Chapter 13 #2
“And thanks for fixing my stupidity with the cookies.” Becca elbowed him. “His stupidity with the allergy.”
“Our stupidity together.” Tyler pulled her close. “We make a good team.”
They stared at each other with such easy affection it hurt to watch.
“You do,” Lili managed. “I’m happy for you both.”
“We’re happy for us too.” Tyler grinned. “Finally get to do this in public.” He kissed Becca under the mistletoe. She leaned into him like she’d been waiting months to do exactly that.
Which she had.
After they moved on, Lili retreated toward the Christmas tree in the corner. She needed a minute. Just one minute to breathe and pull herself together.
The tree was massive up close. It had to be twelve feet tall, covered in handmade ornaments, carved wooden figures, and painted glass balls. At the top, an angel with slightly crooked wings.
Perfect and imperfect at the same time. Like everything else in Kringle.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
She turned to see Miles’s grandfather, Gee, beside her. His wife, Jean, was a few steps behind, talking to Nina.
“It is,” Lili said.
“Jenny’s family has been putting on this party for decades. Every Christmas Eve, open invitation, the whole town shows up.” Gee studied the tree. “I never miss it.”
“It’s been my pleasure, visiting Kringle, getting to know your grandson.” Lili touched Gee's shoulder. “You've made a mark on his life.”
“Miles takes after me. Too much, sometimes.” Gee studied her with kind, knowing eyes. “He told me about Denver.”
“It’s a good opportunity,” she said it again as if she just said it enough she’d convince herself it was true.
“I’m sure it is. But that’s not why you’re going, is it?”
The question caught her off guard. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you’re running. I did the same thing when I was young.
Left Kringle for a big hospital in Houston.
Better pay, better opportunities, better everything.
” He tapped his cane against the floor. “Lasted six months before I realized I’d made a mistake.
Some people are meant for cities. Some are meant for places like this. ”
“How did you know which you were?”
“I stopped trying to figure out what I should want and paid attention to what I actually did want.” He smiled.
Jean appeared at his elbow. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him an affectionate squeeze. “What stories are you bending her ear with, old man?”
“Nothing she doesn’t already know.” Gee patted Lili’s arm. “Denver’s gain is our loss. But I hope you find what you’re looking for, wherever you end up.”
He and Jean moved on, leaving Lili standing by the tree with tears threatening again. She’d been here such a short time. How did these people burrow into her heart so fast?
The band started a new song. “White Christmas.” Couples moved toward the dance floor.
Nina and Ryan swayed together, Nina’s head on Ryan’s shoulder.
Rose and Tom danced with Emma between them, their niece standing on her father’s boots and giggling.
Even Tyler and Becca joined in, holding each other close.
Everyone appeared so happy. So settled. So sure of where they belonged.
Lili scanned the barn for Miles and found him near the bar, talking to someone she didn’t recognize.
As if he felt her gaze, he looked up.
Their eyes met across the crowded space.
Her heart squeezed.
He excused himself from his conversation and started toward her.
She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t stand here and make small talk and pretend she was fine. Couldn’t watch him pretend he was fine when she could see the truth in his face.
But he was already there, standing in front of her with his hands in his pockets. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“You hiding?”
“Yes.”
“Me too.” He gestured at the crowd. “Too many people telling me they’re sorry.”
“About what?”
“You leaving. Everyone knows. Small town.”
They stood side by side, watching the others dance. The music swirled around them, fiddle and guitar weaving something beautiful and sad.
The song changed. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
The irony was not lost on Lili.
Miles turned to her. “Dance with me.”
“Miles—”
“One dance. That’s all I’m asking.” He held out his hand. “Please.”
She looked at him, saw everything he wasn’t saying written in his expression. She placed her hand in his.
He led her onto the floor, tugged her into his arms. Not too close, a respectable distance. But one hand was warm and solid at her back, his other gentle around hers.
They swayed together. Lili tried not to think about how right this felt. How easy. How his body fit against hers like they’d been dancing together for years.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he said.
“Thank you.”
“I keep trying to memorize you. The way you look right now. The way you feel in my arms.” His voice caught. “In case this is all I get.”
Her throat burned. “Miles…”
“I was wrong.” He looked down at her, and his eyes were raw. “About everything. About telling you to go. About pushing you toward Denver. About making you think there was nothing here worth staying for.”
“I never thought—”
“Didn’t you? I basically told you this job was temporary, this town was too small, you deserved better. What else were you supposed to think?”
“I thought you were trying to be supportive.”
“I was trying to be noble. There’s a difference.” His hand tightened on her back. “I thought if I let you go without a fight, it would prove I cared about you more than what I wanted. But all it proved was that I was a coward.”
The music played on. Other couples danced around them, but Lili could only see him.
“You’re not a coward.”
“I let you accept the Denver offer without telling you how I feel. That’s the definition of cowardice.” He took a deep breath. “I know it’s too late. I know you made your choice. But I couldn’t let you leave without saying this.”
“Saying what?”
“That these ten days with you have been the best ten days of my life.” His voice was rough, barely audible over the music.
“I have feelings for you, Lili. Real feelings. I want you to stay. I want a chance to see where this could go. I know it’s fast and maybe crazy, but I can’t let you leave without telling you. ”
The world stopped. The music faded. Everything narrowed to his face, his words, his hand holding hers.
“You have feelings for me?”
“Very much.”
“But we’ve only known each other for ten days.”
“Eleven,” he corrected. “We met on the thirteenth. But that’s why I didn’t say anything. Why I told you to take Denver. Because who am I to ask you to stay after eleven days?” His hand tightened on hers. “But I’d rather risk looking like a fool than spend the rest of my life wondering what if.”
She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Could only stare at him while her heart hammered and every careful reason she’d built for leaving crumbled.
Bam!
The barn doors burst open with a bang.
Cold air rushed in, sharp and sudden. The music faltered. People near the entrance turned to look, conversations dying.
A man stood in the doorway, backlit by the Christmas lights outside. Tall. Dark hair. Expensive coat. Even from across the barn, Lili recognized his stance. The way he stood like he owned whatever space he occupied.
Her blood froze.
David.
She went rigid. Miles’s hand tightened on her back.
“Lili?” His voice changed, urgent. “What’s wrong?”
She couldn’t answer. Could only stare as her ex-husband scanned the barn. His gaze swept across faces, dismissing them one by one, until it landed on her.
He smirked.
The smirk she once thought was charming. That smirk that meant he found what he was looking for and wasn’t letting go.
And he stalked straight for her.