Page 6 of Under the Mistletoe
“Come in, both of you. Have some breakfast,” her mom offers.
“Sorry, I can’t. Gotta get to work.”
“Shame. You’re coming to our party on Christmas Eve, right?”
I glance at Sydney, but she’s ignoring me. “I’ll try,” Ianswer, not wanting to commit to anything now that I know what I’d have to dealwith.
“You’ll do more than try,” Mrs. George scolds. “I intend tosee you here, Jacob Maston.”
Sydney huffs, pushing her way inside and away from us. Isimply smile and nod, making my own getaway.
I’ve had enough of Sydney George for one day.
“You’resolucky you found Jake last night.”
“Hmm.”
I’m only half-listening to my mother as I shovel eggs intomy mouth. I made a perfectly good breakfast this morning that will go to wastebecause of Mr. Scrooge.
“I worry about him, being all alone in that house.”
“Something tells me he’s not in need of female companionship.”
“Just because he’s not alone doesn’t mean he’s not lonely,dear.”
I look up from my plate with a raised brow. “How do you knowso much about Jake’s love life?”
“I don’t. I’m just saying.” There’s a brief pause before sheadds, “So nice of him to bring you home, too.”
“Mom, stop.”
“Stop what?” She tries to sound innocent.
“He hates me.”
“Didn’t look like that this morning,” she teases.
“I almost fell. He caught me. The end.”
“Okay, dear.”
“Jeez.” I roll my eyes, getting up from the table. “I’mgoing to take a bath, return some phone calls, then take a nap. I’m tired.”
“I bet.”
“Mom!”
She giggles. Dad glares at her over the frame of hisglasses.
“I stayed on the couch. It wasn’t very comfortable. Trust mewhen I say there’s nothing there to rekindle. That firewood is as wet and coldas the snow outside.”
“If you say so, dear.”
Grabbing my bag off the floor, I head straight for thebathroom. I forego the bath and have a quick shower instead, then curl up in mybed with my phone. I woke up this morning to endless messages, emails, andvoicemails, even though I’m on vacation. It’s the first one I’ve taken in yearsso somehow I think no one believes I’m actually off. I love my job. I worked myway up to the position of Purchasing Manager for one of the country’s largest chainsof high-end department stores, and I’ve been living the life I left Cody topursue. I made my dreams come true.
Jake is the only regret I have. In another life, I wouldhave stayed. I would have married him, had a couple of kids. Hell, I probablywould have been happy. The thing is, I would have constantly been wondering“what if.” I couldn’t resign myself to that life. I had to see what was outthere and I did. I made a life for myself that I’m proud of and for that, I’ll neverbe sorry.
After taking care of business, I curl up under the covers.Once again, my thoughts are occupied by Jake. I haven’t thought about him thismuch since I left. Seeing him again has stirred up things inside me I thoughtwere long dead. The way he looked at me this morning as he held me close… for amoment I thought he was going to kiss me. However, I quickly came to my senses.He really does hate me and nothing I say or do can ever change that.
