Chloe: Living her best snow-in life right out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. If Hallmark and Fifty Shades did a mashup.
Amber: I'm just saying, if my boss looked like that I'd have manufactured a flat tire MYSELF
Lily: Amber!
Maya: We're all thinking it, Lily.
Emily: Sending love and light! Hope you're taking time for self-care while you are on that mountain.
Me: I'm being VERY well taken care of, thank you all for your concern.
Madison: DETAILS
Me: Absolutely not
Lily: So how good in bed is Mr. Bossman Daddy?
Me: I hate you all
Amber: No you don't
Me: No I don't. But I'm putting you on mute for the night. Do not disturb means exactly that girls.
Maya: Have fun
I set the phone down and find Justin grinning.
"What?” I ask him.
“I enjoyed watching the emotions cross your face as you read and responded to your friends. A mixture of exasperated amusement.”
"They're living vicariously through me. Remember, all of them are single. Before you, all we had were our books."
"Should I be concerned?"
"Probably. I’m sure they're already planning our wedding."
His expression doesn't change, but something flickers in his eyes. "Are they?"
"I'm joking?—"
"I'm not concerned." He pulls me closer. "Let them plan."
My heart skips. "Justin?—"
"I'm serious, Holly. This isn't a fling for me. I don't do temporary."
"We've known each other three days."
"I've known you longer than that. Even if we were being professionals. I've watched you make every guest smile, fix broken decorations without being asked, stay late to help close. I've known who you are for months. I'm just finally getting to know you."
Tears prick my eyes. "That's the most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me."
"Then you've been with the wrong people." He wipes away a tear with his thumb. "I plan to say romantic things regularly. You should prepare yourself."
I laugh, watery but genuine. "Noted."
We fall asleep like that, wrapped around each other, the storm outside finally quiet, the world reduced to his warmth and breath and the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear.
