Page 2 of The Christmas Cover Rule
I slap on the smile that built my reputation and hold my beer out toward Miles in a cheer. “Well then, I’ll charm the fucking pants off him, and the thong his girlfriend’s wearing too.”
“Lovely,” he deadpans.
I smirk around my beer, noticing how Miles set his nearly full glass down on the coffee table before standing.
“I’ve got to get going.” He crosses the living room and grabs his suit jacket from the kitchen island stool. “The in-laws are getting in early tomorrow.”
“How’s Camila? Running around like a chicken with her head cut off?”
“A beautiful chicken. But yes.”
I huff a laugh, following Miles to the front door.
“Talan is working on your flight and reservation right now. He’ll call you later tonight once everything is accommodated.”
“Yes, sir.” I bring my hand to my forehead in a salute with a mocking smile, only instead of dropping my hand to my side, I flip him the bird.
“I saw that!” he calls before the door shuts.
“You were meant to!”
I fire off a quick text to Miles’s assistant, making sure he secures me the best suite the place has to offer—on the firm's dime—before grabbing my coat and hitting up my favorite bar.
CHAPTER 2
stella
“Excuse me, sorry.” I frantically pick up my pace through the overcrowded airport, gently nudging my way through.
Every year since I left home three years ago, I’ve been at the San Francisco International Airport the week before Christmas, and every year, I’m reminded of how painfully annoying it is. No matter how many times I tell myself I’m going to get here early to avoid the stress of being late, along with the embarrassment of having to run through the airport, I always find myself doing just that. This year, I have the added bonus of a looming headache because I was so late that I didn’t have time to stop for coffee.
Three moving walkways, a tram ride, and two sweaty armpits later, I stumble to gate F36. Between pulling my hair off my neck and catching my breath, I notice the big screen behind the counter with those little yellow letters everyone hates to see.Delayed.
The woman at the counter avoids eye contact, and I don’t blame her. I’ve been frantically running through the airport because we were supposed to board twenty minutes ago. Ican’t imagine the people she’s talked with have been very pleasant.
Turning on my heel, I dig through my bag for my wallet and head to the coffee shop two gates down.
Las Chismosas:
Lily: Did you make it to the airport on time?
I want to be annoyed about feeling called out, but the eye roll is directed at myself because, obviously, that’s a valid question. I’m about to type out a slightly snarky response when I catch a whiff of a delicious scent. I’m not subtle about the lung full of air I take in, and I’m even less subtle when I look down at the shiny, brown shoes on the man in front of me. My gaze travels up, and higher still, until I hear the barista laugh and the man wearing a three-piece suit runs a hand through his perfectly quaffed, dirty blond hair.
She hands him his coffee, and I’m taken aback by his deep, sultry voice when he thanks her. I duck my head back down to my phone just in time as he turns to walk away.
My throat is dry as I try to order, and it comes out raspier than I’ve ever heard, which is saying something, considering my voice is permanently smoky. Thankfully, the barista is in just as much of a daze as I am to notice anything wrong with me.
Coffee in hand, I make my way back to my gate when my phone buzzes again, and I realize that I forgot to text my sisters back.
Isabelle: She has Aiden with her now! Of course, they made it on time.
And there it is. The sucker punch I’ve been desperately trying to avoid. My stomach drops as my thumbs hover over the screen, and a dull roar takes over any thoughts I have left. Ignaw on my bottom lip, racking my brain to come up with something—anything—to say.
‘Actually, Aiden isn’t coming anymore.’
‘Aiden had an emergency, so he had to stay home.’
‘Aiden is busy sticking his dick in everyone but me.’
