Page 54 of Holiday Romance
“Then let me come with you.”
“No.” I spin around, laughing when I’m met with a pouting face. “Since when did you get so clingy?” I tease.
Mark steps toward me, his hands going to my waist. “Since you’re going to be away from me for two weeks.”
“One week,” I correct. “You’re the one that’s making it two.”
“So come see me when you’re done. My family won’t mind.”
“I need to work.”
“And I need to see you.” His voice drops to a murmur and I lean into his touch as he kisses me. It’s not that I don’t understand his insistence. This will be our first proper break apart since we made things official and I’m not exactly looking forward to it either.
Mark breaks the kiss, hands sliding around my hips to hold me against him.
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” I say, smiling against his lips.
His grip tightens. “Let me go with you.”
“Maybe next year. Or we could—” I break off as someone clears their throat loudly behind me and I turn awkwardly in Mark’s arms to find Andrew standing a few feet away.
He is, bizarrely, dressed in a suit, and I stare at him for a moment before I remember that he said he’d be coming straight from a wedding gig.
“Oh, don’t let me interrupt,” he says, his amusement clear. “Just feeling a little phlegmy today.”
I give him a look as I pry myself away from my boyfriend, hoisting my backpack over my shoulder.
“You’re early.”
“Yes. You must be Mark.” Andrew strides the two steps toward us, holding out his hand.
“And you’re the friend,” Mark says as he clasps it.
“To all that will have me. Andrew.”
“Nice to meet you.”
The shake goes on a little longer than necessary and I find my eyes drifting back to Andrew. He looks different, all clean cut and dressed up. His suit is deep blue, his shoes a polished brown and there’s a faint hint of stubble along his jaw that makes him more handsome than boyish. More grown-up than I’ve ever seen him.
“Where’s Alison?” I ask, tearing my gaze away to look for his new girlfriend.
“Oh, we’re not at the accompany-the-partner-to-the-airport stage of the relationship yet,” Andrew says. “Though she says if I’m good I might be able to start holding her hand by the spring, so fingers crossed.”
“He likes to make jokes,” I explain to a frowning Mark.
“Sure,” Mark says, still sounding confused, and I turn back to him before this can get any more awkward.
“We should probably head through. It’s getting busy.”
“You’ve got some time.”
“I need to do some shopping,” I lie as Andrew wanders a few steps away, pretending to give us privacy.
“Call me when you land?”
“It will be the middle of the night!”
