“Good idea.”
“Okay then.” He gestures over his shoulder. “I better go have a look at that map before I go. See you Monday, then.”
“Yeah. Can’t wait.” I blush as soon as I’ve said it and barely resist facepalming. Why did I have to add that?
Sean flashes me a wide grin before he opens the boot for Lucky, then gets behind the wheel. I watch him reverse and disappear around the corner of the pub, presumably heading for the back of the pub car park.
I shove my hands in my pockets and blow out a breath. It steams in the cold air, and I shake my head.Fuck’s sake. Three hours with Sean, and I already know thatfriendsis going to be a struggle.
But it’s all we can be, I remind myself. We aren’t nineteen anymore. We have different lives. Friends is the best outcome.
Friends. Friends. Friends.
I repeat it in my head, over and over, as I go inside Hailey’s house.
Meh. It’s a stupid word and I already hate it.
VIC
“Does that look level?”I glance up from the floor where I’ve just screwed the base of the tree in place. Joe is holding the top steady and we both look over at Hailey.
She squints, tilting her head this way and that. “I think so.”
I catch Joe’s eye and he smirks. This is the third time we’ve thought we were done. Not that pregnant Hailey is picky but...she’s super fucking picky. “You sure?”
“Yep. Positive.”
“Thank fuck,” I mutter, but not quietly enough and she laughs.
“Sorry.” She stands and rubs her lower back. “I know I’m being a pain in the arse with everything, but I just want it to be perfect.”
I get it, I do. This is their first Christmas in charge, so there’s bound to be pressure after taking over from Liz. Add in the imminent arrival of their new baby, and I’m surprised she’s as calm as she is, especially with Char being away.
“It’s fine.” Figuring we’re done, finally, I stand and stretch, then walk over and drape an arm over her shoulders. “The pub decorations look great. The tree will look great, and the guest rooms will all be ready for your New Year’s Eve guests.”
“Thanks.” She rests her head on my shoulder for a second then yawns. “Right, I need to get to bed.” She glances at Joe who, as usual, is busy doing something on his phone. “Are you coming, Joe?”
He looks up sharply. “What?”
“Are you coming to bed,” Hailey repeats.
“Oh, yeah.” He walks over to me and gives me a hug. “Night, Dad. See you in the morning.”
“Night.”
It’s bitter when I step outside and walk to my car. And so dark. Out here with little light pollution, the sky seems darker and heavier, and I walk a little faster, determined not to think about any of the horror films that I’ve seen.
I can’t help but check in the back of my car before I get in. I’ve seen way too many episodes ofCriminal Mindsto not do it. I also lock my doors as soon as I get inside. Overkill? Maybe, but there’s no one around to see it, and it makes me feel better as I make the short drive to the lodge park.
The lodge that Char’s family have lent me for my stay up here is beautiful. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it’s modern and open-plan and looks like it’s been newly refurbished. It’s also toasty warm when I get inside, and I sigh in contentment as I hang up my coat and kick off my shoes.
The sofa is as comfy as it looks, and I’m tempted to sit down and watch a bit of TV, but I’m tired, and odds are if I do that, I’ll fall asleep.
The bedroom is just as lovely, and I waste no time cleaning my teeth, putting my phone on charge, then getting undressed and climbing into bed.
The sheets are cool, but the quilt is thick and heavy as I settle under it. As tired as I am though, my mind has other ideas, and inevitably thoughts of Sean fill my head. He’s both nothing like the guy I remember and yet achingly familiar at the same time.
One thing that hasn’t changed is that I still find him as attractive as I did back then. Maybe even more so. My stomach flutters as I think about him cutting down that tree. I wonder what he’d look like if he did it shirtless. Or wielding an axe as he chopped wood.
