Page 58 of Silver Hills' Christmas Miracle

“But?” Melanie arched one brow. “I can tell there’s a but coming.”

“My contract. I was with Kitty before that ended, and I don’t know exactly how, but I’m pretty sure Samuel could sue my ass right to the slammer for a breach of contract, and then what use would I be?”

“Wow, Kitty being a prison girlfriend pining for her man behind bars.” Melanie moved away from my spot to tend to a patron who wanted to close out their tab. She was back within a few minutes and leaned next to me, toying with one of the coasters.

“It’s a tough situation,” Melanie said. “And I ask these things because she’s my best friend and I don’t want to see her hurt.”

“I would take care of her in a heartbeat,” I said firmly. “If I knew that was what she wanted, then I would. But Samuel? I can’t control what he does or how he might influence her. I triedto text her, but everything sounded empty so I didn’t, and now I’m just waiting.”

“Fair.” Melanie looked me up and down. “I’ll text her and tell her I took care of you. It might be a good idea to give her some breathing room while she tackles her parents. But don’t go radio silent. Let her know you’re there for her.”

“I always knew something like this could happen, but I think I bargained on it happening much later, so that we wouldn’t need to cover thedating while I was employedpart. And this close to Christmas?” I groaned and sank my head down onto the bar.

“Have another,” Melanie said, and she squeezed my shoulder. “It will help.”

Melanie provided me with a few more drinks to drown my sorrows as the last of the patrons finally closed out and left. While I was still mostly sober, I sent Kitty a quick text telling her I was here. I didn’t want her to feel alone in all of this because I knew there was no way things were pleasant with her parents.

Her mother’s reaction had been painfully hard, but perhaps deserved, with the shock.

Maybe time would be a healer for everyone.

With my last drink, I handed my car keys to Melanie and thanked her for listening, then I started the long walk back to my motel.

Everything was crumbling—and so quickly, too. I had just come to terms with falling in love with Kitty, and now I had to face the prospect that maybe it was over—maybe I would be losing her.

If she chose that, I would respect it. If she decided she wanted to part ways, then it would hurt, but I would honor her choice. Until then, I would fight for her. That was my one clear thought as I trudged through the cold and building ice toward my motel.

I wouldfightfor her.

The drink sat heavy in my veins by the time I made it back to my motel, and I scarcely had time to toe off my boots and lock the door before I collapsed down onto the bed. Sleep came swiftly, and I was dragged into dark dreams filled with shame and embarrassment. Kitty was often there, but for some reason, she was always just out of eyeline no matter how frantically I looked for her.

Before long, my dreams were filled by the pounding of my own heart as each search came up empty. I was losing her in real life and she was already gone in my dreams.

Wait… is that my heart?

Slowly, I cracked one eye open to see sunlight trickling in through the badly closed curtains. Had I pulled them shut last night? An attempt was made, but a shoddy one at that. I closed my eyes and shoved my face back into my pillow, hoping to seek solace in sleep once more, but the pounding rose up again.

Not pounding.

Someone was knocking on the door.

“A minute,” I croaked over a fuzzy tongue. I needed to find my toothbrush.

Hauling myself upright, I rubbed my hands repeatedly over my face and sighed, then yawned and checked the time. Eleven a.m. Man. It didn’t feel like I’d slept at all.

Standing, I wobbled slightly and then moved to the door, spending too long fiddling with the chain to open it.

“Morning!” Melanie stood on the other side of the door with a cup of coffee and what smelled like bacon in a small paper bag. “I brought you breakfast.” She was painfully cheery.

“Shit. Thanks. You didn’t have to.” I opened the door wider, an invitation for Melanie to come in.

She shook her head and thrust the items into my hands. “Can’t stay. I was just passing by and dropping off your car.” Shepulled my keys from my pocket and handed them over. “And this.”

From her other pocket, she pulled out a small white envelope and handed it to me, then paused when she realized I didn’t have the hand space.

“Is that my tab?”

“Nope. Better. It’s a letter from Kitty. I skimmed it earlier because I’m a nosy bitch, but it’s for you.” Melanie slotted the letter into the crook of my elbow.

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