Chapter 18
eighteen
T he cabin is lively, with Christmas tunes crackling through the old speakers set up to play the radio. It smells heavenly, full of spices and sweet things. Clanking of pots and pans confirms our Christmas morning breakfast is underway. There’s no point in sneaking back to my room to change before they all see me.
“Merry Christmas!” I announce, peeking around the wall into the kitchen.
Mom’s working away at the stove, stirring something to stop it from boiling over.
“There you are. We weren’t sure when you’d be back this morning.”
“I know. I thought I’d be back last night.”
“It’s fine. We saw Jennifer last night, she told us everything,” Mom says.
Now I’m curious what exactly Jennifer told her. “I’m going to change, then be out to help.”
“Okay, sweetie. I left you a gift on your bed.”
I disappear into my room, ignoring the neatly wrapped box on my bed, which I know contains a new pair of Christmas pajamas. Pulling out my phone, I type away at a message to Jennifer.
Merry Christmas! Now… want to tell me what you said to my mom so I don’t go out there and give her a different story.
I throw my phone on the bed and strip out of the masquerade outfit from last night. Pulling the bow free, I open the lid on the green and red plaid box. She went with silk this year, but my favorite part is the fuzzy socks hidden underneath.
I wish I had time to shower and wash off last night, but I know my dad and Oma are waiting for me somewhere. My phone pings, and I dive for it.
Merry Christmas, ya filthy ho-bag.
I should have left you hanging when your mom found me last night. I can’t believe you ditched me to go home with them.
Actually, just kidding, I can’t blame you. Tell me everything. Was it both of them? Who’s bigger? Shit who’s better?
Oh right. I told your mom Zach had something special to show you back at his cabin. I didn’t think you told her you’d been hooking up with both of them, so I left some information out. LOL.
You’re a lifesaver. I love you. I will tell you ALL about my night later today. But right now, I have to get my ass to the kitchen before someone in my family knocks my bedroom door down.
Breakfast is delicious and filling and with how much these two prepared, we’ll be full until dinner. We take our mugs and move to the living room, where more presents have found their way under the toppling Christmas tree.
“Mom, did you ship stuff here for Oma to hide?”
“Koda, you know your father. I didn’t want them all ruined if he found the ones I had at home.”
Dad looks like a chastised child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
As the only child and grandchild, the pile of presents in front of me grows insane. I’m grateful, though. I’ll be moving from my fully furnished college apartment in just a few short months. I’ll be starting from scratch. I still don’t know where I’ll end up. Seattle, San Fran, Austin, and Chicago are all on the list of possibilities. The companies in my field are heavy there, and I like the idea of living somewhere a little livelier than Pullman. Seattle sounds even more enticing now that I know Cole lives there. But I wonder if I’ll take him up on his offer and reach out.
We spend the rest of Christmas Day relaxing by the fire, watching movies, and playing board games until it’s time to start helping in the kitchen for dinner.
This week was exactly what I needed to get through and over my breakup with Chad. Hindsight really is twenty-twenty. I have so many big things happening in the next year. Now that I think about it, how would our relationship have worked once I moved out of state? As much as no one wants to walk in on their ex getting railed, maybe it was all for the best. It’s one less thing I have to worry about.
“You’re sure you don’t want to stay a few more days? Classes don’t start until after the new year,” Mom asks, fussing over my sweater as we stand beside my packed-up car.
Dad pulls her away from me into the crook of his arm. “Let the poor girl go back to school. I’m sure she’s had enough time with her family to last until next year.”
“Stop, you know I love spending time with you two. I just want to make sure everything’s in order before heading back to classes.”
I throw my arms around them, bringing them in for a tight hug, before blowing a kiss to Oma, who stays safe on the cabin porch.
“Call me when you make it back to school.”
“I’ll text you,” I promise her.
I’ve barely driven around the mountain this week, but when I get in and push the ignition, my gas light turns on. Looks like I’m stopping for gas before I hit the road. Might as well stop and stock up on drinks and snacks for the five-hour drive ahead of me.
The gas station door dings on my exit, and the attendant calls out a safe travels as I go back to my car weighed down with my bag of junk food.
A tall form leans against my car, his other hand shoved deep into his front pocket.
“This isn’t Oregon, I can pump my own gas.”
“I don’t think it’s considered doing it yourself when you leave it here running while you go inside,” Zach teases back.
“What are you doing out here? You almost missed me. I’m about to hit the road back to school.”
“I stopped by the cabin, and your mom told me you’d just left. I was headed out to pick up some firewood for my parents when I saw your car.”
The gas pump clicks, and he situates it back, clearing his path to step closer. He snags the plastic bag from my hands and puts it in the passenger seat before pulling me tight to his chest.
“You snuck out on me again.”
“You sleep like the dead, and it was Christmas morning,” I counter.
“You didn’t text. Not even a Merry Christmas.” He raises a thick eyebrow.
“Merry belated Christmas,” I say with a smile.
“You stole my last kiss.”
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing you found me.”
I push up on my toes and slant my lips against his. The feeling has become familiar in only a week, and I melt into him. A girl could get used to being the one Zach dotes on. He seems like perfect boyfriend material. Then again, he could be the biggest fuck boy back at Stanford, and that somehow fits him too.
I pull away, drawing in a much-needed breath. “That’s one hell of a sendoff. But I need to get going. I don’t want to hit afternoon traffic.”
“Wait. I have something for you.”
He reaches atop my car for a small box I didn’t notice before. The wrapping job is neat and tidy, and the golden bow is perfectly aligned. He must have had the shop do it for him.
“You got me something?”
“It’s nothing huge. I just saw it while I was out with Cole, and it made me think of you.”
My gut clenches at the mention of his cousin, and my eyes scan the parking lot to see if he’s around. I don’t love that my body has a visceral reaction to the man. Shaking it off, I pull the ribbon off the box and slip the lid from the bottom. It pops off and reveals a delicate silver chain with a beautiful pear-shaped pendant.
“Zach.”
“It reminds me of your eyes.”
“It’s stunning, but it’s too much. I can’t.”
His hand reaches out, taking the box from me and plucking the necklace from its display.
“Turn around.”
His tone leaves no room to argue, so I spin around and lift my hair from my neck. The coolness from the stone sends a shiver down my spine.
“There,” he whispers in my ear. “Beautiful,” he adds when I turn to face him, running the stone back and forth on the chain.
“Well, now I feel terrible. I didn’t get you anything.”
“That’s not true,” he says, kissing my forehead. “Have a safe drive back to school, Koda. I’ll see you next year.”
He gives me that soft smile and a wink, turning on his heels to walk to his truck.
Definitely a fuck boy, that one.