Page 43 of My Ex for Christmas
I eagerly look up, but it’s only Spencer.
“Damn, don’t look so disappointed,” he jests, coming upbeside me. “What’s up?”
I shake my head. “Just looking for Hadley.”
“Ah. How’s that going, by the way? You get your girl to stay yet?”
At this, I glower. “I’m notgettingher to do anything. If she wants to stay, that’s her decision. I don’t want to force it.”
“You’re a noble man, Brooksy.” He claps me on the back. “Good luck.”
When Spencer walks away, I scan the crowd again. Finally, I spot Hadley across the courtyard near the fire pit, in conversation with the events manager, so I make my way over to them.
I slip an arm around Hadley’s shoulders, pulling her against me. I expect her to tense in surprise, but she simply melts into my side, wrapping her arm around my back.
“Sorry to interrupt,” I say. I nod to Mia. “Everything looks incredible. You did a great job with all this.”
She grins. “Thank you. Enjoy your night, you two! I’ll talk to you later, Hadley.”
That’s all the permission I need to whisk my girl away. Taking her hand, I tug her in the direction of the hot chocolate stand. I order a regular one, but Hadley decides to go for the peppermint white hot chocolate that comes with a heavy helping of whipped cream on top.
When she pulls her drink away from her mouth, I laugh. A layer of whipped cream coats her upper lip.
Her brows furrow. “What?”
I smile, reaching out with my thumb to wipe away the cream. Then I suck it off my finger. “There,” I say. “That’s better.”
Her cheeks, already flushed from the cold, go even redder. “Thank you.”
“How do you feel?” I ask. I gesture to the crowd. “Now that the grand opening is finally here.”
Hadley takes a deep breath as she surveys the scene around her. It’s straight out of a Hallmark movie.
“I feel…good. Relieved. Like I can breathe a little easier.”
“Good, I’m glad. I know how hard you’ve been working.”
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she says, “Everyone at the resort has been. I couldn’t do half of what I do without their help.”
I nudge her shoulder. “I’m proud of you.” When she looks up at me, there are tears gathering on her lash line. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
She smiles. “Absolutely nothing. Everything’s perfect. I just…really missed hearing that.”
“What? That I’m proud of you?”
She nods. “I didn’t think I’d get to have that anymore.”
“I’ll always be proud of you. I felt that way even after you left.Becauseyou left. You’re incredible, Hadley Knight.”
“Andyouare way too good to me,” she counters. “But for the record, I’m proud of you, too. Proud to know you.”
I tug her over to a bench and we sit, finishing off our hot chocolates. She leans against me, and man, does it feel good to have her in my arms again. Even if it’s temporary. Even if I’ll have to let her go soon.
I know I’m delaying the inevitable by not asking her, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
After a period of silence, Hadley sits up. I look over, brow raised.
“I have something to tell you,” she says.
