Cherrywood was beautiful. The sun set hours ago, and holiday lights of every possible color lined the roads and covered the trees. You couldn’t walk two steps without someone smiling at you or saying good night or wishing you a good day. It was so different from the city, from the unsmiling faces and dark clothing. The change of pace was startling but not unsettling. If anything, it made me pause. I hadn’t paused in years, and I should have. I got why Laney missed this place.
Laney told me she’d meet me right outside the theater, Snowefalls Films, about ten minutes ago, and my pulse raced thinking about seeing her.
I had texted to tell her that Petra was staying in town at a hotel, but that was really all we communicated that day, and I wanted more. Funnily enough, I’d gone days withouttexting her before, and now a few texts caused me to feel like a teenager.
A part of me wanted to tell Laney everything—the move for Petra, what it meant for us, for my job—but I didn’t want to until it was official. If it didn’t go through, or if the board fought me, I’d readjust my plan, but I didn’t want to give Laney any false hope. Not ever again.
I stood with my hands in my pockets, snow landing on my face as a familiar scent hit me. Laney approached me with a nervous smile. Her lips were red, her hair brushed to the side under an adorable fucking knitted hat. Her red winter coat matched her lips, and she looked perfect.
“Hi,” she said, her smile growing. “Small-town Connor looks happy.”
“Not the town.” I leaned toward her, kissing her neck and breathing her in, and then pulled back. “You.”
“Good line.” Her eyes danced with amusement. “They’re playingWhite Christmas. I’m so excited.”
“Your favorite movie.” I held out a hand, waiting for her to place hers in mine. I dragged my thumb over her wrist and opened the door with my free hand. “Have you seen it in theaters before?”
“I haven’t! I’ve seen most of them here, but never this one. Prepare for me to ugly cry at the end.”
“Oh, I’m prepared.” I patted my chest where I had definitely placed a small pack of tissues. “I recall how you get at movies, let alone Christmas movies.”
“They are just so magical! I can’t help it!”
I laughed and moved my arm around her shoulders, keeping our fingers interlocked as I pulled her closer.
“There is something about the holidays that’s special. Even a workaholic Grinch like me can appreciate it.”
Laney beamed as I bought the tickets and one large Sprite and popcorn for us to share.Sharewas a loose term because she could destroy a bucket of popcorn on her own, but I was glad to see her smile.
And since it was her hometown, she ran into three people she knew. Her fourth-grade teacher, and then her old neighbor, then one of her friends from high school. She introduced me as her husband even without wearing her ring, which felt like a major win. A massive one. It took a few minutes to get to our seats, but when we did, she didn’t jump right into the popcorn. She chewed her lip and stared at me.
“What is it?” I pushed some of her hair behind her ear. Her hat had left it all wild, and while I found it cute, she’d want it in order.
“Thank you for making time for me tonight. This is really special.” Her eyes glistened, not quite with tears but with emotion.
My stomach bottomed out. She was being nice, kind, but the words affected me inside. She shouldn’t thank me for spending time with her, but that was our reality. Instead of voicing anything, I forced a smile and tilted her chin for a quick kiss.
“There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Her responding smile was enough to get me through the inner turmoil. I really needed to get the COO position settled, and fast, so Laney would know this was our new forever. That meant finding a way to run to the city without worrying her, because I refused to take any steps backward. My wife was giving me a chance, and I wasn’t going to ruin it.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LANEY
Two days later, I woke up and ran to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before throwing up. My eyes stung and my throat burned as I wiped my face and used mouthwash. When it first happened two weeks ago, I figured it was all due to the stress of leaving Connor. But things were okay. They were good right now. He had cooked me dinner last night—it was basic pasta, but the fact that he tried mattered—and he walked me back to my parents’ at nine with nothing more than a kiss.
I had wanted to stay longer. I had wanted more, but he insisted we had to continue taking this slow. He was right, but I missed him. I felt a flicker of happiness, and not a fleeting one either.
So the stress sickness shouldn’t have come back. Maybe it was the pasta he cooked? Oh God. He’d feel terrible if he knew I got sick from it. The timing was right—food poisoning happened about twelve hours after eating. I almost laughed.
My husband wanted to prove to me he could change and instead made me sick. It was almost funny. I quickly showered,curled my hair, and got ready for the day. My first assignment from Becky for today was to photograph a bunch of high school students at the elementary schools bringing the kids presents and reading to them. I remembered that tradition growing up, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the afternoon. Capturing all that joy.
I spent extra time on my hair, like the additional hair spray and attention would hide the fact that my stomach swirled with acid. I should probably grab a Sprite before heading to the school.
“Laney! Your man is here.”
My dad’s voice made me smile. I told my parents the plan for December, and they repeated the same thing they always said—they wanted me happy and would support me no matter what happened. They also encouraged me to listen to Connor, really listen to him, because after forty years of marriage, they said that miscommunication was the root of all evil.
