Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
I found Stacy in the great room, surrounded by pillows like a princess on a cloud. She thanked me profusely for the hot chocolate and launched into a nonstop monologue of every movie she’d binged over the past few days, the decorator’s heavy hand with the garland, and her regrets about missing Dave’s company’s holiday party.
She sighed. “It was at the diner, and I’ve heard that Nolan and JC went all out this year.”
“They did. It’s almost as festive as Rise and Grind.”
“That good?” she teased, but her face fell. And just when I thought that had to be my imagination, a single tear slid down her cheek.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I set my cup on the coffee table and kneeled beside her.
“I want to sell my share, Ivan.”
“Oh.” Fuck.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to wait till after the holidays to talk to you, but I can’t stop thinking about it and that’s probably because I have too much time on my hands. I just…I can’t give it my all, and I don’t feel as invested as I should to do the things we talked about. I want to focus on being a mom. It’s something I never thought I wanted, but this kid is coming soon, and I’ve been reevaluating my priorities. He has to come first.”
I stared, unsure how to reply. Which was silly because there was only one acceptable response.
Even so, it took everything in me to utter those two words with a straight face. “I understand.”
Stacy melted into the pillows with a sigh of relief. “You do? I’m sorry. I’ve been losing sleep about this for weeks. Dave insisted that I needed to talk to you, but I didn’t want to. In my ideal world, I’d have it all, but I’m not that person. You know me…I have to focus.”
“Yeah, totally.” I patted her hand and stood. “I get it.”
“We can discuss details in January. I know the Hendersons would buy us in a heartbeat or—”
“No,” I barked. Softening my tone, I added, “I’ll buy you out. I’ll get a loan or something, but…first, Christmas.”
“Yes. Christmas.” She gave me a tentative smile. “Love you, Ive.”
“Love you too.”
And I did.
And yes, I understood that after thirty-one years, we’d reached an impasse that required us to travel at different speeds in new directions. Our partnership might not survive, but our friendship would. No doubt about it.
I just had to figure out how I was going to do this alone.
I headed into town again with my nose buried in my scarf, feeling restless and a little scared, but there was nothing I could do at the moment. I just had to keep moving and think positive thoughts. Christmas carols, ribbons, bows, hot chocolate with extra whipped cream—
Buzz buzz
I stopped on the corner of Main and Myrtle, and squinted at the text on my cell.
Where are you? I was just at R&G. The meeting went well. Weird. Call me.
Tears welled on cue, blurring and scrambling the letters.
Fuck, this is it.
Everything was ending, tying itself into a neat bow on Christmas Eve.
Of course, it was. I wasn’t a complete idiot, but I’d hoped for a magical alternative outcome…holiday-style. That wasn’t going to happen.
I swallowed around a ball of unwelcome emotion and braced myself against the wind as I turned onto Main Street.
A group of carolers sang “Jingle Bells” in front of the barber shop, Crabby Annie passed out complimentary maple cookies in front of Henderson’s wearing a Santa hat and a horrible holiday sweater with blinking lights, and a group of kids were making a snowman near the fountain across from Town Hall. Elmwood couldn’t have been more idyllic if it tried.
I swallowed my tears and wiped at my eyes, valiantly fighting the urge to cry my heart out. And why? I should have been freaking out about Stacy’s news, not pining over a man I’d known would leave. This wasn’t the universe being unfair; this was me being a fool.
I should have known better than to fall in love with my holiday crush. I should have known some wishes could never come true.
11
COURT
Gary McDermott was slick as fuck, but he knew what he was talking about.
“It’s all about sales and marketing, man. You’re turning thirty-five soon—”
“In February,” I supplied, sneaking a glance out the diner window in the general direction of Rise and Grind.
“Right. Well, not to be a dick, but you’re a mature commodity. I can sell your speed and agility, but what really makes you an asset is your LGBTQ affiliation. The Tritons are trailblazers. They do big Pride celebrations, sell gear on their website, use rainbow tape…the works. As you may know, the NHL has boggled a few opportunities and made poor decisions recently that can’t be undone overnight. You can do an about-face, but it looks bad, right? So…they go to the minors and have their team raise the flags and fix their faux pas. Thanks to Vinnie and Riley, you’re a shoo-in. LA has a contract ready for you to sign. Nice figures, too.”