Page 54 of Christmas Crisis
“We’re friends,” I stated firmly. “Friends fight.”
“Alright,” he said, rising to his feet. “Then maybe count to ten and get your shit together. You know how much Christmas means to Marley. If you do anything to upset her, I’ll have to kill you.”
Smiling, I brought the mug to my lips again. “I hear you.”
I didn’t want to ruin Christmas for Marley. And I didn’t want to stay mad at Miranda. Like I said to James, we were friends.
The thing I hadn’t told him was that she and I were more than that. If we weren’t, I wouldn’t be so bothered right now.
A year ago, when I met Miranda, I noticed she was stunning and personable, but I hadn’t been attracted to her in a sexual or romantic way.
But over the past few months, there had been flashes when I’d felt something. A spark under my skin where we touched. Butterflies in my belly when she grinned. An occasional stray thought that was more than platonic. I’d chalked it up to proximity, but perhaps it was something else?
It had been over a decade since I’d broken up with Ilona, long enough for me to have given up on the idea of ever developing feelings for another woman.
A big part of my mood stemmed from the fact that I needed to process these confusing new signs.
My lingering anger toward Miranda evaporated. She didn’t know my head was spinning. And even though I still thought Stone was a dipshit who didn’t deserve her, I wasn’t in a place tomake her an alternate offer. At least not yet. Maybe never, if it turned out Stone made her happy.
The only thing I could be sure of for now was that I needed her in my life.
Which meant I had to grit my teeth and hold her hand while Stone and Naomi made nice for the cameras.
Chapter fifteen
Miranda
NOW
Iwoke up Saturday morning and saw I'd missed two texts from Stone.
STONE:I’m sorry I haven’t been able to check in more these past few days. This entire production schedule has turned into all-day shoots and it feels like the only time I’m free is during the middle of the night. Thank god for texting. But I hear from Shoshanna that everything’s going well. She said the internet thinks you and I are goals for men and women being friends.That was not on my bingo card but I’ll take it. *thumbs-up emoji* *winky emoji* *Canadian flag emoji* (a finger slip, I assumed)
STONE:I miss you, kid. We’ll talk soon.
We were on such different planes right now. There was nothing to show he understood how insane this situation was, how even though the plan was working, it had still thrown my life upside down. Also, if he really wanted to make a conversation happen, he could.
Did he realize how unattractive it was that he was just living his life while other people solved his problems? Clearly, Shoshanna was keeping him blissfully ignorant, but he was a grown-ass man, so that wasn’t an excuse. The most Stone had had to do was get photographed with Naomi last week. And even then, Naomi had flown to him. She’d made the effort. Stone had merely done what he was told.
I shook my head. I didn’t want to resent him. Especially when I’d caused the problem that required solving. But seriously, at what point had I atoned enough?
These flippant little text messages were unacceptable. How did he not see? I couldn't keep pretending that his behavior was acceptable. Even if Stone did eventually make it a priority to call me, I doubted it would be a good idea for me to take the call. After my terrible fight with Leo, I’d learned a valuable lesson. Some conversations needed to happen in person.
I exited my texts without replying.
Leo’s surprisingly melodic shower rendition of “Good King Wenceslas” drifting down the hallway soothed some of my irritation, bringing a smile to my lips.
A smile that quickly faded when I heard cars pulling into the driveway.
I banged on the bathroom door. “Shower karaoke’s over, Bear. Finish up, because our reckoning has arrived.”
Besides Stone’s messages, there had been a dozen from my sisters letting me know they’d seen all the gossip about me. Those texts had come in a few hours ago, I assumed as soon as they had service.
I hadn’t responded, just like Leo hadn’t replied to the ones he’d gotten from James. We preferred to wait so that we could talk to our siblings in the same room. They’d be surprised to find us in Coleman Creek.
Although Leo’s truck parked outside the house probably clued them in.
“Miranda?! Leo?!” Marley’s voice echoed as soon as the front door swung open. “Are you here?”
