Page 52 of Mistletoe Misses
“My captain suggested I not … in so many words.”
She frowns. “How is that their call?”
“He threatened to fire me if I didn’t make a change.” He didn’t say that outright, but that was the underlying intent. He thinks I’m a liability, and knowing what I know now, he isn’t far off. “I couldn’t do that there.”
“What does he want changed?”
“Me.”
Fresh tears reflect the festive string lights above us, and I feel the empathy behind them. But more than that, I feel her love. I wish that didn’t irrevocably alter things. I shouldn’twanther to love me at this point in my journey, but there’s no putting that puzzle piece back in the box now that it’s found its place.
“Maddox …”
“Sorry.” For once, I don’t sayI’m finebecause it isn’t true. Continuing to lie can only be detrimental to figuring my shit out. “Baby steps are happening in more ways than one these days.”
“You’re doing great.” Her hand edges up my thigh as she holds my gaze, watching for a reaction.
It’s another test, and surprisingly, I’m okay with this one and what it represents. I like the feel of her hand on me. I like how it erases the world beyond us, allowing space for me to get lost in the moment without distractions. When we’re apart, I’m starting to miss the feel of her beside me and the way she looks at me. It’s different from how our eyes would meet when we were kids—more meaningful, deeper, powerful. I don’t feel like I’m competing for her heart with her other dreams. This time, I feel like it’s already mine—all of it.
Everything I thought when I came back to Ember Falls shifted the moment she asked for a second chance. I’d spent too many years convincing myself it wasn’t possible. Hope is hard to come by when you’re broken. But with every step we take toward each other, it’s hope—not love or this new lust growing between us—that puts a section of my heart back together.
It won’t be easy to let the rest of my guard down or allow this place to rebuild me, but I’m willing to try. And I want to try most with Carmen.
A contented silence hovers between us, and I don’t see any of the parade marching by. There’s only her, the anchor to my runaway world.
Chapter 12
Carmen
Canwe go see Santa?” Sadie asks, yanking me back to reality with a tug on my jacket sleeve.
I look around to gain my bearings. The crowd is dispersing across the empty street and there’s only a quiet snow flurry and buzz of energy filling the air. Did I really just spend the entire parade losing myself in Maddox? Watching one of his walls crumble as he accepted another piece of me was a wish come true, and only Sadie could draw me away.
Although he kept his hands to himself, he allowed me to connect us. No hesitation or concern for what I might do next registered in his body language or eyes. Those windows into his thoughts gave off mostly positive emotions, and I’ll take that all day long. In that one hour, we made more progress than any other since he returned, and I can no longer deny that I’m falling for him all over again.
“I know it’s Frank in a Santa costume,” Sadie continues, “but we always get a picture with him.”
“Sure, sweetheart.” I cup her cheek, appreciating my mature girl and wishing for time to slow down in that department at the same time.
She leaps over my outstretched legs to get to Maddox with Trixie following and my hand slips from his thigh. “Want to come, sweetie?”
His attention moves to her and Trixie crawling into his lap. After the leap we made tonight, I’m begging the universe to make him say yes. I need more time.Weneed more time for the idea of us to settle in his mind.
“I’d love to,” he says before rising to his feet.
Sadie collects Trixie and reaches for his hand. Surprised, his eyes snap to her before a grin emerges, and she gives him one back, content with his instant acceptance. Unbridled joy sweeps me away like the gentle flow of a river, and my heart might explode if any more beautiful moments happen tonight. But I certainly wouldn’t complain if they did.
Listening to them chat on our way to the tree lighting ceremony, it’s easy to bask in the warmth of their sweet friendship. I laugh and swoon and chime in a time or two until I remember where we’re going. The tree is installed outside the gazebo. The same place where I broke it off with Maddox nine years ago. I’m worried about how he’ll react to being there with me again and if it will shatter all we gained tonight as our lives were that regretful night.
Another block later, I can see the top of the tree, and my heart won’t stop throwing itself against my ribcage.
When we can go no further, Maddox lifts Sadie so she can watch the ceremony over the crowd. Hoping her sweet face will cool my frazzled nerves, I tilt my head up, but my eyes land on Maddox instead. He holds me captive with that pensive gaze of his, and I have no idea what he’s feeling. I’m too frantic to process what I see in him. Given our history, I fear the worst—emotions exploding, a revisit of that dreadful night, unrecoverable setbacks, seeing the cloud of hurt in his kaleidoscope eyes.
I fight against the punch of surprise when his fingers glide down my palm and lace with mine, sending me the opposite message—he’s okay and we’re even better. After everything that’s happened to keep us apart and all we left undone, I have no idea how I got so lucky to have this breathtaking man back in my life. But one thing’s for sure, I’ll never take him for granted ever again.
???
We spend the next two hours playing games at the rec center behind Loving’s Park. I’m happy to learn Maddox hasn’t lost his competitive side, and he brings out the same in Sadie. I laugh until I cry at those two going at it with the bobbing for gifts activity and again at the snowball toss.
