Page 59 of Take Me Home for Christmas

By the time I got to Charlie, he’d moved on to chatting with a couple I think I remembered as being his great-aunt and uncle. I lingered for a minute until they moved on, and then I tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, Charlie,” I said then braced myself.

You know what happened? His face lit up like at his eight-year-old birthday party when I’d bought him a Ken doll to play with my Barbie.

“Mia-ba-dia, you came.” He smiled broadly, that same old Charlie smile, using that ridiculous nickname that I hadn’t heard since—well, since he’d said it last, years ago.

A wave of nostalgia hit me. We’d crossed many milestones together. We just hadn’t been meant to continue the journey together.

I swallowed. Took a breath. “I wanted to wish you the best.”

There. I’d done it. I was shaky and nervous, but I’d done it.

He broke into another smile and squeezed me tight. For some dumb reason, my eyes grew watery, and I found myself hugging him right back.

He wasn’t a bad person. He just wasn’tmyperson. Maybe some things happened for a reason. Maybe his cheating would ironically turn out to be the best thing he’d ever done for me.

He drew back. “Mia, you look amazing. And happy.”

He clearly hadn’t seen my shoes. “Thank you. You do too.” Erin was talking to an elderly guest, but she glanced over, and I knew she’d soon head over to us. I found myself wanting another minute with just Charlie.

I started to drop my hands, but Charlie squeezed them. “Listen,” he said, “it means a lot that you’re here.”

I could see that he meant it. And that it also meant something to me. Maybe more than I could process right now. I managed a nod.

Then he bent close and said in a low voice, “I’m so sorry, Mia. For hurting you. Please forgive me.”

For so long, I’d wanted to ask him why he did it. Why, after all those years together, he didn’t have the decency to simply break up with me first. But suddenly, I realized that it no longer mattered. “Charlie, I’m sorry too. You found your person.” I rubbed his shoulder. “It’s all good.”

“Great,” he said. “Meet Erin.”

Erin joined him. Up close, she had gorgeous hair and pretty blue eyes. She immediately tucked an arm through his. “Hey, babe,” she said. “Hi, Mia. So nice to finally meet you.”

“You too.” I hugged her. She seemed nice, but what I’d really appreciated was my moment with Charlie. It had been surprisingly comforting, and we’d been able to say a lot in a brief minute or two.

And then I felt a touch on my arm.

Brax.Of course, there at just the right moment again.I hooked my arm through his. “This is Brax, my boyfriend.” He shook hands with Charlie and hugged Erin. Then he wrapped his arm around me, ready to steady me if I needed it. I didn’t. I was going to be just fine.

I hugged Charlie one last time. Gave him a good squeeze. It was a goodbye hug. It also was a goodbye-to-my-past hug.“Congratulations,” I said to him and his bride.

When I turned away, Brax was waiting. Smiling. Looking so handsome, my heart dropped down to my feet. He took my hand.

Good thing. I felt a little shaky.

“I have a plan,” he said. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” I did trust him. With my whole heart.

He started to lead me out but halted. “You want to stay and visit with anybody else?”

“No,” I said honestly. “I spoke with everyone who counts.”

He led me through the crowd, past the bar, and through a side door, where one of the catering staff handed us our coats.

Wait. Brax had arranged to get our coats?

This didn’t seem like just a quick exit. It seemed like the beginning of an adventure.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

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