Page 73 of Christmas Crisis
“Thanks. I’ve been telling myself that for years, and of course Miranda told me, but it’s nice to hear it from you too.”
“Are you going to tell her soon? That your feelings haveevolved? Not gonna lie. Marley and I would be the first in line to congratulate you two if you made it happen.”
I thought about it. Even if Miranda wanted to be with me in that way, I didn’t see a scenario where I’d ever want to have a ton of sex all the time. Would that be a deal-breaker? It certainly had been for Ilona. Also, Stone was still in the picture.
“Honestly, James, there’s more to it than just telling her. She has her own stuff going on—things that aren’t my place to talk about—and it’s waited this long. If we decide to hash this out, it needs to be under the right set of circumstances.” I rested my elbows on my knees.
James clapped me on my shoulder. “You know Miranda better than anybody—I know Marley is grateful she has you—so I know you’ll figure it out. In the meantime, I’m here if you need me.”
I turned to pull him into an embrace. “Love you, little brother.”
“Back atchya, big bro.”
Miranda and I waved goodbye to James and Marley a few hours later. After they headed out, we went grocery shopping and hung out with Oscar and Bambi until mid-afternoon, when I hopped into my truck for the drive back to Tacoma.
Miranda looked sad as I slid into the cab, flanked by the dogs in the driveway.
“You’ll be back at the end of August to pick me up?”
“Yep. We can spend a few days together before your flight to California.” She still seemed down, so I added, “Panda, you know you can call me if you need me to come sooner, okay?”
Leaning in awkwardly through the window, she gripped me in another hug. “I know, Leo-Bear. I’m just going to miss you.” There was a wobble in her voice.
“Sure you’re okay?”
“Yes.” She straightened, backing away from the truck. “Thanks for holding me last night. Drive safe, and I’ll see you soon.”
Before I could reply, she ran back into the house.
Chapter twenty-one
Miranda
NOW
Leo’s fork dropped onto his plate with the strength of a thousand hammers.
“W-What?”
Steeling my shoulders, I stared him down. “Are you interested in me as more than a friend?” I asked matter-of-factly.
“Miranda, I—”
“Answer carefully,” I interrupted, wanting him to understand that I would only accept the truth. “Because I'm pretty sure I know. But I need to hear you to say it.”
My mind was a hurricane of confused thoughts. I’d been too quick to dismiss things. Too quick to give him an out.
I thought back to July, to the night of the wedding, and also to the end of the summer in his apartment. And now the massage. I’d convinced myself that Leo consistently getting erections around me over the past six months—even though that never happened during the entire first year we knew each other, no matter how many times we shared a bed—was totally reasonable. Now I saw. Something had changed.
He opened his mouth a few times, but no sound came out.
I pressed him. “Are you going to deny it?”
A long, loud sigh escaped his throat. “No. I won’t lie to you. I just—”
Pounding footsteps on the porch interrupted him. The front door swung open aggressively, rattling on its hinges.
James trudged in, panting with exertion, dragging an enormous Douglas fir behind him. The scent of pine overwhelmed the room immediately.
