Page 5 of Holiday at Home
And honestly, not the Simon Holiday who called Violet to tell her he wasn’t coming home when his internship ended, either.
It was only after my career took off that I found the beauty of frost-covered streets, snow gently slipping down, me ducking my chin into the collar of my black peacoat, red scarf wrapped around my neck.
Glancing through the big front window of Sterling’s, I see Vi talking to her sister. Her russet hair is longer than I remember, her skin more pale. There are dark circles under gray eyes that used to sparkle with mirth and merriment. She’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, but sad.
So, so sad.
Although right now, her wide eyes and frantic gestures suggest she’s mad, verging on furious.
I expected that. Having an ex show up out of the blue on a day like this would be a shock to anyone. Especially considering it’s been three years since we’ve said one word to each other.
And that was intentional. Something about breaking up with a girl over the phone on Christmas Eve kind of makes you want to avoid her.
I know, I know.
Total dick move. But it was the only way I could do it. I knew that if I saw Violet again, I’d never leave.
So, I took the coward’s way out and broke her heart. I’m old enough now to recognize I was particularly cruel.
If it helps—and I know it won’t—I was brokenhearted, too. Breaking up with Violet was the single hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but, despite our plans to rebrand Sterling’s after her parents retired, I knew my future was in New York.
I couldn’t expect her to give up her life for my dreams.
Violet’s future was here, in Florida, taking over the bakery. She was happy staying small. I thought I would be too, but through all my years of college, one question stayed on repeat in my mind:Why settle?
I want to make a name for myself. New York is where that happens. No one makes it big in Stillwater Bay.
It took me forever to get over Violet Sterling. Honestly? Part of me never will.
Actually, based on the way it felt to see her again,most of menever will.
First loves, man. Powerful stuff.
Rolling back the edges of the paper bag, I sink my teeth into the cinnamon roll I had no plans to purchase. But, since I chickened out on saying what I came to say, I needed something to do to justify showing up at the bakery.
My God. It’s even better than I remember.
Mouth full, I meet Violet’s eyes through the window. She frowns. I smile sadly around a monster bite of cinnamony goodness, then head down the sidewalk.
My phone buzzes wildly, the angry hornet of business reminding me that while I might be on vacation, enterprise waits for no man. I wrangle my phone out of my pocket and groan when I see the name of my friend and mentor, Gavin Reid.
Not that I don’t like talking to him.
Gavin’s great. The best. Smart. Driven. He took me under his wing when I was young and green, guided me through the first steps to make my fortune.
But I know what he’s gonna ask. And I know how I’m gonna answer. I’m really not in the mood for the conversation.
Regardless, I flip open my dumbphone and press it to my ear.
“What’s up, Gav-man?”
“Just checking in on my prodigy.” He laughs but sounds distracted. “Did you get that email I forwarded you?”
“I’m nowhere near my laptop.”
“You and that flip phone. How are you ever going to make timely decisions if you have to go home and find your laptop to learn there’s a problem?”
“And how areyougoing to enjoy life if you’re so distracted by constant interruptions that you can’t exist in the present moment?”
