Page 53 of Christmas for Keeps

“I still need you to.” Pulling a finger through his chest hair, I kissed his shoulder. “Let’s take a nap, and then you can fuck me into tomorrow.”

“Best plan I ever heard.”

* * *

We woke starving around midnight.I unwrapped a chunk of cheese and some bread while Zach opened a bottle of Zinfandel. We settled by the smoldering embers, too busy eating to say anything. Finally, after washing down some cheese with the delicious red wine, I gathered my nerve. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I can’t believe how I acted this afternoon. It was terrible.”

In the middle of eating some cheese, he held up a finger while he chewed and swallowed. “It’s okay. Misunderstandings happen.”

“Please don’t minimize it like that. It wasn’t just a misunderstanding. It was huge, and it could have been a disaster. We need to talk about it to be sure we’re okay.”

“All right.” Pressing his lips together, he looked into my eyes. “Emory lied to you, and since we’re newly back together, you didn’t know what to think.”

I wanted Zach to get his feelings out, but experience told me not to push. After Dad died, when Zach asked me what I was feeling, I couldn’t find the words to tell him. Perhaps if I set an example now, it would be easier for him to talk. “I feel so stupid,” I said, “blindly accepting what he said as the truth. I knew he was a snake in the grass.”

Zach fed me some cheese and then kissed my hand while I chewed. “The bastard showed you enough proof to make you panic and question everything. By the way, remind me to delete that damn Grindr profile after we eat.”

I nodded. “You’ll have to download the app to do it.”

“Fine. I’ll delete it again after I get rid of the profile.”

We finished our snack, and when we took the dishes to the kitchen, I asked, “So, we’re okay again? Just like that?”

I was standing with my back to the counter, and Zach stepped in front of me. “We’re fine as far as today’s craziness, but we’ll need to talk properly.”

“No problem, but if we’re okay—”

“I don’t mean talk about Emory’s stupid lies. We ought to make a plan for dealing with conflict, especially while we get used to being together again. There’s always friction in relationships, but with so much to work out, it may take us a while to get back in the groove.”

I nodded. “We used to be so good at communicating. I want to get there again.”

“We will, if we both want to. Seems like we do.”

“I agree. We need to give it time.” It seemed like I’d gotten all I could out of him right then, so I’d wait and try again later. The episode wouldn’t truly be over until Zach told me how he felt and let me apologize—not for what I did, but for how I made him feel.

“Better now?” he asked.

“Yes. Want to go to bed? As I recall, we have something to do there.”

Letting me go, he tweaked my nose. “You’re on. It’s after midnight, so let’s start Christmas Eve with a big blow-up.”

I took his hand. “Come on, big boy.”

CHAPTER18

Zach

ZACH: I know it’s the busiest shopping day of the year, but could you possibly help me for about an hour? If you can, I’ll come by the store and pick you up.

KERRY: I’ll ask Mom. What’s it about?

I told her,and after a short wait, she texted back.

KERRY: That’s terrific!!! and Mom says absolutely yes. Could you talk Connor into staying with her at the store? Help her watch things?

ZACH: I will but it may require some evasive explanations.

KERRY: Mom and I are fine with that. Do you know what time?

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