Page 34 of My Heart To Heal

‘Jesus, really, Bree?’ I glare at her. I was relying on her. ‘Okay, maybe he’s not the jackass I thought he was, and yeah, I love that he seems to genuinely like Jonah, but it changes nothing. I don’t want a relationship. Sex, yes. Boyfriend, no.’

‘There’s something to be said for waking up next to someone you love,’ Cara says softly.

‘Mhmm,’ Zoe agrees, and I sip my wine.

‘Zoe.’ Bree holds my gaze for a moment before turning to her twin, and I know she saw my hesitation and discomfort. ‘Tell us about California.’

It’s not that I wouldn’t love to have what they have, but I’ve never had what they have. The only people I’ve ever loved are my grandpa, Roberta, Jonah, andthe women in this room. I’m not good at picking men. I picked Frankland Moore to be my first kiss, and I almost choked on his tongue. I chose Teddy Fisher to be the first boy to put his hands in my panties, and I ended up with a friction burn on my labia. I chose Dean Black to be my first lay, and he came before he put it in, and after a few similarly disastrous sexual experiences, I chose Bax.

I swallow hard and raise my glass to my lips again. I have no idea what Zoe is saying. I see her smiling as she talks, and I see the girls laughing, but all I can think about is Bax, about me and Bax, and I can’t catch my breath.

I push up from my spot on the sofa, excusing myself to the bathroom as I put down my glass.

I can’t do it again. Sex yes. Boyfriend, hell fuckin’ no.

Nick

‘Damn, brother,’ Leo says,an impressed smirk on his face. ‘That’s hot.’

Leo being back to join Doug and me at the bar was a surprise, a good one. It feels great being here with both of them.

I nod and raise my beer to my lips.

‘So, what now?’ Doug asks, and I shrug.

‘She’s not going to make it easy for me.’ I smirk. ‘But now I convince her to give me a shot.’

Simultaneously, my friends raise their smiles along with their bottles, and I do the same. I’m getting the girl.

See YouLater, Neighbor

Missy

Jonah and I wokeup this morning in our beautiful new home, and Santa had paid my boy a visit during the night.

I watched with a cup of coffee as he excitedly opened gifts from Grandpa, from Bax’s parents, our friends and family here in Forest Falls, and from me — nothing from Bax, but he didn’t expect or miss that.

We ate breakfast, watched Elf, and then got ready to go to Cara’s for Christmas Day. Now Jonah and Bowie are hyped up on sugar and running riot upstairs, and I’ve been ordered out of the kitchen by Cara and Doug, so I’m in the living room with Harley asleep in her bed and a glass of wine in my hand, waiting for the other guests to arrive.

When the front door finally opens, Lynnie and Merv are the first ones here and immediately headfor the kitchen. I stand awkwardly waiting for company when they’re kicked out just like I was, and they find me with huge grins and open arms.

When Bree, Zoe, and Leo arrive, the twins rush to me.

‘Holy mother of fuck, look at you.’ Zoe steps back to take in my appearance. I wore a red, figure-hugging dress today. It cinches in my waist and slopes off my shoulders, showing a respectable amount of cleavage for a family get-together.

I give a spin, and Bree lets out a low whistle.

‘Nick is going to lose his fucking mind.’ She laughs, and I freeze.

‘Nick’s coming?’ I stare wide-eyed, and they laugh, but I continue to stare.

‘You didn’t know?’

‘No,’ I mouth, starting to sweat. Now it’s going to seem like I look this hot for him when this is all for me.

‘Oh, shit. Yeah,surprise.’ Zoe grimaces, and I gulp my wine.

‘But, plus side, he’s definitely going to want to give you a little more when he sees you in this dress.’ Bree smirks, letting one eyebrow raise, and I shake my head as the door opens, and in walks the man in question.

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