Page 55 of Once Upon A Christmas Song

“Aww,” Cami said softly, leaning into his side like she normally did with me.

“You have a soft heart, love,” he whispered, giving her a squeeze.

Then they were both looking at me with big puppy dog eyes.

I cleared my throat. “I need to speak with Simone real quick. Start getting the stuff loaded.”

“The accoutrement,” Cami said, giggling.

I nearly ran down the hall to the front, where Simone was leaning on the bar.

“Hi,” she greeted me cheerfully.

“You let him sublet your apartment?”

“It’s like Christmas came early. And I’m going to gather up all that money and give it to you in probably six months with what I already have saved, and then you won’t be tied down to the club anymore.”

“I like being tied down to the club.”

“I know, but you also need to travel and see the world, and you can do that when you have a partner, and now you have someone to go with.”

I scowled at her. “I thought you hated him.”

“I did,” she said flatly. “He hurt you terribly, but it turns out, he hurt himself too. And he learned a lot, and rehab was not easy, and as soon as he could, he came right back here.”

“And you’re prepared to take all this, him, at face value.”

She tipped her head. “He bared his soul to the four of us. It was painful to listen to. It was like watching a TV show that makes you so uncomfortable, you have to leave the room, not for blood or gore or too much bad sex, but because you can put yourself in the character’s place and you just wanna die.”

My sigh was long.

“Will I be watching him like a hawk?” she asked me, smiling. “You know I will. But I remembered when he was talking to us earlier—and holding my hand right before he said he wanted to catch up with you—that I used to be terribly fond of him myself.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah. That’s about it.”

“And why isn’t he singing tonight?”

“Because I need to make a big deal and pack this place starting tomorrow.”

“That’s smart.”

“Mmmm-hmmm.”

“And Georgine was fine just letting him watch Cami with me tonight?”

“Georgine is an excellent judge of character, as you know, and again, he is—” She stopped suddenly, her voice going out on her as her eyes filled. “He’s absolutely aware of his failings. I think they teach you how to articulate all that in rehab.”

I wiped a tear off her cheek. “Boy, has he got you fooled.”

She scoffed. “When have I ever been fooled? By anyone?”

Good point.

“Speaking of, what’s with Nicole’s husband, he of the roving eye?”

I had to smile. “No, he didn’t.”