Page 59 of A Pen Pal for Christmas

I shook my head, wanting to be sure before I said anything.

“I’ll step it up,” I replied with a wink. “Just wait.”

If I was Sofia’s pen pal, that meant she was mine. And I’d felt the same way she had—like the letters were a lifeline. Could we really have been building something lighthearted on paper even as this intense, in-person attraction had formed?

CHAPTER 20

Hudson

Ida and Joanwere at the front desk when we arrived at the inn, deep in conversation over a stack of what looked like guest reservation cards.

“Well, if she wants the honeymoon suite,” Ida said, not bothering to lower her voice, “she’ll have to take it up with the actual newlyweds who wanna stay in it. They booked that thing a year ago.”

Joan rolled her eyes, but then her expression brightened when she noticed us. “Sofia! Just the person I wanted to see.” She straightened, brushing her hands down the front of her festive sweater dress. “I might’ve found a stray pen pal letter that didn’t get delivered to you.”

Sofia stopped mid-step, her face lighting up. “Really? Thanks.”

Joan reached for an envelope sitting on the counter. “Found it in the Santa box this morning.” She handed it over, her smile warm but with an unmistakable flicker of curiosity when she looked at me.

Her words hit me like a punch as I studied the cream-colored envelope with Sofia’s name on the front. I frowned, mybody going rigid. “It shouldn’t have been in the Santa box if it was already in this envelope, right? You guys do that part yourselves.”

Ida and Joan shared a look, and then Ida shrugged. “Maybe we accidentally delivered this to the wrong person, so they dropped it in the box so Sofia would get it?”

Sofia’s lips curved into a soft smile as she took the envelope and turned it over in her hands. I could tell she was just grateful for another letter, but I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Something about it set every nerve I had on edge.

At best, it was the letter Joan had put under her door the other night, written by Sofia’s actual pen pal—me, I hoped.

At worst, someone had taken that letter only to use the envelope to send her a message of their own.

Sofia glanced up at me, her brows knitting slightly. “What’s wrong?”

“Open it.” I gave her a tight smile. She had no idea how much was wrong.

My thoughts spun out of control as Sofia opened the envelope. I’d told her to do it because I’d been ready to rip off the Band-Aid. But now? Now, I wanted to stop her. I wanted to grab it out of her hands and check it out myself.

Instead, I clenched my fists at my sides. I didn’t want to alarm her or come down on her in a way that went from protective to bullying. But I watched her every move with my lips tucked tightly between my teeth, my unease growing as she fixed her eyes on the folded page.

She almost looked excited. I worked to keep my breathing steady, trying not to let my concern ruin her moment in case it was a real pen pal letter. But when she started reading, the light in her expression dimmed. Her lips moved silently, forming words I couldn’t see, and then… she froze.

“Sofia? What does it say?” I asked.

She blinked, her fingers trembling slightly as she held the paper. “It’s… weird.”

I reached out instinctively, covering her hand with mine. “Let me see.”

Her hesitation lasted only a second before she handed it over. Her gaze stayed glued to the paper even as I took it, like she was trying to make sense of what she’d just read.

The first few lines were generic enough, almost charming, like whoever wrote them wanted to lull her into a false sense of security. But halfway down, the tone shifted.

You’ve always had a way of drawing people in, haven’t you? I could see it from the very first letter. It’s like you can’t help it—like you’re meant to be noticed. Don’t worry, though. I notice everything. Even when it seems like no one’s watching.

My grip on the paper tightened as I read the last line:

Can’t wait to see more of you, Sofia. Soon.

The words seared through my insides like acid. I folded the letter slowly, carefully, so I didn’t crumple it entirely. We might need it as evidence.

Then, I schooled my features as I turned to look at Sofia.

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