Chapter 15 Emily
EMILY
Nine days. That was how long it had been since I woke up in bed alone after having my world completely rocked by my brother-in-law’s best friend. He’d slipped out like a thief in the night, not bothering to say goodbye or even leave a note.
To say I was miffed would be an understatement. I hadn’t expected him to profess his undying love for me and make me breakfast in bed, but damn, couldn’t a girl get a goodbye or a note that said, “thanks for the mind-blowing sex, here’s my number in case you want to do it again?”
“Ugh,” I groaned, dropping my head back on the headrest. I was too keyed up, too vulnerable, and way too frustrated.
I’d never been hornier in my life. Sex with Donovan had altered my brain chemistry, and now nothing compared.
Not my toys, not my fingers, and definitely not any of my previous partners; not that there’d been many.
He’d ruined me for all other men, and I was mad as hell about it.
He essentially ghosted me after giving me the most orgasms I’d ever had in a twenty-four-hour period.
Hell, more like a twelve-hour period. And I hadn’t heard a peep from him since.
Not a text, or a call, or even a Snap. I could understand him not wanting to get my number from Vance—I was sure he didn’t want him to know what had happened between us—but he had plenty of other options for getting a hold of me.
Heaving in a deep, calming breath, I blew it out through my puffed cheeks.
I couldn’t go into Vance and Delilah’s house for dinner all worked up like this.
Pissed off and slightly turned on was no way to greet my family on Christmas.
I got out of my car and grabbed the giant box full of gifts I brought for my nieces.
Charlie and Ellie were my world, and I was determined to spoil them as much as I could.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever have kids of my own.
It wasn’t like I’d found any good candidates for their future father, so I was prepared to fill the position of world’s best auntie for life.
I lifted my leg to balance the box on my thigh so I could free one hand to ring the doorbell.
A moment later, heavy footsteps sounded across the hardwood floors and the door swung open.
I plastered a smile on my face, expecting to see Vance, but it fell instantly when Donovan’s chocolate brown eyes appeared above the red and green tissue paper instead of Vance’s cool blue.
Shit. What was he doing here? I thought he usually spent the holidays with his family in Boston.
Sure, he was typically around for special occasions, and Vance and Delilah always hosted a Friendsgiving he attended, but he didn’t typically stay in town for Christmas.
I wasn’t at all prepared to see him, and I was sure it showed on my face.
“Emily,” he said, offering me a tentative smile. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming at him.
“Donovan,” I gritted out, and his smile faltered. A sheepish look took over his features. At least he had the good sense to feel bad about what he’d done.
“Here, let me help,” he said, reaching for the box.
“I got it,” I snipped, stepping inside and pushing past him. I didn’t want or need his help. He moved out of my way, but I nearly clipped him with the corner of the box.
“Emily, wait,” he said, his voice low and pleading. I ignored him, setting the gifts down by the tree. “Can we talk?”
My step faltered, and I considered hearing him out for a split second, but thought better of it. “No,” I threw over my shoulder and headed toward the kitchen to meet my family. If he could pretend like nothing had happened between us for the last nine days, then I could do it for a few hours.
Charlie tore through her presents like a girl on a mission. Wrapping paper and cardboard went flying into the air, and I had to duck to avoid getting smacked in the face with the Easy Bake Oven cookbook.
Ellie was more subdued, naturally. She was just over a month old, so she didn’t care about the countless toys and frilly outfits she’d received.
She was also a little milk drunk from her recent feeding, so she struggled to keep her eyes open while Vance excitedly opened her presents in front of her and held them up on display.
Delilah giggled as he tried to engage her, but Ellie’s eyes were heavy and her tiny body was cradled in her mom’s arms. She was primed for sleep.
“Uncle Donny!” Charlie squealed, and my gaze snapped to her.
“This is just what I wanted!” She jumped up and down in excitement.
In her hands was one of those digital cameras that instantly printed the photos she took.
A zing of jealousy sliced through me at how excited she was over Donovan’s gift versus mine.
I was the aunt here. Her real aunt. I knew her better than her dad’s best friend did.
Yet she didn’t squeal with glee and bounce around like that when she saw the kid’s oven she'd begged me to get her.
I harrumphed, crossing my arms over my chest and falling back against the couch cushion.
Donovan noticed, his gaze sliding to me as his lips twitched with barely contained amusement.
My eyes narrowed on him, and he pressed his lips together.
I nearly reached for a throw pillow to chuck it at his head, but somehow I refrained.
Open hostility would only raise everyone’s suspicions, and the last thing I wanted was for my family to start questioning what had happened between us.
I wasn’t ashamed of having a one-night stand—it had actually been quite liberating—but it also wasn’t anyone else’s business.
Once all the presents were unwrapped, the evening began to wind down.
Donovan was helping Vance put together some of the bigger toys Charlie had received while I helped put away leftovers and straighten up the kitchen.
Once the grandparents left, Delilah turned to me and planted her hands on her hips.
“Spill,” she demanded, and I drew back in surprise.
“What do you—”
“Cut the shit. What happened between you and Donny? You were staring daggers at him all night, and he looked like a whipped pup.” Stunned, I blinked up at her dumbly. I hadn’t realized anyone noticed the tension between us. I sure hoped Vance hadn’t caught on.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I deflected, then turned back to the cup I’d been drying.
“Nice try,” she said flatly. “I saw him sneaking out of your cabin the morning after the party, so don’t even think about lying to me.” I stilled and nearly dropped the glass in my hands. So much for keeping our little tryst a secret.
I turned and faced her, leaning against the counter with a sigh.
“We hooked up that night.” She nodded, giving me an expression that said go on.
“Then he snuck out the next morning without a word. He didn’t even bother leaving a note.
” Her eyebrows shot to her hairline, and her mouth fell open.
“It wasn’t like I was expecting him to stick around or for it to become more than what it was, but I thought he’d at least have the decency to say goodbye.
It’s like he wanted to pretend it never happened.
” That stung more than it should have. I turned away from my cousin to hide the hurt in my eyes.
“I thought maybe he’d try to reach out or even explain why he left so abruptly, but I haven’t heard a peep from him.
It’s not like he doesn’t have a way to get a hold of me.
I’m not some stranger he met at the bar.
I deserve a little more courtesy than that. ”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said with a shrug, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. “I got what I asked for and nothing more.” The problem was, once I’d gotten what I wanted, I realized it would never be enough.