Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
“LA.”
“LA? I saw the both of you this morning. He can’t be across the country already,” she protested.
“Well, he’s leaving soon. A helicopter is coming to whisk him to his jet and…hey, don’t give me that look, Ma. It’s okay.”
“I’m not giving looks. I’m just wondering why you’re letting him go.”
I furrowed my brow. “I don’t have a choice. He’s got a job and a life and—”
“So do you,” she intercepted.
I gestured manically at the ridiculous Santa suit I was wearing. “Do I, though?”
“Cool it.” She stared at something or someone over my shoulder, then met my gaze with her signature worried mom look. “You like him and he likes you.”
“It’s not that easy, Ma.”
“It’s not that complicated,” she countered. “That’s the problem with you, Joey. Ever since New York kicked you in the balls, you’ve been overthinking things—so sure you missed your shot. But life isn’t all about fancy offices and money in the bank. Quit thinking so hard, and listen to your instincts. They’ve never steered you wrong.”
“What about the time I took Uncle Gary’s truck for a joyride in the middle of the night the week before I got my license?”
Mom opened her mouth in a wide O. “You did what? Is that true?”
I laughed in spite of myself. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I—”
“True. What matters is that you get your head out of your ass and go get your man. No one wants to see a mopey Santa.” She pointed at the door like a boss and stalked away.
Tony bumped my shoulder. “Looking good, man.”
“Hmph.”
He patted my semi-flat Santa belly and raised his eggnog in a toast. “FYI—there’s a helicopter sitting at the bottom of Bonsai Hill.”
I stood still in the middle of the room while familiar voices rolled over me and “Holly Jolly Christmas” hummed through the hall’s speakers. It was claustrophobic in all the usual ways. But more so. I couldn’t breathe. Fuck, I had to get out of there.
I bolted out of the hall like a man on a mission.
By the time I hit Main Street, I was running.
Through Fallbrook.
In a Santa suit.
A chorus of “ho ho hos” followed me as I jogged through familiar streets. I didn’t stop to wave. I had to fucking hurry.
I rounded Spruce and spotted helicopter blades hovering in the clearing north of the evergreens we’d nearly crashed into on a sled a week ago. I should have been planning a speech in my head. I didn’t know what the fuck I was gonna say. I just knew I had to get to him before those blades moved.
My heart slammed against my rib cage. I’d lost the Santa hat a block into my trek across town and I was pretty sure I’d been leaking cotton stuffing for a half mile or so ’cause the thick black belt that was supposed to be around my waist drooped at my crotch. I was a sweaty mess. I could have been an ad for a Santa gone wrong. So it only made sense that snow would start falling too.
And like clockwork, the helicopter blades began to whirl to life.
I ran like a madman, panting for breath as I caught sight of Cameron heading into the clearing looking like a million bucks in his elegant navy wool coat and a striped scarf.
“Cam! Cam, wait!”
He turned, cocking his head as I jogged across the field. His manager pointed at the helicopter and made a circular hand gesture. Cam motioned for him to go on, and strode toward me.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m—I just…Gimme a sec.” I bent over at the waist and rested my hands on my knees, sucking in a gulp of air as I slowly straightened.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’ve just been running. I wanted to see you and tell you…”
“Tell me what?”
Uh…
I blinked like a deer in headlights and just like that I knew exactly what to say.
“I love you.”
“You love me?”
“Yeah, I fuckin’ love you.” I licked my lips and continued in a rush. “I know that’s a lot to lay on you. And I know those are three strong words coming from a guy you haven’t known all that long. And I know you’re leaving, and I know there’s a chance you might not return for a while. There’s also a chance you don’t feel the same way.”
“Joe…”
“Let me finish.” I held up my hand. “I-I’ve been playing it safe for too long. I don’t want to do that with you. So I thought you might want to know that when you do come back, whenever that may be…next week, next month, next year—I’ll be here. Waiting for you.”
Cam raked his teeth over his bottom lip and smiled sweetly. “And will you be wearing that?”
I glanced down at the sad state of my Santa costume and made a funny face. “Maybe? I mean, summertime, definitely not. But I could work something out for you for Valentine’s Day or St. Patrick’s—”