Page 18 of Mistletoe Omega
Narrowing his eyes, he asked, “Did you give him money?”
“Yes. I want him out of my life for good.”
“You sure about that?” He grimaced. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked that. I mean, it’s really none of my business.”
“It is. Kind of. If I’m here, I can see why you wouldn’t want someone like him hanging around.” I smiled tentatively. “But he’s gone. I promise. So, hopefully it’s okay if I stay here a little while longer.”
His expression was gentle. “Of course, Sam. I love having you here. I mean it.”
“And, I love being here,” I whispered.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling with relief. “Then there’s no problem. Tim’s gone and we can just keep going on the way we have been.”
“Okay.”
I wanted that. I wanted things to stay the same so bad it shocked me. I’d never felt as safe or as valued as I did with Graham. Maybe I’d originally only stayed here because I’d needed shelter, but somewhere along the way this had turned into something more. Something much more personal. Something I didn’t want to lose.
Chapter Six
Graham
“You bought way too much stuff for two people.” I widened my eyes as I took in the shopping cart piled with food.
“Really?” He eyed the cart he had wedged against a pillar, out in front of the store. “They had so many awesome sales, it was hard to resist.”
I laughed. “Christmas is only three weeks away. Are you going to have any money left for presents?”
He frowned. “I never do anything for Christmas. Who would I even buy gifts for?”
I started loading the bags into the back of my pickup. “What about your family?”
“We don’t speak.” He grabbed some bags and put them in the truck.
I was usually very cautious about trying to pump him for personal info, but I decided to push a little today. “Really? You don’t talk to them at all?”
He hesitated. “They… uh… kicked me out when I was sixteen.” He shot me a guarded glance. “So we don’t exactly exchange gifts.”
“Makes sense.” I was so surprised he’d actually shared some private stuff, I almost didn’t know how to respond.
“Does that surprise you? If I had a family that cared, don’t you think I’d have contacted them long ago, instead of mooching off you?”
“You’re notmooching.” I shook my head. He seemed constantly concerned with pulling his own weight.
“I kind of am.”
“You just bought enough groceries for a small village.” I continued to unload the grocery cart. “You need to stop thinking you’re a burden.”
“I want to be sure and contribute.”
“I can see that.” I pushed the empty cart to the gathering area. Then I climbed back in the cab of my truck, and he did the same. I pulled out of the store parking lot and headed toward my house. The snow plows had come through last night, so the roads were safer. But word was we had another storm coming in late tonight.
“Did you and um… Ethan… celebrate Christmas?” His voice was soft and his question tentative.
“We did.” I was pleased he was showing interest in me.
He nodded, but didn’t speak.
“Ethan loved holidays. Especially Christmas. He’d decorate the whole house with streamers, and we always got a tree. I still always get a tree. Just doesn’t feel like Christmas without one.”
