Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
We’re staring at one another. There’s so much I could read into that look he’s giving me, but I’m not. He didn’t want a relationship with me. He was ready to end the friendship we did have. He leans forward to grab another ornament, and I hold my breath, almost hoping that he’s reaching for me. But when he draws the little figure out of the box and leans away, I release my breath. “Me too. I’m glad I came too,” I tell him.
Because I don’t know what to say, I start to ramble. “You’d probably like a real tree better. But I didn’t want to worry about your house burning down around you if you forgot to water it or something, so I thought this would be the safest bet. You could always get a real one next year if you want to.”
He starts to answer, but then my phone goes off in my pocket. I hold it up between us. “It’s my sister. I need to take this.”
“Okay, that reminds me I need to text my foster brother too.”
I nod at him and watch him as he walks away. I’m already pacing the living room when I answer the phone.
“Hey, sis!”
“Don’t you hey, sis me. How could you?”
I laugh. Alison always has been melodramatic. “How could I what?”
“Invite Ben here, that’s what. And then not even give me a warning.”
I roll my eyes. “Really? How could I invite our stepbrother home for Christmas?”
It’s almost as if I can hear her grinding her teeth. “Really? You know we don’t get along.”
I see Gavin standing on the back porch through the window, looking down at his phone. I know he’s coming in soon, so I have to finish this call. “No, actually, what I know is that you and Ben are crazy for each other, have been since our mom married his dad, but you’re too stubborn to see where it goes. So let your guard down, be nice to him, and let it play out.”
Silence. She doesn’t say a thing, I can’t even hear her breathing. “Alison? You there?”
“I’m here. I don’t…”
“Yes you do. You like him. And he feels the same about you…”
There’s a rumbling over the phone, and she starts to whisper. “How do you know that?”
“Because you both are so obvious, everyone knows. Even Mom. You are making it into a bigger deal than it is. Just see where it goes.”
She gasps in the middle of my tirade, but I don’t stop. Gavin turns back toward the house and is about to walk in. “Look, I have to go. I love you, sis. I’m here with Gavin. I’ll be back the day after Christmas. I’ll text you later.” And then I hang up.
Maybe I should have given her some warning, but I know she would have just found a reason not to be home when Ben got there. Now, hopefully, they’ll spend some time together and work it out.
Gavin
After texting with my brother Baker, I go back inside. I was quick and to the point in my text with him, but I doubt he noticed since he was in Juniper Junction with his assistant. I don’t know what’s going on there, but I’m glad that Baker’s finally made a move.
I walk back into the living room and look at Cassie, who’s putting the finishing touches on the tree.
“Everything okay?” I ask her.
“Yep. Everything is good. Are you ready for what’s next?”
I laugh and shake my head. I’m definitely not going to be bored with Cassie here. She won’t let that happen.
“I’m ready. What do you want to do?” I ask her as innocently as I can. I have a hundred things running through my mind of what I’d like to do, but none of those are on the table. Think Christmas, Gavin.
She walks over to a box and picks it up. “Snowman.”
I look between the box and her. “Snowman?”
She opens the lid to show me a top hat, carrot, buttons and a scarf. “Yep, we’re going to make a snowman.”
I help her into her jacket and follow her outside. “Aren’t you cold?” she asks.
“Nope. It doesn’t bother me.”
Her teeth are already starting to chatter. “C’mon, let’s get this going. I’m thinking the quicker we get the snowman made, the quicker you can get us inside to make some hot chocolate, and I’m really hoping you brought some of your famous cookies.”
“You know I did.” She starts rolling up snow, and I follow after her. I don’t have the heart to tell her that I’ve made a snowman before. She’s going to all this trouble, I’m not going to do anything to ruin it.
Chapter 4
Cassie
“Mmmmm,” he moans.
He’s eating his fifth—or maybe sixth—cookie, and I sit across from him on the couch sipping hot chocolate.
He picks up his mug and takes a drink, moaning around it too.