Page 33 of The Grinch and His Curvy Christmas Miracle

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I press my back against the wall, gripping the edge of the counter.

She sounds sincere. Sad. Like she really regrets it.

And part of me hates that I feel even a flicker of sympathy.

"You’re not happy," Ryder says.

She shakes her head. "No. Not even close. And I know I don’t deserve it, but... I was hoping you might still feel something for me."

Oh God.

"I still love you, Ryder. I always have. I just didn’t know how much until I lost you."

My heart stutters. I bite my lip.

He doesn’t say anything for a long time. Too long.

Then calmly: "I’ve already found the one for me."

Silence.

Sandra freezes. "You... what?"

She pushes past him and storms into the cabin before he can stop her. Her eyes sweep the room, and land on me.

I go still.

Her face shifts. Surprise. Then scorn.

"This is her?"

Ryder moves in beside her, jaw set. "Leave, Sandra."

She doesn’t even look at him. Her eyes stay pinned on me like I’m something under her heel.

"You’ve got to be kidding. Ryder, she’s not even pretty. She’s fat, for God’s sake. You used to have taste."

The hit is physical. My body flinches before my brain catches up.

Shame. Rage.

Old insecurities roar back to life.

Ryder steps in front of her. "She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever been with. Actually, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen."

She finally looks at him. "You think she’s going to make you happy? Some girl almost half your age playing house in your cabin?"

He closes the space between them, firm and unwavering. "She already does."

Sandra folds her arms, full of disbelief. "You can’t be serious."

"Dead serious. Nikki is everything I never thought I’d find. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving she belongs here."

Her mouth opens. Closes. Then twists with something ugly.

"You’re making a mistake."

"No. I made one years ago when I let you in."

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