Page 331 of Screwged for Christmas

“Not my question.”

her shock faded and she could see the pain, the need to know shine back at her through his eyes. She swallowed hard. No, never.” She gazed back at him and let the truth of her words settle between them.

“Good, I was you first,” he drew out.

Her breath caught on a small laugh. “In more ways than one.”

And just like that, her heart fell for all those unspoken promises that hung between.

CHAPTER 14

Her gaze roved over the lights and landed on the fire as she nestled into his arms. “I used to like the flames. Remember how we would sit out here long after I finished helping Gran and talk for hours while we watched the flames.”

“Mmm-hmm. Why do you think I brought you out here?” he settled them on a bench, with her spread over his lap.

She smiled. Her mind lagged behind heavy with other details such as Aspen and her alone under all the stars and twinkle lights to realize his ulterior motive. “The last time I was this close to an open flame I was covered in soot and rained on and lost everything.” Maybe a sane woman would read that as a sign she needed a fireman in her life. Life’s little ironies could really get the best of a person.

He took her hand and locked their fingers. “I’m sorry, Ivy Sunday. When did this happen?”

“You don’t know?” That didn’t seem likely knowing her gran. Maybe she’d been too busy pulling together her disappearing act to tell anyone past her besties. “This past November. We had this big Thanksgiving dinner planned. I would cook and he would gather his parents from the airport.

“When the day came, I prepared an elegant dinner or tried to anyway. The whole day is a blur really. In the end, he dumped me by text, that part you know, and as a topping on the shittiest day my house burned down too. Faulty wiring.” She paused a moment to gather her thoughts. “Guess fate really wanted to get my attention.

She looked out over the fire as she recounted the embarrassing story for Aspen. “Our families were calling nonstop asking where he was. That had my nerves on edge. The turkey needed my attention, the table needed setting. Everything he was supposed to help with fell on me. He was running late again so I was a little overwhelmed with handling everything on my own. I was so busy in the kitchen I never realized the fire even started until it was too late. The fire department said it was a faulty plug with the Christmas lights I’d strung along the banister coupled with the old polyester curtains left over from the previous owner I’d never had the chance to change out. The house didn't stand a chance. And apparently, my house wasn’t the only thing going up in smoke that night. As it started to rain and while I huddled in a blanket watching my home be eaten alive by fire I received Lewis’s lovely ‘It’s over, it’s not you, it’s me’ text. You already know the rest.”

“Your gran didn’t tell me about the fire. Only that Lewis was out of the picture. Had I known I wouldn’t have been so straightforward with you given how much you’ve lost.” He caressed her hair. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby.”

Aspen caressed his hands across the small of her back. “Lewis. Just the name makes him sound like a real asshole.”

“Aspen!” She coolly reprimanded him but didn’t deny agreeing and appreciated the humorous touch he added to the otherwise dreary moment.

He shrugged in his defense, which was a weak one, but again she couldn’t argue. “The damn truth. His loss. He let the most beautiful woman on the fucking planet slip through his hands. When he gets tired of chasing cheap pussy after his money he’ll think back on you. Men like him don’t deserve real happiness and sure the hell doesn't deserve a woman like you. Shit gets shit.”

She took comfort from his warmth and leaned a little closer in his arms. “You’ve been talking with my brother, Jon, haven’t you?”

“No, but I already know he agrees and said as much.”

She smiled and nodded. “In not so few words, either.” She fished her phone out of her back pocket and pulled up the message. “I haven’t shown this to anyone before now.” She passed it over to Aspen and held her breath. Why she didn’t know but what he thought of the last words she received from her ex meant something to her. Validation that she was right tonotseek more answers. Demand an apology for him cheating on her.

“Every day for the past two months I've read and reread this message. Every. Single. Morning. What’s wrong with me, Aspen?” When she said it aloud like that, she sounded pathetic even to her own ears.

“Not a damn thing. From what I see you’re trying to make sense of someone you trusted hurting you.”

“Like I did you,” she whispered softly.

“Thanks for not calling me foolish and being so nice and not judging.”

“Is all this why you’re taking the job in New York?” Always observant. His question didn’t surprise her but her answer did.

“I didn’t think so at first but after being back here, I’m questioning everything that’s happened to me. I’ve spent the last two months in some form of panic or stage of exhaustion dealing with the insurance, lining up another job to pay for what the insurance doesn’t cover. Trying to figure out where I’m going from here. I had to drop two jobs because I couldn’t handle everything all at once so my reputation is on the line. I’ve worked so hard to build it and right now this job is the one that will restore it.”

Just thinking about what lay ahead gave her such mixed feelings it was a wonder she slept at all.

Aspen nodded in understanding. “When do you leave?” The detour off Lewis gave her a slight relief.

“In two days.” The peace of nightfall finally settled around them and in the distance from beneath the eaves of the gazebo she could see flickers of stars through the slow drift of snow.

“That’s not a lot of time.”

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