by Taylor Hart
It surprised him, and he pulled back from her a bit. “What do you mean?”
She leaned toward the couch, resting her head. “All you can do is talk about this town, and you clearly love taking pictures. I love the picture you gave me by the way. It could be in a gallery somewhere.”
“Thank you.” Mike waved a hand through the air. “But it’s nothing.”
“Mike.” She took his hand. “You’re good. You’re really good.”
Mike let out a breath. “That won’t support a family. I mean, I’m at Harvard Business School.”
“And you hate it,” she said, her voice rising.
“What?”
“You do. You didn’t say you were lonely, but after what Lacey said about all those pictures and you not wanting to talk about it …”
“I had an adjustment period.”
She pointed at him. “No, you dated Ann.”
He glared at her. “What does that mean?”
“You dated Ann, who liked fish and poetry and debating—and was clearly nothing at all like you.”
“How do you know?” he threw back at her, sounding too defensive to his own ears.
She grunted. “You said yourself you joined some dating website to get advice on dating because it felt like you couldn’t figure it out.”
“Man, you have no trouble throwing things back in my face, do you?”
“I’m just saying you’re back in Boston, at a school you don’t want to go to, hating it, and the truth is that you have all of this.”
He frowned. “No, my parents have all of this.” Did she realize the kind of pressure he was under? “Do you think living in my father’s shadow is easy? Do you think living in Snow Valley under everything my parents have built together would be easy? It’s not just that I’m getting my MBA to prove myself. But do you think I could come back here and have no one? Do you see my parents in there? Their story is …” He broke off, standing. “Never mind.”
“You’re afraid.” She let out a sigh.
Neither of them said anything, but Mike stood and walked away from the couch.
She followed him, taking his hand. “Mike, your parents do have an amazing love story. You don’t have to compare your story to theirs. I went around this last year thinking no one could ever be Josh, but being here has shown me there’s hope.”
Mike’s heart raced. “It has?”
She blinked and stared down at their hands. “I mean … yeah.” The side of her lip twitched up. “You actually proved to me that I might be able to move on.”
He let out a breath and thought of living in Snow Valley. With her. What would he do?
Zoey turned his hand over and casually ran her fingers over the palm, then each finger. “Being with a family for Christmas has been—” She blinked more, then shook her head. “—I never really had that. I mean, I did when my parents were alive, but both were from California, and we never saw my grandparents. At the funeral, my dad’s parents didn’t come. My mother’s side offered me money, but they didn’t offer to have me come be with them or anything.” She shrugged. “I’ve never had what you have.”
“Never had a grumpy grandpa making you clean out the horse stalls.”
She laughed. “I really love your grumpy grandpa.”
Mike pulled her close to him, her head on his shoulder, and he just held her.
“You sister said something when I was having hot chocolate with her and your mom. She said, ‘Dreams change.’”
Mike grunted and let her go, moving back to the couch. “Listening to you makes me feel bad I didn’t want to come home.”
“I love this town.” She sat next to him, smiling.
“You’re right,” he admitted. He could tell Zoey anything. “I hate Harvard. And that makes me feel ungrateful. I don’t like Boston because I don’t fit in.” He sighed. “And that makes me feel like I’m some hick.”
“Because you don’t like snails?”
He grunted. “Or caviar or poetry.”
She laughed and pushed his shoulder. “No kidding.”
“But I like hearing you sing.”
She blushed, then grinned. “Tell me what else you don’t like about Boston.”
“I don’t know. It’s just everything. I don’t like being caged up in the city. Here, you get freedom and snowmobile riding. You get annoying Snow Valley weddings and Christmas tree lightings and people yacking my ear off and being in each other’s business.” Emotion gathered in his throat. “But I feel like if I don’t take this opportunity, if I leave, then I’ll disappoint everyone.”
“That’s not true,” she said, gently touching his face. “You’re a pretty amazing person. I mean, you actually climbed on a building just because you saw me praying.”
He laughed. “I can’t give up Harvard to take pictures. That’s not gonna happen.”
“Why not? Can’t you use your business skills and figure out something to do with the photography?”
“Like what?”
She thought about it for a few moments, then snapped her fingers. “People always want cool pictures of landscapes. Get them in some galleries and start a website.”
“Hmm.” He was unconvinced.
She tapped his shoulder. “Do some graphic design with the landscapes for people’s websites, like you did for Lacey’s wedding.”
Gingerly, he picked up his camera. He scrolled through today’s pics and paused on one that his mother had taken of him and Zoey. It was in the morning when their hair wasn’t perfect, and she was leaning into him. The tree was in the background. “Dang,” he mumbled. “You’re beautiful.”
“Right. My hair’s a mess right now.”
“I love your hair.” He turned to her and brushed his fingers through her silky strands.
She nudged him. “Yeah, because you have some sick fascination with redheads.”
“No, because I like you.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Would you ever settle down in a place like Snow Valley?”
She didn’t speak for a moment. “Mike, this isn’t real. This is just a paid thing. When you drop me off in Billings and go back to Harvard, we’ll both go on living our own lives.”
The thought of not having her in his life didn’t suit him at all. “Is that what you want, Zoey?”
Zoey’s eyes widened. “What do you mean, is that what I want? That’s the deal.”
Moving a piece of hair out of her face, he traced her face. “What if I don’t want that deal anymore?”
Closing the distance between them, she stared into his eyes. “How come, at moments like these, I think it could be real?”
“Is that what you want? I need to know what you really want.” He had to find out the difference between when she was acting and when these sad, unguarded eyes actually wanted him to kiss her.
“I want more kissing.” She closed her eyes. “Is that enough?”
He leaned in. “It’s enough for tonight.”
Chapter 22
Mike stood in the high school gym, riding high on holiday spirit. Half the town was here, bringing toys they were donating, and his mother had teams of people set up to organize the donations, putting them in the correct age bins. Truly, this toy drive was a well-oiled machine.
He and his father were taking turns with some other guys, hauling the bins to the designated truck when they were full. People were standing around talking, sipping hot chocolate and eating cookies. Zoey was over helping his mother. It was a good day.
Last night had cleared up so many things for him. Zoey could see herself with him, and he didn’t want to go back to Harvard, even though he didn’t know what to do about it.
His father moved past him. “Seems like you and Ann are getting closer. I couldn’t believe how much your grandfather likes her.”
Mike had to let out a light laugh. If his father only knew the truth. Grandpa only liked her since he knew she wasn’t the hoity-toity Ann. “Yeah.”
His father dropped off the bin, letting the oth
er guys pull it into the truck, and then moved close to put a hand on Mike’s shoulder. “Son, I’m happy for you. Your mother and I were worried about you.”
This was news to him. “Why?”
“I just worried about you adjusting. But—” He looked in Zoey’s direction. “—that girl is amazing, and I’m so thankful you have someone out East with you.”
Mike bit his tongue. He wanted to tell his father the truth.
“I know you already know this, son, but your mom and I are so proud of how hard you worked to get to Harvard.” His father got misty-eyed. “Ya know, the only thing I’ve ever wanted for you and Lacey is to go out there and make your dreams come true, and look at you. You did it. You got the grades. You did the project and got selected for Harvard. That’s …” He let out a sigh. “That’s a lot, son, and every day I’m more proud of you.”
Mike deflated, but he nodded to his father.
“You guys sitting around jawing, or are you going to do something productive like help me fill those bins?” Grandpa held a toothpick in one hand.
Both of them walked over to the bins and started helping his grandpa.
“I can help,” Zoey said as she approached. She’d put her hair in a ponytail and wore jeans and an MSU sweatshirt. She looked amazing.
His father stared at her. “Ann, is that Mike’s MSU sweatshirt?” He studied it intently.
Mike swallowed.
“It’s mine,” Grandpa said suddenly, moving behind her and putting a hand on her shoulder.
Michael looked confused. “Dad, you have a pink MSU sweatshirt?”
His grandpa shrugged. “I gave it to Ann when she came in from mucking out stalls last night. I had it lying around and thought she might like it.”
“Hmm,” Mike’s father said. “Oh.”
Zoey grinned, but her face turned tomato red. “I love it.”
As Mike’s father hauled one of the bins over to a truck, Grandpa patted her shoulder. “I got your back, little lady, but you two need to come clean about this. In my experience, the longer you fib, the more apt you are to hurt someone.”
Mike and Zoey stared into each other’s eyes. “We will,” Mike said.
She nodded and took his hand. “Yes, we will.”
His mother called out to them. “You two, over here.”
As they walked to his mother, a girl turned to Zoey. Mike saw who it was and tried to veer them out of sight, but it was too late.
His cousin’s face lit up, and she rushed over to hug him. “Mike.”
He held her. “Hey, Chelsea, I thought you were on the cruise still?”
Chelsea pulled back and then turned to Zoey. “Zoey? What are you doing here?”
Mike’s mother looked confused. “Chelsea, this isn’t Zoey. This is Ann.”
Chapter 23
Zoey hated this moment. She hated standing here and looking like a complete idiot in front of everyone, especially Mike’s mother. She could only watch as the walls came down.
Chelsea laughed and put her arm around Zoey. “Naw, this is Zoey. She was in my nursing program at MSU.”
Adrenaline coursed through Zoey at a rate she couldn’t begin to process.
Mike’s mother looked even more confused. “What is this?”
Zoey looked at Mike. He was speechless.
Chelsea laughed. “Yeah,” she said, looking between Mike and Zoey, then to Mike’s mom. “Do you guys know Zoey?”
Neither of them spoke, both staring at each other.
Zoey didn’t know what to do. “No, well …”
Chelsea snapped her fingers. “Oh—did they know your husband, Josh?”
“Husband?” Mike’s dad chose that exact moment to join them.
“Husband?” His mother gasped, putting her hand to her mouth. “Mike, how could you?”
“No!” Mike burst out. “She’s not married. Her husband’s dead.”
Zoey had had enough. She ran.
Chapter 24
Mike ran after her, but she was fast, rushing out of the gym and down the halls. Snow Valley High School wasn’t very big, but it was a school, and there were more than a couple of hallways to go down. He thought he heard her running toward the art room, so he took off that way, but when he reached to end of the hallway, he heard an exit door close and realized she’d gone another way.
It took him a little longer to rush down that hall and burst out. He was just in time to see Zoey take off in his truck out of the parking lot. He cursed.
Rushing back into the high school, he flew to the gym, where his parents and Grandpa were clustered around Chelsea. “It’s not like that,” Grandpa was saying loudly. The group around Grandpa was growing, including some of his high school friends and neighbors.
Nellie stepped out of the group and crossed her arms. “Were you just pretending to be girlfriend and boyfriend, Mike?” she asked, looking like she would personally drag him down and punish him for everyone.
Ignoring all of them, he held out his hand. “Dad, can I borrow your keys?”
His dad furrowed his brow. “Mike, you need to explain yourself.”
He didn’t have time for this. He knew she would bolt.
Grandpa was already holding up his keys. “I’m on the east side. Go quick!”
Mike grabbed the keys and took off. “Thank you!” Whipping out his phone, he tried to call Zoey. He only reached voicemail.
When Mike pulled up to the house, he saw his truck in the driveway. As he rushed inside, he instinctively knew she was already gone.
“Zoey!” he yelled out anyway, rushing up to his room.
She hadn’t brought that much, just the duffel bag, and it was gone. The bed was still a mess, but there was a note. It simply said, “I’m sorry.”
Then he saw the envelope. Opening it, he counted the two thousand dollars he’d given her—and the ticket to Salt Lake.
“No!” He rushed out of the room, down the stairs, and back to Grandpa’s truck. She couldn’t have gotten very far.
He took off, heading to Billings on the highway, and scanned the roads. Today, it wasn’t snowy. It was clear, but he didn’t see anyone for miles.
Pulling out his phone, he tried to call her again.
Of course, it went straight to voicemail. Again.
Slamming his hand into the steering wheel, he cursed. “Where are you, Zoey?” He thought about how she liked to hitch rides, and he slammed a hand into the steering wheel. “Dang it, Zoey!”
Fear pricked at the back of his neck. If she was already picked up by someone, he would have to go back to Billings to catch her. Unfortunately, Grandpa’s truck wasn’t the vehicle for that. Turning around, he ignored the anger that pulsed through him and the myriad of emotions that crowded his heart.
His phone buzzed—his dad was calling. Mike didn’t want to answer, but this whole thing was way past ignoring. Feeling like an idiot, he said, “Hey.”
“Son, would you please tell me what this is all about? Your grandpa is telling us her husband was military and died last year. Husband?”
Mike sighed. “Meet me at the house.”
Chapter 25
Zoey got out of the truck that she’d hitchhiked in. They were at the truck stop that she worked at. Well, used to work at. “Thanks, Gus.” The guy who had picked her up had been a trucker that made runs in the western U.S. He’d been a nice guy.
“No problem.”
She started toward the restaurant. The whole way from Snow Valley back to Billings, she’d been chewing herself out for thinking it could work out, for believing that maybe she was falling in love again. That was stupid.
As she entered, she saw Rick, her old boss, by the cash register. Turning to her, he cocked an eyebrow. “What?”
It wasn’t the best plan, but she was desperate. “Rick, you have to pay me my last paycheck. If you don’t, I will sue you. I’ll call corporate first, though, and let them know you’re doing illegal things.” She pulled out her phone and hit the number she’d
googled earlier.
Her ex-boss looked skeptical. Then he sighed. “Fine. Wait here.”
He left, and she looked around, not recognizing the new waitress. She checked her phone and saw three more texts from Mike and five missed calls.
Annoyance and regret rippled through her. Why had she ever agreed to that stupid deal? Why?
She remembered kissing him last night, and thought of how, for the first time since Josh, she’d cared about someone.
She already missed Mike. Missed him being there every second. Missed him treating her so well. Missed the way he looked at her. The way he seemed fascinated by her. Emotion swelled inside of her, and she sniffed and pushed it back. It wasn’t real. None of it. It wasn’t.
Rick came back, holding a check. She took it and almost sagged in relief to see the full amount was there: six hundred and fifty dollars. This would let her get her car and pay for rent. She would be okay.
“I need you back,” Rick said.
She frowned. “No way. Why would I come back after the way you’ve treated me?”
Rick reluctantly pulled out another check. “Because I want to give you a bonus. Call it a late Christmas bonus.”
Nervous flutters wove through her. She wanted to shout no and turn and leave, but the truth was that she needed a job. And it was flexible with her nursing schedule. Furthermore, she still clung to the idea that she could somehow make to the audition. “How much?”
“What’s it going to take?”
“Really?”
He sighed. “I’ve had some people quit and I need you back.”
It was a long shot, but she had to try. “Five hundred, and I won’t be back until the beginning of the year.”
“What?” Rick hesitated.
Her eyes narrowed. “And I won’t call corporate.”
Rick winced, then filled out the check for her. “Fine. But you’re scheduled all day New Year’s.”
Excitement pulsed through her as she took it. All she wanted to do was call Mike.
The elation quickly turned to sadness. She walked out of the truck stop and started toward her place, wishing she was still his fake girlfriend.
