Page 50 of Christmas for Keeps

Resisting the urge to scream at them to leave, I paused to get my bearings. “This isn’t a good time. Con and I are in the middle of something.”

Kerry stepped forward. “Judging from how you look, I can imagine what. We’re here about Emory, and I think we can help.”

Connor stepped aside, and I reluctantly motioned for them to come in. We went to the great room. They sat on the couch, Connor took the recliner, and I settled in an armchair.

“Have you two been arguing?” Kerry asked, looking between Con and me. “Are you okay?”

“No, we’re not.” Tears welled in my eyes, and I worked hard not to cry. “Con wants to go back to Boston.”

He sighed. “I don’t think this is going to work.”

Liz leaned forward on the couch. “Please listen to us before making any decisions. I don’t usually go around interfering in people’s private business. Zach, you must know me well enough to believe that.”

I nodded.

“Emory came into the store late this afternoon, and Jody Keiser was there too. Do you know him, Zach? The town busybody who’s been Emory’s sidekick for years?”

“I know who he is,” I said, “but I don’t know him. I only know Emory because he moved out this way last year and has been trying to get with me ever since.”

“Yuck!” Kerry looked disgusted. “Can you imagine letting that creep even touch you?”

Con glanced at me. His mouth was set, and his eyes bore into mine. I was emotionally shot, so my voice was weak. “No, I can’t. But he won’t take a hint.”

Liz shook her head. “Because he can’t stand rejection, and getting you into bed has become a personal challenge for him.”

Con scoffed. “Emory told me—”

Liz held up a hand. “I think we know what he told you, and he was lying.”

Con narrowed his eyes. “How would you know? You haven’t—”

“Listen to what she has to say!” I snapped.

“Fine.” He sat back, folded his arms, and pursed his lips.

Whatever Liz and Kerry had to say, I hoped it would convince Con I was telling the truth. Shifting in my seat, I nodded at Liz. “How do you know what Emory said?”

Sitting back, Liz looked at Con. “When Emory came in this afternoon, Jody was looking at holiday cards on a rack off to the side. Kerry was dusting some ceramics in the next aisle, but the card display is so high they couldn’t see her.” She glanced at her daughter. “Tell them.”

Kerry, who had been twisting her hands, put them on her thighs. “I hate Emory, so I stopped dusting when he spoke to Jody. I was about to leave, but as soon as he started talking, something told me to stay and listen.”

“What did he say?” I asked.

“He told Jody he had good news, and when Jody asked what it was, Emory said he’d figured out how to get rid of your boyfriend. Jody asked if he meant the guy who’d been staying with you.”

“How would Jody know about Con?” I asked.

“Just one way I can think of—Emory had already told him.”

Con came to life. “How does that have anything to do with—”

“Please hear me out,” Kerry said. Con held out a hand for her to continue, and she went on. “Jody seemed very interested, and Emory told him he’d run into Connor at Prize Pantry. He said he’d told Connor that he should know the truth about you.” She looked at me.

“Which was supposedly what?” I already knew from what Con had told me, but he needed to hear her say it.

“Basically, that you’re a man-slut.” She blew out a heavy breath, then ticked off items on her fingers as she talked. “You hang out at resorts to hook up with tourists, you’re on a dating app every night looking for guys to meet, he always sees guys leaving here early in the morning, and…” She shuddered and said, “He apparently told Connor you and he—Emory—hooked up now and then.”

“That’s all lies!” I’d gotten too loud again, but fuck it. “Not a word is true.”

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