For a heartbeat, I consider sneaking out the door before she turns around and sees me. Everyone else would witness me running away, but at leastshewouldn’t.
But my legs don’t move me toward an escape. Instead, it feels as though vines shoot up from the ground and wrap around my feet, holding me in place for whatever is about to happen.
Lena’s chin tips up, and then she shakes her black curls before setting Noah in Luci’s arms.
Anticipation burns in my chest as I wait for her to acknowledge me. Her reaction could be anything. She could turn around in a rage, or she could grant me the smile I’ve craved since the last time I saw her.
I’m desperate for anything at this point.
Slap me. Yell at me. Grin at me.
Anything, as long as I get to see her face while she does it.
With a deep breath, she stands, and even from the back, she’s as beautiful as she was the last time I saw her.
Despite the couch between us, she feels so close, and my arms ache to hug her.
CanI hug her?
I follow the path of her long dark hair down her back. Those thick ebony curls have always fascinated me and had me wishing I could dig my fingers into them.
My gaze dips to the swell of her hips without permission. But thank god she turns around before it can drop any lower, because I don’t know if I could have stopped myself from devouring every detail.
Unfortunately, I’m then forced to see the way her tight white sweater molds to her lush curves like a second skin.
Fuck my life.
I force my gaze up to meet her caramel eyes.
Something desperate and needy grips my throat. My lungs beg for oxygen.
All I can do is stare, mouth open and body tense.
I thought Lena was beautiful the first time I had the privilege of meeting her ten years ago.
But this version isdevastating.
She crosses her arms and cocks her hip to the side, plump red lips pursed. “Whatare you doing here?” she grits out, her cheeks tinting pink.
There’s no trace of that smile I missed. It has been replaced with a deep frown pressing down the corners of her mouth.
But for some reason, her sass feels like a win. Like she’s looking atmeand talking tome, and I should thank her for it.
I smother a smile and shrug. “It’s Christmas.”
The humor dies in my throat when her brows tighten and she growls, “This isourChristmas.”
Her words sting like she sent a knife through my heart, and heat rushes up my neck.
“Lena Camilla dos Santos,” Luci scolds, glaring up at her.
The color drains from Lena’s cheeks as she blinks. Her lips fold between her teeth before she mumbles, “Sorry.”
I open my mouth to reply, but Auggie bumps my shoulder on his way to hug his sister. He picks her up and twirls her in a circle as she gives himthatsmile.
The one I’ve ached to catch a glimpse of.
At least I got to see it before I leave, even if it was for someone else. I don’t want to spend the next week around someone who’s made it clear she doesn’t want me here, but those vines are still holding me in place. I’m a deer in the headlights, watching Lena instead of moving to save my own life.
