“I’m supposed to get back to Denver Thursday night.”
“Perfect!” I exclaim. “We’re going to take them out of town, so we can look for a place for the weekend.”
“How about Estes Park?” Jayce suggests.
“Isn’t that where the hotel fromThe Shiningis?” Carson asks with a grimace.
I roll my eyes. “Not exactly. It inspired the book, yeah. But the one you’re thinking of, from the movie, wasn’t that. Kubrick used a hotel in Oregon for exterior shots, and the interior was a set, so the hotel in Estes Park isn’t the same one as?—”
“God, you’re such a nerd,” Carson grumbles. “I hate that you know that shit.”
“And we wouldn’t need to stay in the haunted hotel anyway,” Jayce interrupts. “I know some people with houses there. I’ll make a few phone calls and find us a private place to stay.”
The die-hard horror fan in me is a little bummed that the Stanley Hotel was shot down so easily, but it’s all good because I know whatever place Jayce gets us will be way nicer than anything I could come up with. Jayce’s rich-people connections are coming in clutch!
“This is going to be so awesome!” I’m excited that this is all coming together so quickly. I’ll be able to give Rylee the Christmas she deserves so that when she thinks back on our time apart, she has no regrets.
Santa Claus can eat his fucking heart out. The Night Hawks are about to kick Christmas’ snowy ass.
CHAPTER TWO: BISTROS, BABIES, AND BAD CHRISTMASES
RYLEE
Walkinginto the little French bistro that Grace picked out for our lunch today, I’m immediately hit with the scent of lavender, coffee, and fresh-baked pastry. It’s a cute place, small and intimate, with a black and white checkered floor, white tablecloths covering the tables, potted plants, and white walls decorated with framed photos of Paris. I look around and spot Grace, as well as Skyler and Stacey, sitting at a table in the far corner. They see me and wave me over with bright smiles. I hurry to join them, my heels clacking along the tile floor.
“Hello, lovelies,” I say, pulling out an empty chair and plopping down. “Sorry I’m late. I had a phone call with my editor, and she would not let me get away.”
“No problem,” Grace assures me. “We haven’t ordered yet. Was it an okay phone call, or…?”
“Oh, no, it was great! She was mostly gushing about how positive the reception has been to my article about Zander… the real one I just put out, not… you know, not the other one.”
“You mean the super mean hack job your bitch ex-co-worker put out into the world to sabotage you?” Skyler says matter-of-factly, as she scans the bistro’s menu. You can always count on Skyler to say it like it is.
“Yes, that’s the one I mean,” I reply. “The shitty one I didn’t write.”
“Well, I definitely prefer the new one,” Stacey pipes in, smiling and rubbing her round belly. “I’m so glad you two figured things out.”
“Me too.” Warmth spreads through me as I think of Zander. It’s been so good with him since I got back from Ireland and we confessed our feelings for each other. He’s been so loving and attentive, and I haven’t wanted to be apart from him since we got back together. This is pretty much my first outing without him since coming home, and even though I’m thrilled to spend time with my girls, a part of me just wants to hurry back to Zander’s side.
“So things are working?” Grace asks, giving me a searching look. “You two are all in now?”
My smile widens, and I nod. “Oh, we’re definitely all in. In fact… hmm, where is it? Ah…” I dig around through my purse to find the item I brought specifically to share with them. With a flourish, I set the picture from my first ultrasound in the middle of the table, leaned up against a cup. I watch, giddy, as realization lights up their faces one by one.
Skyler looks up at me first. Her brown eyes go wide behind her glasses.
“You’re pregnant?”
Biting my lip, I nod. “Yep. Found out when I was in Ireland.”
They all erupt into squeals of excitement and Grace and Skyler jump up to give me hugs, while Stacey remains seated, clapping her hands in delight. Other restaurant customers look over at us with curious expressions. The girls sit back down, beaming from ear to ear.
“Oh, my God!” Grace exclaims, reaching over to grab and shake my arm in excitement, her long brown hair falling in soft curls around her shoulders. “Congratulations!”
“I’m so happy for you!” Skyler gushes, adjusting her glasses and pushing her dirty blonde hair behind her ears, as if she’s so excited she can’t keep her hands still.
“You’re gonna be a momma!” Stacey looks so happy, she’s got tears shimmering in her bright green eyes. She wipes at them with the palms of her hands. “God, these hormones.”
Grace passes Stacey a napkin, chuckling softly. “Well, at least something good happened over Christmas.”
