Page 60 of Christmas for Keeps

Con scoffed. “If you’re trying to claim you panicked because you saw Zach with me, why were you bragging about what you did to someone in Liz’s shop? You weren’t a bit ashamed of what you did, and I don’t believe you are now.”

“Time to go, Emory,” I said. “You’re done here, so don’t come back.” When he hesitated, I stepped closer to him. “That wasn’t a request.”

He looked at the ground and sighed. When he raised his head, his eyes reflected the glow of the holiday lights adorning the windows. “I’ll leave, and I am truly sorry.” Glancing at Con, he said, “I apologize for hurting you.” He turned his gaze back to me. “I’m sorry I hurt you too, Zach. But this is a small town, and we are neighbors. Even if we can’t be friends, I hope you’ll try to forgive me. I made a terrible mistake, and I’ll regret it for a long time.”

Crossing my arms, I turned slightly, trying not to yell at him again. Nana’s menorah in the window caught my eye. I remembered her telling me it made her think of people looking after each other and doing the right thing. I’d been given a tremendous gift in finding Con again, and harboring anger at Emory wouldn’t help us. Facing forward, I dropped my arms. “It took courage to come here, Emory, but I don’t know if I can forgive you. Even if I can, I have no idea how long it might take.” I put an arm around Con’s shoulders. “I’ll try.”

Con leaned against me and looked at Emory. “I’ll try too, but you should go now. If you’re sincere, take some time to consider what you did. Saying you’re sorry is one thing, but changing your behavior is another.”

Emory nodded. “I’ll take your advice. Happy holidays, gentlemen.”

He turned and walked back to his truck. After he backed out of the driveway, I turned around and opened the door. “Let’s go back inside. We shouldn’t get pneumonia on our first holiday back together.”

We stood in front of the fireplace, rubbing our hands together and trying to get warm. When I stopped shivering, I said, “Emory is a huge asshole.”

Con nodded. “Either that or a lonely, confused, pathetic man.”

“Or both.” I turned so the heat could get to the backs of my legs. “But you’re right. He must be lonesome, but that doesn’t justify hurting others.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Con turned his back to the fire as well. “You’re a good man, Zach. I was dying to cuss him out, but you made me realize trying to forgive was best.”

I turned to look at him. “You’re the one who stopped me from clocking him. I was so angry.”

“Because what he did hurt you.”

“And you.”

Connor nodded. “Yes, he hurt me, and I hurt you.”

“You only hurt me because he lied to you.”

“And I believed him and thought the worst. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“Enough from both of us!” I placed a hand on Con’s arm. “How many times are we going to talk about this? It’s over, and all we do is go in circles, so let’s leave it in the past. There’s so much I want to experience with you, and our future has no room for constantly reliving things that are settled.”

“Zach?” Con wrapped his arms around me. “You’re right. We’re moving on, but there’s a difference between letting the past go and forgetting it. It’s important to remember so we won’t repeat the same mistakes.”

“You’re right. But no more apologies, okay?”

He nodded, and our lips met. His breath brushed my cheeks like a warm zephyr, filling my heart and soul. The years of separation had only deepened our connection, and now, reunited, it was as if we’d never been apart. The chemistry between us was undeniable, an unspoken promise of the future.

I slipped my tongue into his mouth, and while I explored, a flood of lust overwhelmed me. Still, as much as I wanted him, we needed to put our desires on hold for a little longer. Later, after I asked, when things were settled. Later, when the worry lines in my heart smoothed out. Later, when we agreed where we were headed. I reluctantly pulled away. “Later,” I whispered, “when we go to bed.”

After another squeeze, we let each other go, and he smiled. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too.” My voice trembled with emotion. “But we’re together now, and that’s what matters.”

The warmth of our love eclipsed that of the fire. We’d put the past behind us, and the future was ours to shape. The proposal I planned would be the most significant moment of my life, a promise of forever to the man who had captured my heart years earlier, and then reclaimed it this week.

CHAPTER21

Connor and Zach

Connor

After lighting the menorah,we made a beef stir-fry for dinner before settling down to play Scrabble. Sitting on the sofa, we angled our racks of tiles to keep the letters hidden from each other’s view. Zach started the game with the word “destiny,” and my heart fluttered when his gaze locked onto mine.

Seriously? It’s Christmas Eve, I’m here with the man I’ve loved for years, and the first word on the board is “destiny”?

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