Page 59 of Silver Hills' Christmas Miracle

“Well, what does it say?” I asked as a surge of adrenaline chased away all the lingering tiredness in my bones.

“It’s a request for a secret meeting, idiot. So you'd better hop in that shower and work out how you’re going to make life alright for our girl.”

25

KITTY

Out of everyone who came through for me after the explosive argument between me and my parents, I didn’t expect it to be Paul.

I always thought he was so far up my father’s ass that there was no way he could see the light. But I was pleasantly surprised when he awkwardly came to check on me. I’d jokingly told him the only thing that would make me feel better was getting a letter to Rook after my father stole my phone, and Paul had agreed.

I thought he’d been joking at first, but with no other way to contact anyone, it was my only hope. And when Paul returned the next day to tell me he’d delivered the letter to Melanie and that if I needed anything else I was just to ask, I was even more surprised.

I thought Paul hated Rook as much as he disliked me. I was wrong. I’d mistaken indifference for dislike, and now, with everything utterly ruined, it seemed Paul had a heart.

He even snuck my phone back when he caught me sneaking out of my room to go and meet Rook. I didn’t know what his endgame was. Maybe Paul didn’t have any. Maybe he was trying to help.

Either way, it was thanks to him that I was able to meet up with Rook the next day in the small café just across from the seamstress shop. He was seated at the back when I arrived, tapping the table with his fingertips, and a shredded napkin lay a few inches to his left. I’d never known him to show any anxious tics but it excited me a little. Was this how he felt when we were apart?

Maybe I wasn’t the only one insanely obsessed.

“Rook?”

Rook’s head snapped up, and then he surged upward and dragged me into a tight hug. I closed my eyes and sank into his embrace, clutching at his shirt while breathing in his familiar, calming scents of soap and coffee.

“Kitty. Oh, my God.”

He hugged me so tight that my bones creaked, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to imprint this feeling against me forever.

“I’m okay.”

“I was so worried.” His chin rested on top of my head, then I felt the press of his lips before he stepped back and gripped my shoulders. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I smiled weakly. “I can handle my parents.”

“Can you?” His frown deepened as we sat. “Melanie worried me when she said you didn’t text her back.”

“My dad took my phone.”

“Shit.”

“It’s okay. Paul got it back for me.”

“Paul?” Rook was as shocked as I was, and I nodded. “He was actually who got my letter out of the house.”

“Son of a bitch,” Rook muttered, his eyes darting back and forth. “I thought he hated me.”

“Same. Guess I pegged him wrong. But that doesn’t matter now. Rook.” I sucked in a deep breath and leaned onto the table. “I have something to tell you.”

“Me first.” Rook smiled nervously. “Kitty… your parents’ finding out was inevitable, I know that. But there are things in motion now that I didn’t fully consider, and I just need to make sure you understand everything.”

My heart began to sink. What was he saying? Was he about to break up with me?

A clammy sweat broke out over my palms and I pressed my hands together, chewing on my lower lip. “Rook.”

“Kitty, we have to think about this seriously. What we were doing when we were together…” He sucked in a deep breath and held it for a few seconds, then puffed out his cheeks. “Our being together is a huge risk.”

“I don’t care,” I replied quickly. “Honestly, Rook. I don’t. My parents can’t do anything. I’m an adult and I know what I want.”

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