Page 27 of Holiday Tides

“You’re wrong. You have to be wrong. It’s because you’re jealous. That’s why you’re telling me these disgusting lies on my wedding day. It’s not my fault that you can’t keep a boyfriend for longer than two weeks.”

My hands shake like they did when I sat my best friend down to talk, knowing how cataclysmic the information would be. I just hadn’t known that it would bemy relationshipwith Kayla that would end up in pieces.

That morning, after Kayla had tossed me out and forbade me from attending the wedding, I told myself it’d been a stress response to an impossible situation—even though the idea of my best friend not believing me was like a scalpel to the kidneys. Eventually, when Kayla processed the information, she’d need me to lean on while dealing with Andrew’s infidelity.

When I reached out two weeks later, however, Kayla shattered me again by saying she never wanted to speak to me again and then blocking my number.

The ping of Nick’s response brings me back to my car, forcing me to slow my ragged breathing.

Nick

Great. I’ll give you more details when I look at your fireplace Saturday afternoon.

My tense shoulders slump as clarity smacks me upside the head. In an attempt to prove Kayla wrong, I invested months into a person who shouldn’t have lasted beyond a second date. While grieving the relationship that had meant the most to me, I overlooked Cooper’s red flags.

A heavy exhale leaves my mouth as I close my eyes.

“Thriving,” I say to the night sky.

Saturday morning, when I slide out of the front door for a late-morning run, Nick jogs over to intercept me. It’s only been two days, but I feel my heart leapfrog into my throat at the sight of him in his snug WB renovations shirt, the long sleeves pushed back to reveal toned forearms.

“Hey, things are a little crazy today. I’m not going to be able to come over later.”

The surge of disappointment that Nick won’t be making his goofy jokes while salivating over my ancient brickwork is so annoyingly inappropriate that I pinch my side to reorient myself.

“It’s not a problem.”

“Great.” His large shoulders sag with an exhale. “But we’re still on for tonight, right?”

There’s something mischievous in his gaze, something I used to see before receiving a mocking quip. My ab muscles tighten before I remind myself Nick isn’t my nemesis anymore. Far from it.

Still…there’s definitely something going on.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

He rubs his ear. “Aldon’s Christmas party has a dress code. Not formal, per se, but definitely cocktail attire. Is that okay?”

My brows scrunch as a chuckle escapes me. I’ve got three holiday dresses in my closet from Christmas parties past. “That’s easy.”

Don calls his name, and Nick shouts a response before focusing back on me. “See you at six. Don’t eat. There’s always tons of food.”

“My two favorite things are getting dressed up and free food!” I shout at his retreating form.

Nick sends me distracted finger guns, which has me shaking my head before slipping back into the cottage. I’m pretty sure the tailor shop beside Seabreeze Beans had Saturday hours. I could wear either of my red dresses, but maybe the proprietor has time to fix the zipper on my favorite holiday dress.

seventeen

Nick

“If it isn’t great Saint Nick.” I slap the back of Aldon’s Santa suit, turning him slightly to see Summer among the crowd of people milling through his bayside home. “Santa, this is Summer—your biggest fan. Summer, Santa.”

My gorgeous date—friend, we’re just friends and this is not a date—bites her lip to keep from bursting into laughter. It used to be one of my favorite expressions, when one of my jokes would land, but Summer couldn’t give me the satisfaction of seeing her mirth. This time, she’s holding back giggles because Aldon looks like he’s two seconds from setting a saw blade to my neck.

“Nice to meet you,” she tells him.

I expect my brother to grunt like the half-primate he is, but he stoically extends a hand instead.

Once Summer and Jane are introduced and start chatting, I lower my voice. “If I knew we could deviate from the classy cocktail attire dress code, I would have joined you in wearing a jolly red suit.”

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