Page 44 of OMG Christmas Tree
“It’s just—” Just what? I was afraid to disappoint my family. No, more than that. I was...afraid. Life had a way of working out for me in Crystal Cove. A new job opportunity practically handed to me. Even the Madison job wasn’t much of a stretch. My parents wouldn’t have to miss me at all since I’d still live in town. The real chance would be believing I could do it. To be someone outside of who I’d always been.
At the small stage, Jill held the microphone and announced the raffle winner. That was supposed to be me up there. “I can’t talk about this now.”
Right now, I needed to be Nick Bennington, mayor’s son.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Megan
––––––––
IFOUND MOM AND STUgathered at the edge of the crowd listening to raffle prize announcements and did my best to blend. The knee-length fitted red dress I borrowed from Stu’s daughter fit surprisingly well and made me feel amazing. Stu’s daughter and her family had planned to come to the benefit, but their kids were acting up and it quickly became a meltdown situation. Turned out even advanced degrees were no match for a three-year-old’s tantrum and a five-year-old’s refusal to wear pants.
I ended up really liking Stu’s kids. After witnessing their struggle to manage the kids, they seemed fully human and less intimidating. The offer to borrow the dress made me even more encouraged about our future family events.
Less encouraging? Witnessing Nick freeze in front of his mom. Despite his declaration of feeling trapped here, he wasn’t ready to leave Crystal Cove.
And it bothered me. Nick had dreams of doing more. Of being more than his family name. Didn’t he want more?
Mom handed me a feathered mask and a Santa’s Little Helper sign, beckoning me into the photo booth. I flashed a goofy grin, but it didn’t feel as fun as earlier with Nick. Ugh, why was Nick holding himself back?
We emerged from the booth and waited for our pictures to print.
“Megan.” Stu walked toward me. Alongside him, a woman with warm brown skin and curly natural hair approached. She wore a festive sprig of holly on her suit jacket lapel. “This is the associate dean of students at Boone College.”
“Oh. Hello.” I ripped off the feather eye mask and shook the woman’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“We’re a small liberal arts college ten miles out from town,” the woman explained.
Stu leaned in toward me. “She said it’s easier than ever to transfer credits these days.”
A numb sensation grew inside me. “That’s...great. But I live in Chicago,” I told the dean. “Kind of a long commute.”
Mom laid a hand on my arm. “You could live with us while you commute. It would be temporary, until you finish your degree and get back on your feet.”
“And when did I fall off my feet, exactly?” I asked my mom in a low tone. I kept up my smile for the dean.
