Page 77 of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage
“Did I say that out loud?”
Holland just looked at him with her eyebrows raised, waiting on his answer.
Like it mattered. It still didn’t change the fact that Bronte had left. “And nothing. She left.”
Holland reached over and smacked the back of her brother’s head. Hard.
“Ouch.” Jonah rubbed at the spot, sure there was a red Holland-hand-sized mark. “What was that for?”
“Because you’re being an idiot.” Holland jumped up and started pacing. “Seriously. I thought Amy, Mika Beth, Halle, and I raised you better than this.”
“What?”
Holland stopped pacing and turned to face her brother. “It is time, dear brother, for the grand gesture.”
“The what?”
Holland rolled her eyes so hard, Jonah was afraid they’d get stuck in the back of her head. “Have you learned nothing from all those romance novels we forced you to read?”
“I guess not?” Maybe Jonah should have just gone with it, because Holland seriously looked like she was about to smack him over the head again.
Instead, she groaned and threw up her hands. “Must I do everything for you?” She pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket, fingers flying over the keyboard. “My clueless brother, she left because she loves you too.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would she leave if she loves me?” He should probably take his sister’s phone from her. He didn’t like the mischievous look she had in her eyes.
“Because,” Holland responded, attention never leaving her phone, “she thinks she can’t give you your greatest dream.”
Jonah’s heart sank. “I should have gone after her. I should have forced her to talk it out. I—What are you doing?” He leaned toward her on the couch and tried to look over her shoulder, but Holland just moved out of the way.
“Done.”
“What did you just do?” Jonah was a little afraid of the answer.
Holland held her phone face out to Jonah. “I booked us on the next flight to Tulsa.”
“You what?” Jonah didn’t know if he wanted to hug or strangle his sister.
“Don’t chicken out on me now. You were just talking about how you should have gone after her. It took you long enough, but you came to the same conclusion I did. You can thank me later.” Holland turned her phone back to herself. “Now, you’d better hurry. Pack a bag or something. I’m getting you out on the next ferry. Let’s go get your girl.”
Jonah couldn’t move fast enough.
ChapterNineteen
DateDecember 30
Days until Deadline6
Words to be written15,743
Bronte had always thought she wouldn’t enjoy having a roommate, but since Lexi had practically moved in two days ago, Bronte couldn’t remember her reasons for not having one.
Pulling late nights and early mornings to get the book done meant it was nice to have someone there to make sure she ate real food, at least every once in a while.
The manuscript was in the homestretch now. She only had the last fifteen thousand words to write and then a quick read-through before she turned it in on the fifth. This was the closest she had ever cut a deadline, and she could feel the anxiety building. All the same fears. Would she finish in time? Would her editor like it? Would her readers like it? Would this be the book to tank her career?
Shaking the useless thoughts from her head, she rolled her neck and stared at her empty teacup. She needed more tea to get through the final words. Lexi had left earlier, deciding she needed to hit up more after-Christmas sales. One thing about her new roommate was for sure—she liked to shop.
It was a little after noon, and Bronte thought about making some lunch but didn’t want to slow down long enough to eat. The tea would do just fine, and maybe some popcorn. She had gone to bed around three a.m. and woken up at six to get back to work. The sleepless nights were paying off. She was going to finish today. Maybe.
