“Me too.”
Pushing all the hurt at seeing my ex down deep where it belongs, I smile at him.
Sean must see that it’s genuine this time, because he grins back and finally lets go of me. “Come on, before Jerry sends out a search party for us.”
I follow him out to his car, Lucky in tow, and promise myself that I’ll forget about everything else tonight and enjoy myself.
The Charnwell Innis lit up like a... well, like a country pub at Christmas time. It oozes warmth and invitation, and if the full car park is any indication, I’m not the only one who thinks that.
The noise is muted out here, but there’s no disguising the sounds of people having a good time. Sean stops with one hand on the door and turns to me, eyebrow raised. “Ready?”
“You make it sound like we’re preparing for battle.”
He laughs, but I notice he doesn’t deny it. Before I can say anything else, he pulls the door open and I’m greeted with loud chatter, raucous laughter, and Christmas songs.
“Sean!” Hailey waves from the end of the bar. Her smile widens as she spots me next to him. “And Reed!” She makes her way over to us, glass in hand, and surprises me by wrapping me up in a hug first.
Sean huffs. “I see how it is.”
She rolls her eyes at Sean as she steps back. “I see you almost every day. I haven’t seen Reed since our delightful car journey.” Turning to me, her gaze softens. “I’m so pleased you decided to come back.”
“Thanks. I am too.” I’m blushing, I can feel the heat rise slowly up my neck to my cheeks because the car ride she’sreferring to is the one when Sean, his partner, his partner’s son, and I all drove Hailey to the hospital when she went into labour.
The one where I spilled all the details about my failed love life to keep a pregnant woman’s mind occupied. And to persuade Sean’s sort-of-boyfriend that I really wasn’t there to make a move on his man.
Not my finest moment, but it cleared the air, if nothing else.
That was about two weeks ago now. Thankfully, Sean and Vic seem to have made everything official, and Vic doesn’t hate me.
I think.
It might seem odd that I accepted Sean’s invitation to spend New Year’s Eve with him and his friends, but honestly, I just wanted to get away, and I’ve always loved Charnwell. I only visited a few times when Sean and I were together, but the rugged beauty and close-knit community is hard to forget.
And the fact that I might run into my ex and his boyfriend if I stayed at home was kind of the deciding factor.
“Where’s Char?” Sean asks, glancing around the pub. “Have you left her on baby duty?”
Char is Hailey’s wife. I didn’t get a chance to meet her when I was here before, but I’ve seen her in the baby pictures Sean sent me.
Hailey smacks him on the arm. “She offered!”
“About fucking time,Richmond!” The loud yell cuts over the music and chatter and has the three of us turning as one in the direction of the bar.
Oh.
The man striding towards us is tall, broad, and solid-looking. He’s sporting dark scruff that’s too long for stubble but not quite into beard territory. His hair is shot through with grey at the temples and a little wild, like he’s had his hands in it all night.
Or someone has.
The combination makes him look rough and rugged, and evenmybattered heart stutters a little at the sight.
“That’s Jerry.” Hailey leans in to whisper in my ear. Ah, Sean’s best mate and the local vet. Surprisingly, we’ve never met. Or maybe not really since Sean and I weren’t together all that long. But I’ve heard enough about him to know that they’re close.
He’s grinning widely, brown eyes crinkling at the corners, and although his gaze is solely focused on Sean, he gives off this welcoming vibe that has me smiling too.
Sean laughs as he’s engulfed in a tight hug, and I can’t stop the tiny pang of longing that sweeps through me. I know they’re only friends, but I miss having someone to hold me like that. And even though it’s cliché as fuck, it’s true that it always feels worse at this time of year.
I’m pretty sure Sean would hug me just as hard if I asked him to, but it’s not the same.
