“This is not yourabode; this is my family’s rental that you’re living in for the time being. Time that is quickly running out, I might add. What are you doing once the holidays are over?”
“Uhhh, I haven’t really thought about that,” I say honestly.
“Well, what’s going on with you and Noelle?” He raises a brow at me and moves to take a seat at the counter. “Love that you blatantly ignored my request to leave her alone, by the way.”
“Hey, she came to me, okay? And things between us are fine, great actually.” I smirk to myself. “She told me she loved me.”
“Nick, she’s never stopped loving you, you moron,” he bites. “The question is not if she loves you, it’s if you are willing to stick around long enough to love her back.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I say with a defensive edge to my voice. “I told her I wasn’t leaving and I’m not.”
“You’re not?”
“No.”
“Did you happen to forget about your big, fancy firm back in Boston and your old historic home you’ve spent the last few years restoring? You have a life outside of Evergreen, remember? I know it can feel like living in a snowglobe here but thereisa very real reality out there and it’s about to suck you back into it. Living this little fake married life isn’t going to last much longer.”
I force out a breath because I know he’s right. I’ve had the same thoughts swirling around in my head since Friday night when I promised her I wouldn’t leave. Making that kind of promise was reckless to say the least, seeing as how Idohave an entire life outside of Evergreen Hollow to get back to.
“I know, dude. I know. I’m working on it.” I swallow hard and look when the coffee machine beeps that it’s done. Grabbing two mugs, I set one in front of him and then myself, pouring both of us a cup. He takes a sip and slumps into his seat giving me a contemptuous look.
“You better work fast, buddy. Christmas is next Thursday and the clock is ticking.”
Yeah. Don’t I fucking know it.
“I brought cookies.” Her voice sings as she steps inside holding a Christmas platter full of delicious looking treats. I take the plate and kiss her before closing the door to shut out the freezing wind that’s whipping through the farm. She’s staying over for the night like we talked about and has just gotten done at the inn for the day.
“These look amazing, did you make these?”
“God no,” she laughs, taking her coat off and hanging it up. “I stole them from the kitchen. Eve is trialing different recipes for Santa next week.”
I smile at the fact that she said they’re for Santa instead of for Christmas in general. Even at nearly thirty, I love how she still holds onto her childlike Christmas spirit.
“Eve. She’s a funny one,” I chuckle. Setting the plate down on the kitchen counter, I take one off the top and bite into it. “Holy shit, this is so good.”
“Aren’t they? She’s not convinced but that’s how she is. Very much a perfectionist, that girl. Especially when it comes to what she makes.” When I look at her sitting on the couch and smiling at me, I grab two more cookies and head to sitnext to her. She takes the one I offer her and moves closer to me once I’ve sat down.
“How was Holly House today?”
She nods and finishes her bite. “Good. People are in and out all week. Some people are checking in and staying through Christmas. Some are here for the weekend before going home just in time for their presents to be delivered. It’s busy but I love this time of year for exactly that reason.”
Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, I take another bite of my cookie and stare into the fireplace.
“I can’t believe Christmas is next week.”
I see her turn and look at me out of the corner of my eye.
“Yeah, me neither.” Her voice is small and I wonder if we’re on the same brainwave.
I turn and give her a reassuring smile. “Only another week until you become the new owner of Holly House. How do you feel?”
Her face suddenly becomes green and she grimaces at the fire. “Like I’m going to be sick.”
I laugh not because she’s worried but because she still doesn’t believe she’s ready for this. She’s been ready to run Holly House since we were in high school. The fact that she doesn’t see that is crazy to me.
“You’re going to do amazing, sugar. You love that place more than you love anything else. It’s going to be amazing.” I pat the top of her leg to reassure her and seal it with a kiss on her cheek.
“You think?” Her eyebrows pinch together as she looks over at me.
