Her mouth curves. “You’ve always had a good heart, Cole. You just needed to give it to someone who sees that in you, who sees you.”
She doesn’t have to say who she means. She’s been watching us all night. Hell, she probably knew before I did.
I set the towel down, leaning on the counter. “I’m just worried I’ll screw it up again. Fall for the wrong person.”
Her eyes lift to mine. “You’re overcomplicating it, baby. The right one doesn’t feel like work. And if you’re happy, the people you’re worried about…” She tilts her head toward the living room where Maddie’s voice floats in from outside. “They’ll be happy too.”
Something in my chest loosens at that. The kind of breath you don’t realize you’ve been holding for years.
Before I can say anything, Dad barrels through the archway, clapping his hands like a man who’s been waiting all night for this moment. “Alright, everyone, time to bundle up! Carol sing-a-long starts in ten, and I’m not missing my solo this year!”
Mom rolls her eyes. “You don’t have a solo, Jim.”
“Yet,” he shoots back, grabbing his hat and coat from the rack. And the chaos starts again. Maddie starts herding people toward the door like a drill sergeant.
Mom gives me a pointed look, then smiles softly. “Go on, Cole. You’ll figure it out.”
I grab my coat, following Hailey out to the porch before anyone else. “Your dad’s rallying the troops,” she says, laughing softly. “He’s very committed to this sing-a-long thing.”
“Always has been.” I shove my hands in my pockets, watching her. “He once threatened to disown me if I didn’t sing harmony on ‘Silent Night.’”
She laughs again, the sound wrapping around me and permeating every part of me.
“Hey.” I take a step closer. The air between us shifts. “I wanted to tell you something before the whole neighborhood shows up to hear my dad butcher carols.”
Her brows lift. “Okay…”
“I meant what I said earlier. About this.” My hand finds hers, fingers sliding into that perfect fit that always messes me up. “You. Me. I don’t want to keep hiding it.”
Her eyes widen, soft and full of hope.
“I’m in love with you, Hailey.” The words come out rough. “This… tonight, you here, my family, all of it, it feels right. Like I’ve been walking around half-alive and didn’t realize it until you showed up again.”
She blinks fast, lips parting. “Cole…
“I want a life with you.” I swallow hard. “A real one. No secrets. No pretending we’re just friends when every time I look at you, I think about how lucky I am that you ended up in Denver.”
Her laugh breaks on a little gasp, and then she’s in my arms, rising onto her toes as I kiss her. It’s not rushed or secret this time. Her hands slide up my chest, curl in my shirt, and for a second I forget where we are.
Until the porch light blazes on above us.
We break apart, blinking into the sudden brightness, and there they are.
Half the family crowded in the doorway. My dad frozen mid-step with his Santa hat crooked, my mom’s mouth twitching like she’s trying not to laugh. And front and center with her mouth hanging open, is Maddie.
Her eyes go wide. She lifts her hand and points at both of us and I hold my breath, waiting for her to burst into tears or tell me I’m a liar and a traitor. But she doesn’t. A second later she bursts into laughter.
“I knew it!” she shrieks, voice echoing through the night.
CHAPTER 20
Hailey
Nothing says Christmas spirit like getting caught mid–make-out by your best friend’s entire family and the neighborhood carolers.
One second, I’m on the Bristols’ front porch, pressed between the cold siding and Cole Bristol’s mouth hot and the next second, the front door flies open and Christmas pours out.
“and a partridge in a pear?—”
