Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“I can pay you,” she told him.
“For points? I’m not sure how that equates.”
Christian was right. “Fine then. Dinner is on me tonight.”
“Deal.”
They made their way through security and found a nice Italian place in their terminal. Holly hated eating at the airport because the cost of everything was through the roof. Still, she didn’t hesitate to order a bottle of wine for them to share, as well as an order of bread. This meal would cost her a small fortune, but as she looked across the table at the man she still loved, she realized he hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she blurted out her love for him. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t said it back because she wasn’t expecting him to. To her, saying those words had been freeing. She no longer carried the burden of her secret, and Christian knew how she felt.
Their wine came, and Holly raised her glass toward Christian. “To old friends,” she said in a toast.
“To old friends,” he repeated. They drank, shared bread, and when their meals came, gorged themselves on pasta. By the time they finished, Holly was tipsy and thankful for the overnight flight, even if it was short. She’d happily curl up in her first-class seat and fall asleep.
One reward of being in first class was the perks that came with it. Christian took Holly into the lounge, which the airline had decorated with garlands, white lights, and some of those extra-large ornaments. They sat down at the bar and ordered more wine. She’d never been in a first-class lounge before and could easily grasp why people splurged to upgrade their seats. It was everything she thought it would be and more.
“Why didn’t we eat here?” she asked Christian.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. Are you still hungry?”
“No, definitely not. That pasta was filling.”
“But they have cookies.”
Holly loved a good cookie, especially during the holiday season. The bartender must’ve heard them because he brought a tray of cookies over. Holly chose a snowflake with white and blue icing, and Christian chose the gingerbread man.
She took a bite and then set it down, while Christian devoured his. “What did that cookie ever do to you?” she asked him.
“It was so good.” He wiped the crumbs from his face. “Are you going to finish yours?” He eyed her cookie with hunger. Holly slid the napkin her cookie was on over to him and watched as he ate it in one bite.
“You’re going to make yourself sick,” she told him. “Wine, pasta and cookies don’t mix well.”
Christian laughed. “You’re probably right.” He pushed the plate of cookies away and then turned in his seat. “I want you to know that I heard you earlier, when you said you were in love with me and that I’d broken your heart. Had I known, I would’ve never . . .” he paused and shook his head. “You were my best friend, Holly. Hurting you was the last thing I would’ve ever done. I wish you had told me.”
“Would anything have changed between us?”
Holly and Christian stared into each other’s eyes. Her question was heavy and had been on her mind since she blurted out her confession. She felt like she was waiting an eternity for Christian to answer.
“Yes,” he finally said. “Everything would’ve changed because I was in love with you too, but never knew how to tell you. There were so many times when we’d lie together and watch a movie, and I’d hold your hand. I thought about kissing you but was afraid you’d reject me. The friendzone was so easy because I could love you from afar and be there when you needed me.”
“And then Skye came to school.”
“Yeah,” he said with a sigh. “She was a mistake, Holly. I don’t admit that to many people other than my divorce lawyer, but she was. She wasn’t nice to my parents, always putting them down because they stayed in North Pole. Skye was as pretentious as they came.”
“Where is she now?”
“Living in the condo we shared in New York. I didn’t fight her for it in the divorce. It’s close to her office and honestly, I didn’t want it.”
“Well, for what’s it worth, I’m sorry you had to go through a divorce.”
Christian nodded. “I’m sorry I ever brought her into our lives.”
five
Christian
After Christian’s truth telling, they headed toward their gate. He prayed their flight would depart and they wouldn’t be stuck. But then again, Holly lived in Miami, and they could easily go to her house, which at this late hour seemed like a better idea than taking the red-eye. He knew how busy her parents were during the holidays and imagined they needed her help. Still, it bothered him that she'd been back to their hometown, and they hadn’t run into each other. He was going to have to have a long talk with his mom about keeping secrets. More so, he was going to have to talk to Santa about being the secret keeper in town.