‘Chloe, I never got the chance to talk to you about everything, to apologise.’ Though I apologised to Sasha for my father’s part in everything, it occurs to me I haven’t yet cleared the air with her sisters.
She sweeps my apology away with the wave of her hand, the same way she swept everything else under the carpet, according to Sasha anyway. Everyone has different ways of dealing with things I guess.
‘It’s not the time or place to discuss. And besides, there’s not actually a lot any of us can say on the matter. The whole situation’s a flaming tragedy, but yet here we are to tell the tale.’
Her tough front isn’t fooling either of us, but I respect her wishes to simply get on with things. ‘Sasha is waiting for you in the atrium. She said to hurry.’
‘Where are we going?’ Glancing between Jayden and the glass of whiskey he just handed me, I’m reluctant to go anywhere.
She rolls her eyes as if it’s been arranged forever. ‘Ice skating, of course.’
‘Ha! Good luck with that, brother.’ Jayden clinks his glass against mine again and snorts.
Chloe snatches the glass from him a split second before he presses it to his lips. ‘I’m not sure what you think is so funny. You’re coming too.’
‘Me?’ Jayden looks at me incredulously, like a child about to be dragged from a sweet shop.
‘Yes. You. Much to my dismay. It’s a “family outing” apparently. And unfortunately that includes you.’ Pulling out a white fluffy beret from her handbag, she wiggles it one-handed over her head, refusing to risk placing down the glass anywhere Jayden could reach.
‘Well? What are you waiting for? Go get your coat.’
‘Don’t tell me? I’ve pulled…’ Jayden winks and blows her a kiss.
‘Urgh. Not if you were the last man on this earth.’ Her chest heaves in a deliberately exaggerated motion.
‘What about the paps? Won’t we get mobbed, especially after last night?’
I love ice skating, and I haven’t been since we were kids, but the prospect of getting ambushed by a load of crazed fans is not how I envisioned spending Christmas Eve.
‘It’s closed to the public. Sasha made a few calls and apparently, they don’t mind hanging on for an extra hour or so for Ryan-Rockstar-Cooper.’ She shrugs nonchalantly.
Finally! I seem to have lost the Ryan-Runaway-Cooper title. It only took ten years, a whole lot of heartache and a whacking great diamond ring.
Jayden eyes his drink longingly. He’s not used to being given orders. Especially not from attractive women who can’t stand the sight of him.
Chloe takes a deliberately mouth-smacking slurp of whiskey, goading him over the rim of the glass. ‘Go on. Chop chop. Christmas is coming.’ It’s her turn to snort. Jayden marches out of the drawing room without uttering a word.
An hour later, Chloe, Jayden, Victoria, Archie, Sash and I are kitted out in our skates, tentatively braving the ice. Pierce opts to watch from the sideline with Frankie.
While Jayden’s skidding round like a new-born fawn, and Victoria clings to Archie who clings to the barrier, I guide Sasha towards the centre of the spacious ring.
‘Is there anything you’re not good at?’ Her hand squeezes mine as we glide through the ice underneath the cloudless twilight sky. The sleet and snow has finally subsided and hundreds of tiny twinkling stars appear overhead.
‘I’m sure there is, but I’m yet to find it.’ Her elbow connects with my ribs, trigging a wobble, but nothing I can’t correct. At the risk of being a total show-off, I do a spin before landing in front of her. Skating backwards, I take her gloved hands in mine.
‘I can’t wait to be your wife.’ Her teeth catch her bottom lip as it curls into a smile.
‘And I can’t wait to be your husband.’
It’s the most fabulous Christmas either of us could have dreamed of.
EPILOGUE
SASHA
Christmas Day
The air in the bedroom is crisp and cold and subsequently, so is my nose. The rest of me however, is on fire, thanks to my fiancé whose chest is pressed protectively against my back. Strong, supple arms snake around my waist, then teasing fingers circle my ribcage an inch below my breast.
