Chase hasn’t changed much in the year since I’ve seen him—still boyishly handsome with that perfect wave in his light brown hair.His pale blue eyes dart nervously around, looking anywhere but at me.
I steel myself for the tidal wave of emotions I’ve been dreading, but it doesn’t come.Instead, there’s just a dull ache, like pressing on an old bruise.Ten years of my life spent with this man, and all I feel now is a vague sense of nostalgia mixed with hurt.
“Hey,” I say, my voice surprisingly steady.
Amber smiles, her eyes glinting.“I didn’t know you were back in town.I thought you weren’t coming home this Christmas.”
“I just got in this morning,” I reply calmly.
“Oh,” Amber says.“I thought you might have been avoiding the two of us, now that you know...”She deliberately pauses, then glances up at Chase with a giggle, pressing her chest against his arm.
From inside the jewelry store behind us, “Jingle Bell Rock” blasts out as the door opens, a cheerful customer exiting with a small bag.The music fades as the door swings shut, but the jaunty tune sticks in my head, a ridiculous counterpoint to this awkward standoff.
Chase shifts uncomfortably.“How have you been, Olivia?”
Before I can respond, Amber hits him lightly in the chest and whispers loudly, “Why would you ask her that?That’s so insensitive.”She looks at me, shaking her head in a manner that’s probably meant to be sympathetic but comes off as a little gleeful.“Are you doing okay?”
I know exactly what she’s doing, so I muster up my most charming smile—the one I use on Alexander when he’s being a pain in the ass in the office.“Of course.Why wouldn’t I be?”
I see a flicker of annoyance in Amber’s eyes.“Well, I know it must be hard to see me and Chase together.”Amber says loudly, dropping all pretenses, “You don’t have to pretend to be strong.This is the first time you’re single over the holidays and Christmas at that.I know you have to be a little embarrassed.I mean, come on.Coming back home, after being dumped?—”
Then, I hear Alexander’s voice.“Who’s single?”
He comes up behind me, his presence warm and solid as he stands at my side.“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”The warm pressure of Alexander’s hand at the small of my back sends a wave of relief through me.His presence is like a shield, solid and protective, as he stands beside me.
“Not at all,” I reply, leaning into him slightly.“Alexander, this is my cousin Amber and her boyfriend Chase.”I smile at Amber, showing teeth.“This is Alexander, my boyfriend.”I want to say ‘my super rich boyfriend,’ but that might come off as a little too petty.
Chase stiffens immediately, his eyes widening as they dart from me to Alexander.Amber’s expression shifts from smug satisfaction to disbelief, her mouth forming a small ‘o’ of surprise.
“Boyfriend?”she repeats, not even trying to hide her annoyance.“Your parents never mentioned you’d found someone.”
“That’s why I brought him home,” I say sweetly.“To introduce him to my family.”
Amber’s eyes narrow.“You sure moved on fast.”
“When I found out Olivia was single,” Alexander starts, smiling at me so warmly that I have to struggle not to check his temperature to see if he’s okay, his voice a perfect blend of confidence and affection, “I didn’t waste any time making my move.”
The implication makes my breath catch—that he’s been waiting, watching, wanting me for far longer.I know it’s all for show.I do.But when he looks at me like this, I have difficulty remembering what we’re doing.
I’ve always been attracted to Alexander, but his cold demeanor and sharp tongue that’s known to cause permanent whiplash has made it easy to not progress beyond the initial crush.Alexander has always been married to his work, and he’s never so much as spared me a second glance.
So for him to act like this, behave in front of my parents like a doting lover, touch me so easily, kiss me like I’ve always been his, it makes my heart tighten in unease.Was he always this good of an actor?Have I misunderstood him this whole time?
My head tells me to not forget that this is all part of agreement.But my heart wonders.It wants.
Amber’s gaze flicks over Alexander dismissively.“And what do you do for a living?”she asks rudely.
My blood boils at her tone.I open my mouth to say something nasty, but Alexander’s arm slides around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
“I’m Alexander Castellano,” he says, his tone pleasant but with an undercurrent of steel.“I run Castellano Group—real estate development, investments, technology.”
Recognition flashes in Chase’s eyes.“Wait—Castellano Group?Isn’t that where you work, Olivia?”He turns to me, then back to Alexander, his expression shifting from confusion to shock.“He’s your boss?”
“The very same,” Alexander confirms.
Chase’s face darkens, a flush creeping up his neck.“So that’s why you never wanted to come home,” he says, his voice rising.“You were too busy cheating on me with your boss.I always knew there was someone else!”A few passersby slow down, openly staring at the drama unfolding on the sidewalk.
Of all the ridiculous…
