Wow, now you’re lying to yourself and your friends. You know good and well that you never stopped loving him. And not only that, you’ve already fallen completely in love with him all over again.
CHAPTER 21
Nick
While we’ve texted back and forth throughout the week, we’ve both been busy with work which has prevented us from getting together again. A few times this week I’ve stopped in at Holly House to say hi but even when I show up in person, she’s scrambling around helping guests, answering calls, or generally busy running the place. Sitting in my cabin taking shelter from the snow that won’t seem to quit falling, I grab my phone off the corner of my sketch table.
Hey sugar. How’s dinner at my place sound?
I’d offer to go to her place but knowing her and Eve are roommates now and the fact that Eve threatens me with some sort of bodily harm any time I come around, I bet that option is off the table.
I would but I have to stay late tonight. Belle has plans and we have a party doing a late check-in. Rain check for tomorrow?
I scowl at my phone. Tomorrow isn’t soon enough. But I also understand how seriously she takes her job.
Totally. What time is the group getting in? You want some company while you wait for them?
That’s really sweet of you to offer but I’ll be fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to stay past ten for a group to get in. They’re flight is delayed I guess so I’m assuming they’ll get here after eleven, maybe later if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Want me to bring you coffee to help you stay up?
Do you really want to see me that bad or are you just horny?
Why can’t it be both?
I just want to see you. Is that so hard to believe?
There’s a brief pause before she starts texting me again.
I guess not…
If you wanted to bring coffee by later I won’t say no.
To seeing me or being brought a cup of coffee?
Why can’t it be both?
Lol
I’ll bring you something after dinner. See you tonight wife.
I’ll see you tonight.
Once the sun has gone down and it’s about an hour before the coffee shop closes, I head in her direction. After a quick pit stop to grab her drink, I hold the hot cup in my hand and head for Holly House. The town is decked out in its Christmas best. Trees in the square are decorated with ornaments and have empty boxes wrapped in patterned paper underneath them. The lights wrapped around every nook and cranny as far as the eye can see reflect off the fresh snow. Many of the stores have closed for the night—the shopowners who run them have already gone home to spend the evening with their family. Turning down the road to Holly House, I think about how I’ve ended up where I am.
Back in Evergreen.
Marriedto the girl I was stupid enough to break up with even though I still loved her.
And as recently as last weekend, hooking up with said girl who is now a fully grown woman who still has my heart twelve years later.
My cheeks burn from a mix of the wind chill blowing across my chin and at the memory of what happened between us last weekend. I still can’t believe she crawled into my bed in the middle of the night and asked me to fuck her. I’ve spent all week trying to convince myself that it actually happened yet it still feels like a sort of dream. A dream that I’m still obviously living in as I walk up the front steps of the inn and find her sitting behind the front desk looking as stunning as ever. The place is quiet, the only noises are that of the plates being cleared from dinner and people enjoying a night cap in the dining room. The large, antique fireplace in the library is alive with a hot fire that keeps the entire lower floor toastywarm. When she sees me, she looks up from the guest book and smiles.
“Hey, you. I’m glad to see you survived the arctic tundra out there,” she jokes, stepping out from behind the desk and walking towards me.
“I’d walk through a blizzard if it meant getting to see you, sugar.” I don’t even try to stop myself from pulling her into a hug and kissing her right there in the small lobby space.
I feel her hands try to push me away but I don’t let her. Once I’ve gotten my fill of her, I lean away and smile.
