Page 36 of Naughty or Nice?
Most of the rest of the room echoes Jennifer’s sentiment.
In a matter of seconds, everybody’s on the same page, with only Frank hesitant to join in. Relief slides over me like a secondskin, and I grin at the family I love more than life itself. We’ll be able to celebrate the holiday like we should.
“Thank you,” I say to the room. “Thank you for being who you are. Get a move on with the Christmas festivities. I expect these presents to be opened and some Christmas music to be playing at full volume. In the meantime, I’ve got one more visit to make.”
“Kendall?” Amy asks, her twinkling hazel eyes identical to mine.
I start for the door. “Hopefully, when I make it back home, I won’t be alone.”
CHAPTER 12
Kendall
An hour goesby before I can even come out from under the bed covers. I’ve spent the entire time mourning what will never be between me and Nicholas.
The reality is that our relationship won’t work. Nicholas is Nate’s father, and it’ll destroy their family if we’re together.
It’s time I accept that this trip was a mistake in more ways than one. Not only due to what happened with Nate calling off the engagement, but the fling between me and Nicholas.
“Move on,” I mutter. “Book the rental car and get the hell out of town.”
Kicking the covers aside, I grab my phone off the nightstand and start Googling local rental car companies.
For the rest of the day, I’ll stick it out in the Airbnb. Tomorrow I’ll leave as soon as it’s daylight out. From there, I’ll have no choice but to learn to put this ordeal behind me.
“What do you mean you’re closed the day after Christmas?”
I swear under my breath and scroll to the next rental car company on the search results.
It would be my luck that nothing’s open even on the day after Christmas. The universe seems determined to keep me in this small town no matter how hard I try to escape.
My phone pings while in the palm of my hand. A text pops up on my screen.
Look outside your bedroom window.
It’s from Nicholas. I close my eyes and groan. A second text comes through.
I’m serious, darling. Do it.
I put down my phone and crawl across the bed to do as asked. I grip the curtain and peel it back just enough to afford me a peek out the window.
Sure enough, Nicholas stands out in the snow with his Santa hat perched on his head and a bouquet of red and white carnations.
The smile that lights up my face comes by surprise. I can’t keep it from spreading as I let out a small laugh. The twinge in my heart disappears to be replaced by the warmth that he brings me.
We settle on what to do at the same time. As Nicholas steps toward the front door, I leap from the bed and race through the house to meet him. I wrench the door open as he’s lifting his fist to knock.
“Nick, I told you we can’t?—”
“Darling, I know what you said. But I also know what we both feel. There’s something between us. Are you going to deny that?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I’m not destroying your family. I refuse to do that.”
“Funny thing is, we’ve talked about it. Turns out, you’re being welcomed with open arms.”
“You told them?”
“Nate did. But I spoke to everybody. I told them what happened and how we feel. So long as it makes us happy, they’ve got no issue with it,” he explains, pushing the bouquet of flowers into my hands. “Nate was nowhere to be found. He’s probably going to need some time.”