by Lisa Shelby
My stomach instantly sours, a cold sweat instantly coating my skin with her kind words. The anguish I feel at moments like this is more than I could have ever imagined it would be when I suggested the ridiculous idea to Josh. I’ve turned myself into a fraud. A liar. I’m disgusted with myself as I perpetuate the sham that is my fake engagement.
“Thanks, Margie. Josh and I couldn’t be happier for Miles and Mason too. They’re great together.”
“Hey, Mom, how many tickets do we want this year?” Margie’s son, Mark, asks with his wallet open, waiting to pay Amelia for his raffle tickets. “Hey, Emmett, good to see you.”
Mark and I hug, and then I round the table, getting back to my duties.
“Emmy, dear, I’ll have twenty dollars in tickets please.” She turns her attention to her oldest. “But, Mark, I’m not sharing. You’ll have to get your own.”
“That’s fine, Mom. But you just remember you said that when I come up with a winning ticket and you want to share my prize with me,” he says paying Amelia for his tickets.
Margie hands me a twenty, and I tear off her red raffle tickets and place their matches in the big spinning basket that usually holds the rotary club's BINGO balls. “Good luck, and have fun tonight!”
“Thanks, honey, and send that fiancé of yours my way to say hi before he jet sets out of town again.”
“I sure will.”
As if on cue, my phone pings with a text from Josh.
Josh: Hey. I made it home, but I think I’m just gonna lay low at your place. I don’t really feel like being at The Dance tonight.
Emmett: Everything okay?
Josh: I’m fine. Just not in the mood.
Emmett: Okay, well, I’ll do my best to get out of here at a decent hour. Love you.
Josh: Love you too. Give my best to everyone and have fun. No need to rush home. See you when you get here.
I guess I’m not the only one who notices the change in people when Josh arrives. I can’t help but think there’s more to it than just not wanting a night full of attention. I hope he’s okay.
“Emmett, do you mind if I steal my sister for a second?”
“Of course not, things have been pretty slow since most everyone is here already. I have it covered, Melly, so go enjoy the rest of the night.”
“Thanks, but I’ll bring her back. We just need to take our annual picture with Santa Montgomery before we forget.”
“Thanks for the reminder; we need to get one with The Crew too. Melly, we can’t forget.”
“I’ll rally the troops, and we’ll come grab you shortly.”
Miles’ dad, Mitch, has been playing Santa for the past twenty or so years, and we always get a group picture with him. Parker and Audrey are home for the holiday, but Reece and Rachel are still in Africa for another month. With Josh staying in tonight, it looks like we’ll be short three Crew members this year.
I finish my time at the ticket table, take a few spins around the dance floor, then pose with Santa. And as I’m sipping my punch and hanging with the girls I can’t help but feel like something or someone is missing.
What I wouldn’t give to show all of this to Max and Nick. I haven’t really spent much time with Nick, but I know they’re a package deal, and I love that they are.
When Max won his custody battle a couple of weeks ago, I had never seen him so happy. He had already been getting Nick more than usual, but now it was official. He’ll have Nick full-time for one week, and then he’ll be with his mom for a week. It seems crazy to me, but Nick is apparently thrilled. He’s the one who said he wanted to do the weekly schedule, so everyone is happy. Oh, how I wanted to celebrate with him, but alas, it wasn’t a possibility.
They still have to work out the holiday schedule, but this year, he has Christmas Eve and Lauryn has Christmas Day. Which is why I’m here with Cleveland hovering in the corner instead of Max. But he’s exactly where he should be, with his boy.
“Well, that’s just about a wrap on this year's dance. What’s going on for the rest of the night?” Parker addresses the group.
“No plans, man. What did you have in mind?” Miles replies with his arms around Mason’s waist and her back pressed to his front.
“I have an idea,” I chime in.
“Do tell,” Miles says with a lifted brow.
“Well, Josh flew home but didn’t feel up to a crowd and is just sitting alone at my place waiting for me. What do you say we surprise him and go hang out? I have all the fixins for hot toddies.”
“Perfect!” Amelia and Audrey answer in unison.
“Don’t text him, Emmy,” Parker says excitedly. “Let’s surprise his lonely little ass. Let’s all get our shit together and meet in the parking lot and head over in five.”
“Sounds good, Parker. Meet you out front,” Miles proclaims.
We all scatter to gather our coats and say our goodbyes to the few people still here. Miles already let his staff go, and with all the food put away, the rest of the cleanup can wait.
It may not be everyone’s typical Christmas Eve, but The Crew together is ours. We don’t care where we are or what we do as long as we’re together.
Chapter 23
“Emmy. Wake up.”
I’m in that place between being awake and asleep, and I’m not sure if Josh’s voice is a dream or if he's really in my bedroom. But it’s way too early to find out. I roll over and shove a pillow over my head to drown out the sound in case he really is trying to wake me up at such an ungodly hour after the late night we had last night.
“Emmy, come on. Wake up. Santa came.” This time, I feel the bed dip and the pillow ripped off the top of my head
Guess it’s not a dream.
Bummer.
“Why are you up so early? And why did I ever give you a key to my house?”
“Em, it’s almost nine.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me? It feels more like five. Remind me never to drink hot toddies again.”
“Well, I’ll promise not to let you drink three of them when Parker is bartending. How does that sound?”
“Deal. But I don’t have to be at my mom’s until later this afternoon, why are you making me get up? You can wait for your present.”
“I can, but you can’t. You need to get up, Em. Santa brought you a present.”
“Josh, I’m thirty-one, Santa doesn’t bring me presents anymore.”
“Well, he did this year. Get up, brush your teeth, and meet me in the living room. And an Altoid doesn’t count. Brush your fangs, lady.” He smacks me on my butt and disappears, closing the door behind him.
I’d be lying if the thought of something fun waiting for me under the tree didn’t light a little fire in me and have me popping out of bed. However, popping out of bed was a bad idea. The room tilts ever so slightly, and my head begins to throb before I’ve taken my first steps, but I push through. I throw a long sweater on over my red tank and gray pajama bottoms covered in little Santa hats.
When I pull open my bedroom door, Josh is standing in the hallway with his hands on his hips, blocking my view into the living room.
“Go brush that nasty dragon breath.”
“Merry Christmas to you too, Josh.”
Following his instructions, I shuffle my slippered feet into the bathroom and freshen up, but when I open the door, he’s no longer in the hallway, so this must mean I have the all clear to venture all the way down to the living room.
“Okay, Santa West. What have you done that couldn’t wait...”
My heart skips a beat and my headache all but disappears when I see the most beautiful man and the prettiest girl in the world standing next to my tree.
“What are you doing here? What about Nick?” I’m frozen to the spot for a few beats, and just when I take my first step in their direction, Molly comes running my way, her butt wiggling with excitement.
I reach down and pet her real quick. “Molly, girl, it’s great to see you, but I need to kiss your daddy real qu
ick!”
Walking around the grunting Frenchie, I rush to Max and jump in his arms, my legs going around his waist. His massive arms wrap around my back, and I kiss him like a woman starved.
“Merry Christmas, Firefly,” he whispers against my lips.
“Merry Christmas, Max,” I whisper back.
“Okay, okay. You two aren’t alone. Let’s take it easy with the face sucking.”
Max pulls back. “He did let me borrow the plane to get here so...”
I unwrap myself from Max and make my way over to my best friend, hugging him tight. Stepping back, I look into the eyes of someone who has always been there for me. Who loves me as much as I love him. I can see him warring with himself. Between setting me free and saving his career. It’s a decision I don’t want him to make. I got myself into this, and I have to deal with the consequences.
Josh is worth it.
So is Max.
I have to find a way to make things work with both of them.
“You knew he was coming?”
“I did.”
“You planned this with him and let him borrow the jet to get here?”
“Ho, ho, ho.”
“You made one of the pilots work on Christmas morning?”
“Captain Lerman is Jewish. He was more than happy to. Besides, he has another flight in a few hours. It’s all good.
“I love you, Joshy.”
“Love you right back, Emmy.” His gaze glances over my shoulder, and he gives a tiny nod to Max. “You’ve gotten my gift, and now I have to go spend the day with my parents before I fly out tomorrow to meet Jace back in Los Angeles.” He takes me in another big hug and then takes me by the shoulders and turns me around to face the man who has lit up my world with his mere presence. “Besides, I think Max has something for you.”
“There’s more?”
“There is,” my best friend whispers in my ear. “I love you, Emmy. Have the best New Year ever.”
What in the world is he talking about? I hate New Years, and he knows it. But with a pat to my rear, he pushes me toward Max, who gives Josh a nod. A couple of seconds later, I hear the door shut behind him when he leaves.
“Are we really alone?”
“Well, there’s Molly, but yes, we’re alone.”
He meets me in the middle of the room, and standing face-to-face, we interlace our fingers and smile at one another.
“You know, that first night I met you, I would never have imagined you even knew how to smile, let alone have a smile that would light me up from the inside out. You standing in my house on Christmas morning looking as happy as you make me feel is the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten.”
“Baby, you have no idea how happy you make me. I never thought there was anything outside of Nick that could make me feel this full. This happy.”
He’s comparing me to his little boy.
I can’t get past the lump in my throat to respond to his lovely words.
He leans down and kisses me ever so softly, then speaks against my lips. “You know I’m head over heels mad about you, right?”
“Right back at ya,” I breathe into his mouth. “Now kiss me. I’ve missed you so much.”
He pulls me against him with one hand on my lower back while he caresses my face with the other. Kissing me slow and lazy while keeping his gaze locked on mine. Each movement deliberate.
Meaningful.
Life-changing.
I haven’t told him so, but I am in love with this man. Every bite of my lip and flick from his tongue fills me with lust and passion while also confirming that he is my missing piece.
I feel it in my bones.
He releases my bun from the top of my head, and his hands tangle in my hair. I’m practically climbing him when Molly lays down on our feet, making her presence known. We come up for air, both of us smiling, but I’m still pressed tight against him with my cheek on his chest and his heart beating the same cadence as mine.
“What’s this I hear about you and a hangover?”
“I think I found the magic cure.”
He gives me a squeeze.
“Wild night last night?” he asks into my hair.
“It didn’t start that way. I mean, I worked the raffle table all night at the Dance, but then everyone came over here, and hot toddies happened.”
“Oh, I love a hot toddy when it’s cold out.”
“I used to. I think I’ve had enough to get me through the winter. But as I said, I feel better now.”
“Well, let’s see if I can make you feel even better.”
“I like the sound of that. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to have you in my bed.”
“Well, that’s not exactly what I was talking about.”
“Oh. Well, don’t I feel silly.”
More like dejected but no need for dramatics.
“Don’t you worry, you’re going to get that too. Soon.”
“How soon?”
“Shush, woman, and go sit down on the couch.”
“What in the world are you up to?”
I grab Molly, and she and I wait for Max on the couch while he grabs a beautifully wrapped box from under the tree. The paper is white adorned with large red snowflakes and a matching red bow. He doesn’t say anything when he hands the box to me, and when I just stare up at him, he gives a little lift of his head, telling me to go ahead and open it.
Under the beautifully tied ribbon on top of the box is an envelope. My fingers are shaking as I pull out a note that says...
Firefly,
It’s time someone planned a trip for you.
I hope to see the world with you, and I think this will be the perfect way to get started.
Yours,
Max
My heart is beating out of my chest in anticipation as I pull on the ribbon and let it fall from my lap only to have Molly grab hold and try to take off with it. Her daddy takes it from her and then sits next to us with his body turned to face me while I tear open the perfectly wrapped gift.
His arm is stretched out on the back of the couch, and he’s playing with my hair as I remove the lid.
“What in the world?”
It’s a black beret.
“Here, let’s see how it looks,” he says. Taking the hat out of the box, he adjusts it on my head so it fits to his liking.
“Thank you. I’ve never owned a beret before. I feel so Fr....”
Stopping mid-sentence, my mouth falls open because it can’t be true.
Can it?
“You feel so what?”
“No way, Max.”
“No, you don’t want to spend New Year’s Eve in Paris with me? Here I thought maybe you could take some of your own pictures to use as your new screensaver.”
My gasp is so loud Molly stops chewing on the corner of the box and gives me a side-eye that asks what in the world is wrong with you, woman?
The tears filling my eyes blur my vision. “Max, is this real?”
“If you agree to go with me, it will be. I sure hope those are happy tears?”
“The happiest!”
I leap up from the couch and jump up and down like an idiot. Molly barks at me from the couch sharing in my excitement, even if she has no idea why.
“So, that’s a yes?”
“Yes! A million times, yes!” Then my gift to him flashes through my head, and it hits me what a huge deal this is.
“What? What’s wrong? Why do you look like you’re about to change your mind?”
“Max, this is too much. I can’t accept this.”
“I would give you the moon if I could. You will accept it.”
“Max, last-minute plane tickets to Paris this time of year have to cost a fortune!”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “We’ve got our own plane.”
“Josh?”
“When I told him my plan, he insisted.”
“But...”
“I know, I know. From here on out, we’ll fly commer
cial and make sure we work on our carbon footprint.”
And just like that, I tumble a little further in love with this amazing man who already knows me so well.
“What about Nick?”
“Well, he’s off on vacation in Hawaii with his mom and Randall for the next week and a half, so the timing is perfect.”
“What about Molly?”
“Josh is gonna take her back with him tomorrow morning when he flies out. And then Greta will take her.”
“Wow, you really thought of everything.”
“Oh, I have.” He lifts an eyebrow.
“When are we going?”
“Twelve hours. Give or take.”
“I’m sorry, did you say twelve hours?”
“That I did.”
“It’s Christmas.”
“It is.”
“But...”
“No buts. Josh already told me that your family eats early, so I figure if you get ready now and start packing, we should still have time to get you to see Grammy before heading to your parents, and then we’ll drop Molly off with Josh and head out.”
“Whoa...”
“Impressed?”
“Turned on.”
He laughs. “Go get in the shower, baby.”
“Wanna join me?”
“You better believe I do, but we’re twenty-four hours away from me having you alone in a plush five-star room with a view of the Eiffel Tower from our bed.”
“Sounds incredibly romantic for a lumberjack.”
He stands from the couch. “You have no idea what you’re in for. This lumberjack is about to woo the hell out of you, but he’s also not gonna make love to you for the first time in the shower when Paris is waiting for us.”
He’s right. I know he’s right. But we’re alone, and I can’t help but want him. I mean, I’m only human. But my libido goes cold when I think about being in Paris and not being able to hold his hand and kiss him and act like a couple.
“What if we’re seen?”
“Well, not having Josh there will certainly help. Besides, it’s Paris; nobody is looking around for celebrities nor do they care that much. They also have much stricter laws since the death of Princess Diana. It’s winter so we’ll cover you up in big coats and scarfs, and we’ll make sure you have lots of hats. We’ll be discreet, but if you think I’m taking you to Paris and I’m not going to hold your hand as we walk along the Seine, then you are seriously mistaken.”
