Page 100 of The Holiday Grump
Spencer ignored me, his eyes on Fredrik. “But I guess you have nothing to give her anyway, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“I don’t worry about that,” Fredrik replied.
“She’s going to keep running, you know? I thought I could convince her to get some help, but I can see now that she’s too damaged. You and your silly little town are a pit stop for her. Trust me. I know her. She’ll use you for free lodging. She’ll plan parties… then she’ll move on.”
My heart sank. Was that who I was? I’d relied on Spencer for everything. He’d convinced me to quit my job at The Gap, so I had no income. I’d been a financial burden. I still was. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to repel the picture he’d painted.
And that was when it happened.
“You fucking snake!” Fredrik hissed.
I heard a struggle, then opened my eyes to see them crash against the big ugly bookshelf. It toppled on them with a splintering crack, spilling its contents across the floor.
Chaos erupted. People screamed and pushed as they tried to get out of the door. I didn’t care about them. I only needed Fredrik to be okay.
Jackson shoved the loose shelves aside and pulledFredrik to his feet. He leaned heavily on another bookcase, wincing.
Spencer stayed down, clutching his side and moaning. “You ingrate! I’ll sue you for everything you have. I’ll make you regret the day you were born.”
Tears blurred my vision. I’d done this. I’d brought him here. I’d brought destruction into Hideaway Harbor and onto the man I loved.
Fredrik hobbled toward me, holding his side, pain etched on his face. “Noelle?—”
“I’m so sorry,” I sobbed. “I’m sorry.”
And then I turned and ran.
CHAPTER 33
Noelle
Iburst out the door into the icy air, my breath coming in frantic gasps. The hail had stopped, but the sidewalks were crunchy, dark clouds still hanging low.
Fredrik didn’t follow me outside. He must have been too hurt to move. I didn’t know where to go, but my legs carried me to the Christmas store, the only place that still felt like mine. I could lock the door, hide, and think.
But someone was already there. A small figure crouched by the entrance, bundled in a white wool hat and beige coat with a small suitcase next to her. When she lifted her head, relief flooded me.
“Grace! What are you doing here?”
“Oh, thank God! I couldn’t find you!” She leaped up andhugged me tight. “I thought, if I waited here long enough, you’d show up. You live here, right?”
I took a deep breath, trying to push down the tears that welled behind my eyes. Too much was happening today with no time to process any of it. I could feel the telltale signs of an anxiety attack in my gut.
Maybe it was good that I wasn’t alone. Grace would understand.
I unlocked the door, and we piled inside.
“It’s so small!” Grace spun around, peering at the half-empty shelves.
I was supposed to keep the store open for another two days, but I had little left to sell, and now I couldn’t even stomach the idea of opening my doors for business.
“It’s been lovely,” I assured her. “Absolutely perfect. Thank you so much!”
Grace took one look at my face, and I knew she wasn’t buying a word I said. She marched into the back room and surveyed the tiny bed and table. “Okay. This is not an apartment, and you clearly haven’t been staying here. What’s the deal?”
I sat on the bed, making the springs shriek. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It’s not a big deal, and I didn’t want you to worry. Mr. Young told me I couldn’t live here, so I’ve been staying in Fredrik’s bookstore. He has a room upstairs. And a bathroom. To be honest, I’ve been staying in his house, too. He’s been so nice…”
“Wait… why are you crying? What happened?”
