Page 13 of Sweet Boys Love Christmas
“I did ask you to come over tonight,” I remind him.
That pulls a genuine smile from him. “You did.” With that, he turns back to the movie.
We’re quiet, focused on Buddy the Elf and his shenanigans for a long while. It’s a relief, this reprieve from talking about my miserable existence.
I blink several times, my eyelids heavy, and the next thing I know, I’m sinking into my plush mattress.
“What’s happening?” I mutter, half asleep.
A quiet shush comes from the darkness. “You fell asleep. I’m tucking you into bed, and then I’m going to head out.”
“Oh.” I pout at Luke’s blurry silhouette. “I didn’t snore, did I?”
“No.” His chuckle is deep and rumbly, sweeping over me like a physical caress. “But you did drool.”
“Oh, God.” I wipe at my mouth.
With his fingers wrapped around my wrist gently, he tugs my hand away. “I think you got most of it on my shirt.”
Stomach sinking, I cover my face. “No.” I draw out the word. “That’s so embarrassing. I’m sorry. You’re never going to want to see me again.”
He pulls the covers up to my shoulders. If I weren’t wishing I could crawl into a hole and die, I would think it’s cute.
“I could never not want to see you.” The confession is barely audible.
As tears prick at the backs of my eyes, I swallow thickly, fighting back emotion.
“Think about spending Christmas Eve with me and my mom, okay? I think you’d like her.”
My heart pangs at the thought. “She raised you. I’m sure she’s great.”
“She really is.” He straightens and clears his throat. “Sleep tight.” Then he’s turning and shuffling to the door.
“Luke?” I rasp.
Silently, he turns around.
“Text me when you get home, okay?”
He nods. “I will.”
It takes concerted effort, but I manage to stay awake until his text comes through. Once my phone is on my nightstand and I close my eyes, I drift off quickly.
I’m treading in dangerous water.
It wouldn’t take much for me to fall for this man.
FOUR
LUKE
Luke
I wasn’t expectingto spend one of my precious winter break days filling in at the diner, working alongside my mom, but here we are. I won’t complain about a little extra cash, though. When she mentioned that they’d be short-staffed today, there was no hiding how frazzled she was, so I volunteered to fill in. I’ve known Harry, the owner, practically all my life, so over the years, I’ve taken a shift here or there.
Another thing I wasn’t expecting today? To see Bertie walk into the diner.
She sports a light pink beanie with some sort of fluffy thing on top that bobs as she walks. Her cheeks are a deeper shade of pink from the chilly temperature, and her coat—yet another shade of pink—is thick and fluffy.
