Did you know this all along or did you just decide to leave?” she asked because, honestly, she was a little sad he hadn’t told her sooner.
“I just…yeah, it’s time to go.”
“Did something happen?” she pressed, so unsatisfied with that answer. With all his vague responses, to be honest.
He muttered something that sounded like, “Not really,” and picked up his mug again.
“Matt,” she said, keeping her voice level. “I don’t mean to overstep my bounds, but can I ask you something?”
He looked over the rim and adjusted his glasses, barely nodding.
She chose her words carefully and said them slowly. “Haven’t we become good enough friends that you can be honest with me?”
“I’ve never lied to you,” he said simply, the statement carrying a little more weight than she actually expected.
“Well, you’re not being completely honest right now.”
He gave a low laugh, as though trying to defuse the tension. “Well, you’re keeping secrets too, remember? You just refused to tell me what tomorrow night’s surprise is.” He leaned back,his tone playful but not entirely light. “People have all sorts of reasons for keeping things to themselves.”
She conceded the point with a tip of her head, though her frustration simmered. It wasn’t the same. Not at all. And to prove that, she took a breath, then whispered, “Jack is proposing to Cindy at midnight.”
“Oh!” His eyes widened, then lit with genuine delight. “Really? That’s wonderful news.”
“It is.” MJ’s throat tightened again. “I’ve been…overjoyed, honestly. Relieved. I’ve always hoped those two would find their way back to each other.”
“Engaged,” Matt said, treating the word with appropriate respect. “How does that make you feel?”
“Me?” She drew back at the question. “I just told you. I’m thrilled for them. For all of us. I love having Jack back at Snowberry Lodge.”
“Anything else?” he asked, his tone gentle but probing.
MJ blinked. “Like…what?”
“I don’t know, maybe...that you could have something like that.”
“Romance? A proposal?” She managed to scoff lightly. “I’m sixty-two, Matt. Be serious.”
“I am serious.” He searched her face, his gaze intent like he really wanted to know the answer to this. “Is that something you’d ever want for yourself?”
What was he saying? She tried to not give away any of the fifty emotions that were ricocheting through her body and maintain a perfectly composed expression. She tried to act as though they were talking about the weather or the cookies, not…aromance.
