He scoffed. “Oh, I asked–too late. By the time I brought it up, Nick had shut down the wishing factory.”
“Well,” she shoved off the counter, “Call him back and tell him you’ve changed your wish.”
“It doesn’t work like that. Either we get married, or we’re stuck together forever.” He threw up a hand.
Lauren blinked. Stuck together. Stuck together? She grabbed the box and shoved it at him. “I don’t need a ring to be stuck with you–I already am.” She spun on her heel.
He grabbed her elbow. “Where are you going?”
“I’m locking myself in my room and not coming out until next Christmas!” she yelled. “And I might do the same thing the Christmas after that. Go. Be free. I don’t want you to feel stuck.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You know that’s not the way I meant it.”
“Do I? Because you just tossed a ring box at me and accused me of trapping you in a marriage.” She lifted her chin. “Have you even thought this through? I live two hours from here. Are you moving?”
“I built a cottage for you,” he sputtered. “Every decision I made in that house, I asked myself: what would Lauren like?”
She stared at him in shock. He hadn’t told her that the other Christmas when he took her home. “You did?”
“I did.” He let her arm go. “But if you don’t want it, fine. Merry Christmas, Lauren.” He stomped to the front door, and a second later, it slammed shut. Going to her room, she watched him pull out of his mom’s driveway, throwing snow with his back tires.
She plopped down on the window seat.
He knew. He’d known all along.
That explained the way they were able to pick up where they’d left off the Christmas before. It didn’t explain the snow sculptures that stuck around or the decorations they’d placed around his mom’s house that remained day after day.
Who was she to explain Christmas Magic?
She could use the North Pole’s phone number, though. If she ever got her hands on that guy… Nick! She’d stuff him up her chimney for causing this mess of her love life.
CHAPTER20
Jacob fumed as he went over the river and through the woods in a blinding snowstorm. He knew the roads through the mountain pass well enough that he wasn’t worried about getting lost. He needed to get out of this town and away from Lauren. She’d practically thrown his ring in his face! Scratch that. She didn’t even look at the ring. She’d thrown the box in his face.
Shouldn’t she at least consider the proposal for five seconds before turning him down?
Poof! “Where are you going?”
Jacob jumped at the appearance of Nick in his passenger seat. “Where did you come from?” He looked down at the speedometer. It read 35 miles per hour.
“Sleigh.” Nick hooked his thumb toward his window.
Jacob leaned forward to see past him. Outside, Lux was driving a sleigh–keeping pace with his truck. She’d set her jaw like she was trying not to throw up. The reindeer out front was hauling antlers. “Pull over!” she yelled.
Jacob rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Sure. I mean, I get pulled over by Santa’s kids every year.” He glanced at Jacob. “You’re his son, right?” he asked as he slowed to a stop. Lauren had asked for clarification on the relationship, and he wondered the same things himself. He slowed to a stop, leaving the engine running.
“Something like that.” Nick turned to look behind them. “You’re stopping in the middle of the road?”
Jacob set the brake and got out, talking over the top of the truck. “This stretch of highway is empty on a regular day of the year. On Christmas, seeing another car is as likely as seeing a snowball in–”
“Bells!!” Lux stumbled out of the sleigh, holding her stomach. “I hate flying,” she mumbled.
The reindeer huffed at her.
“It’s not you. It’s me,” she assured him. After several deep breaths, she faced Jacob. “Is it true? Does Lauren know that every day is Christmas?” She pulled a small bottle from her bag and sniffed over the vial several times.
The scent of peppermint hit Jacob’s nose, and his eyes stung. He waved his hand in front of his face and coughed. “What is that?”
