Page 71 of Holiday Hook Up

Chapter 16

Bethany enteredthe Lakeside Inn and glanced around for her breakfast companion. Abby had sent her a text an hour earlier asking if she wanted to have breakfast. Since her parents insisted she take some time for herself and close the Christmas Corner for both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Bethany had accepted Abby’s invitation.

She suspected her friend was worried about her after what had gone down earlier in the week at the Sugar Spoon.

It had been four days since she’d spoken to Adam. Four long days.

She wanted to talk to him. Even thought about whipping up some chocolate chip cookies because she knew those were his favorite and knocking on his door, but she couldn’t bring herself to bake the cookies let alone go over to his cottage. Really, what was the point? The fact was he and Rachel had kissed. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he must still have feelings for his ex-girlfriend somewhere.

His calling her out for being a coward had stung because deep down she knew he was right.

She had been scared for most of her life: walking around in Rachel’s shadow, staying in the safety of her parents’ shop and not branching out on her own with her photography, not fully admitting the feelings she had for him . . . She thought things were changing. Maybe she hadn’t moved at a pace he was used to, but she’d thought they were moving in the right direction.

But then he had to go on and kiss Rachel, and yes, she’d admit it. That set her back. After she saw his name in the mixing bowl, all she wanted to do was run home and cower underneath the covers and never be seen again—at least not by him. She’d spent the next few days hibernating in her cottage and coming in and out the side door as to not be seen.

She’d thought about what had happened a lot. If they’d explored their feelings, what if she didn’t measure up to what he once had with her best friend? Maybe he and Rachel had gotten together on a bit of an exaggerated stretch of the truth orchestrated by Bethany, but the relationship they built together, she had nothing to do with. They’d been totally in lovefor years, and it had moved beyond favorite pizza toppings.

“Hey, Bethany.” Brandon jogged down the stairs and greeted her on the landing. He was dressed casually in jeans and a warm flannel shirt, a small yellow toolbox in hand.

“Hey, Brandon. Happy New Year’s Eve.”

“Back at you.” He held up the toolbox. “I’ve been trying to get some work done around here so Abby and I can enjoy ourselves tonight at the First Kiss Ball.” He winked. “Maybe have our first smooch before midnight.”

“I think it might be a little late for that.” She laughed. “You do remember she’s pregnant with your second child?”

“That I do.” He nodded to the door. “Speaking of their mother. She had to run out. Jackie had a bit of a tumble and twisted her ankle coming out of the supermarket last night. She didn’t tell Abby and Josh until this morning.”

“Oh, no. Is she okay?”

“I’m sure she’ll be fine, but Josh had some appointment in Syracuse so Abby had to drive her to the doctor’s. She told me to tell you she’d be a few minutes late. Would you like some coffee?”

She’d had a cup before she came so she could hold off. “I’m good right now, and you don’t need to entertain me, so go on and do what you need to do so you can get to that kiss.” She reached in her purse and pulled her phone out. “I’ve got a bunch of e-mails to respond to.”

“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be in the kitchen fixing a door handle if you need me. Josh gets cranky if his makeshift makeup lab isn’t locked at all times.” He lowered his voice. “Makeup spies and all.”

She grinned and wiggled her fingers that were, in fact, coated in Make Men Blush red. “We can’t have anyone sniffing around for the secret ingredients in Kiss and Makeup nail polish. Go on. I’ll be fine.”

Once alone, Bethany walked over to the couch and took a seat—the exact spot she was sitting in when she and Adam had almost kissed. That night had been near perfect. If only she had told him then how she really felt.

There was one time she hadn’t been afraid to show Adam her feelings, and that moment had been amazing. She sprung up from the couch and crossed the room to the corridor leading to the back door, stopping at the very spot that their lips had actually met. “Adam, if you only knew how much I want to be with you,” she whispered, and leaned against the wall.

Her thoughts flew fast to the night of the Holiday Hook Up. Josh had told her to not let the past hold her back from getting the life she wanted.

Was it that easy when she’d spent all her life playing it safe, putting her own feelings aside for those of her best friend, and never telling the one man in this town who she had feelings for that she’d had them for a very long time?

Walking back into the main room, she stood at the foot of the stairs and rested her hand on the banister. Maybe Josh was on to something. He hadn’t let his past relationship with Caitlin—that was anything but romantic—stop him from getting what he wanted. He wasn’t frightened, and that man had plenty in the beginning to be scared of, learning he was going to be a father to not one but three babies.

Here was a man who gave up the only adult life he’d ever known in Manhattan to be with Caitlin and his kids.

His response that night to her asking how he did it played in her head.

I took a step.

She inhaled and lifted her brown boot as she exhaled, setting it on the first mahogany step. That wasn’t so hard. Now, she needed to make it count.

Her heart pumped, as she hoisted her other leg up. She rummaged in her purse for the worn receipt that she’d scribbled the name and number of the realtor on Christmas day.

She took another step and two additional more while she tapped the number into her phone.

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