Page 71 of Merry Little Sugar Rush
Now, I just have to figure out how to tell her.
And hope she feels the same way.
NINETEEN
Joy
“You’re in love with him.”
I pull my gaze away from Burk, who is standing in the dining room with my dad, and turn to the familiar voice of my sister. My mouth opens, but no words come out. I can’t deny it. It would be a lie if I did, so why do it?
“It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything. I see it on your face. It’s written in your eyes.”
I sigh and give my sister my complete attention. “I don’t want him to go.” I feel tears coming, and I do everything in my power to keep them at bay.
“Of course you don’t,” she replies gently. “Because you love him.”
I sniffle, blinking rapidly to keep the wetness from falling. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Tell him.”
I let out a deep breath. “I can’t, Eve. He’s leaving soon, returning to the other side of the country. What good will it do to confess how I feel?”
“It would give him all the pieces to the puzzle, Joy. If he knows all the facts, maybe he’ll consider staying.”
“He has a life there. A home, a business, friends. His parents are there.”
“But you’re here,” she adds gently. “I can’t tell you what to do or say, but I think you should tell him how you feel. Then, if he decides he’s still going home, then that’s on him. You gave him the choice. Right now, he doesn’t know that you’re desperately in love with him and probably always have been.”
“Why would he stay, Eve? I mean, just because I tell him I love him doesn’t mean he should move back here.”
“Why not?”
I sigh and shake my head. “Because what if he moves here and we give it a go, and we end up breaking up? What if it doesn’t work out?”
She swipes at a piece of hair hanging across my forehead before she whispers, “What if it does?”
My heart climbs up into my throat, making it hard to breathe. I blink away more tears, trying to remain calm and not let my emotions get the better of me.
“There’s my wife. Come share a dance with me,” John says as he takes my sister’s hand and leads her to the center of the family room.
The entire house is covered in head-to-toe Christmas, and even though Eve and I didn’t grow up in a huge home, there’s plenty of room to host a small gathering of less than two dozen people. We’ve enjoyed cake and champagne and now my sister and her husband are sharing their first dance. Surrounded by Christmas lights, decorated trees, and their closest family and friends, it’s the perfect way to finish out their wedding day.
“Well, hello there, beautiful.” Burk steps up behind me and wraps his hand around my waist, drawing my back to his chest.He presses a light kiss on the side of my head and starts to sway to the music.
“Hello, yourself.” I lean against his body, reveling in the way he feels against me. I close my eyes, letting the music wrap around me, and just…feel.
“Dance with me, beautiful.”
I open my eyes and realize there are other couples dancing with the bride and groom in the middle of the living room. Placing my hand in his, I let Burk lead me out with the others and pull me into his arms. We move to the beat of the song, and a few tears silently slide down my cheeks. The mixture of the beautiful Christmas music, being wrapped in his arms, and surrounded by those I hold nearest and dearest to my heart is too much for my fragile emotional state.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Burk asks, placing a finger beneath my chin and gently lifting my face. The sadness in his eyes reflects that in mine, and it’s almost too much.
“I’m just—” I clear my throat and do my best to get myself under control. “I’m just emotional, I suppose. It was a beautiful day. I’m so happy for my sister and John.”
He gives me a small smile. “It was definitely a beautiful day, and while I’m certain it was perfect for the bride and groom, my favorite part is this right now. Dancing with the most beautiful woman in the world.”
I lose the fight. His words are too much for my delicate psyche. I lean my cheek against his chest and silently cry, wishing things could be different between us. Wishing my love for him would be enough to make him stay.
