Page 14 of My Ex for Christmas
“You can’t get rid of me that easily, sweetheart. Now what are we watching? Elf or Santa Baby?”
Her eyes narrow on me. I hold my breath, waiting to see ifshe’ll actually kick me out. But then she says, “Is that even a question? Santa Baby,obviously.”
I chuckle to myself as I pull Hadley’s favourite Christmas movie up on the TV. She watched it multiple times every year we were together without fail. It’s nice to see that although a lot has changed about her, some things never do.
We both start on our food as the opening credits begin rolling. Because of her, I’ve seen this movie so many times, I could practically perform the whole thing myself. So I find my attention drifting to Hadley as Jenny McCarthy does her thing on screen. She eats most of her soup, and then she burrows into her corner of the couch, getting comfortable.
Eventually, the movie ends, and Hadley turns in my direction. Although I know she’s sick and generally miserable right now, the content look on her face nearly does me in.
I don’t want her to ask me to leave.
“I know an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But what if youarethe doctor?”
It takes her a minute, but then I hear that laugh I’ve been missing. “That is quite possibly the stupidest thing you have ever said.”
“Yeah.” I grin. “But it made you laugh.”
It doesn’t even matter that it was at my expense. I would do a whole hell of a lot to hear that sound again.
She shakes her head. “You’re a dork.”
“And you’re the smartest woman I’ve ever met.”
Hadley’s eyes roll, but I can see the blush blooming on her cheeks. I mean it, though. She’s always been smart. When she told me that she had gotten accepted to study in Brazil, I wasn’t surprised at all.
“So…” I say. “You called me.” I study her face, watching her reaction. “You still have my number.”
Eight years have passed, and she still has my number. I still have her old one, too, but I learned the hard way a couple months after she left that it was no longer in service.
Her blush deepens. “Shut up.”
I shake my head. “Sorry, I can’t do that, Hads. Because that means something.”
And so does that kiss.
“It means I have more important things to do than clean out my contacts list.”
“You can insist all you want, but I don’t buy it.”
Grabbing the remote, I queue up another Christmas movie. It’s on the cheesier side and not even in her top ten, but I can tell she’s getting tired. It won’t be long before she drifts off.
She waits for a minute to see if I’ve dropped the subject, and when she’s satisfied, she turns toward the TV. Almost immediately, her eyes close. I smile softly, chuckling to myself as she fights sleep.
Just when I think she’s finally out, she shifts on her pillow. “Tell me how much I owe you.”
“I don’t want your money.”
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll have you fired from the resort,” she mumbles.
I grin. “Whatever makes you feel better. Still not letting you pay me.”
“Stubborn man.”
“Get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Hadley shakes her head. “You don’t have to stay, Brooks.”
She doesn’t get it. Even if she were someone else—this is what I do. I take care of people. It’s why I moved here in the first place.
