Page 172 of Filthy Rich Santas

I cover her hand with mine, a silent thank you for her wisdom and unwavering support.

We finish up the dishes, and not long after, we take our leave, heading back to Lana’s and Caleb’s parents’ place. During the drive back, Grandma Meg’s words continue to echo in my mind, and I steal glances at Lana in the rearview mirror, the certainty growing in my chest getting stronger and stronger with each mile we pass.

My grandmother is right. I don’t have all the answers to the obstacles I laid out. Hell, I don’t haveanyof those answers. But I also don’t want to let this go.

“Everything okay?” Ryder asks me as we trail after the group heading into Lana’s parents’ house.

“Yeah.”

“You’ve been quiet.”

I raise my eyebrows, and he laughs. I’ve always been the most reserved one in our friend group, but I get that he’s saying something more. He can tell something’s going on in my head. I’m just not ready to share it yet since I’m still figuring it out.

And maybe the truth is I want to share it with Lana first.

Ryder lets it go, and as soon as we walk in, Caleb is called away by his father to help him with some project in the garage, and Lana’s mother is on hand as if she’s been waiting for us, asking for help with a bit of furniture moving for her party.

Lana slips away, heading upstairs, and Ryder gives me a nudge in her direction, proving how perceptive he really is, before more loudly volunteering himself and Beckett for the furniture moving.

I give Ryder a nod of thanks, then follow her. My heart pounds as I take the stairs two at a time, catching up to her just as she reaches the landing.

I don’t have a plan, I just have a sense of urgency that can’t be denied now that I’ve pulled my head out of my ass.

“Tristan?” she asks, smiling at me with that adorable dimple peeking out and a light in her eyes that really does make my heart sing, just like Grandma Meg pointed out.

“I need to talk to you.”

I pull her into her childhood bedroom, and her eyes go wide with surprise as I tug her against me, one arm wrapping around her waist while my other hand cups her cheek.

“Tristan?” she repeats breathlessly. “What are you doing?”

I take a deep breath, drinking in the sight of her as I experience a blinding moment of clarity.

The answer to which obstacles in front of us are big enough to keep us apart is: none of them. Not if there’s a chance she wants this to work too.

I stare into her eyes, the blue of a summer sky—hopeful and light.

“I can’t pretend this is over anymore, because it’s not. Not for me.”

Her breath catches in her throat as her eyes search mine. “What do you mean? It’s not… it’s not possible to keep it going, right? How can what we had on the road trip work beyond being just a temporary fling?”

Something relaxes inside my chest, and I smile, resting my forehead against hers as I let my thumb trace the curve of her cheek and dip into the sweet divot of her dimple.

She’s not saying she doesn’t want it. All her questions are laced with the same hope that sparks inside me too.

“I don’t know exactly how we’ll make it work,” I tell her honestly. “I just know that we’ll figure it out. Because I’ve never felt like this before, Lana. Never. And I’m not willing to give it up.”

Her chin trembles, her eyes turning glassy. “But?—”

“No buts.” I cut her off with a finger over her soft lips, my voice dropping to a whisper as the words pour out of me like a dam breaking. “You’ve woken something in me I didn’t even know was there. The way you look at me, the way you touch me… it’s like you see all of me, scars and all, and you still want me. I’ve never had that before.”

“Tristan,” she whispers as she pulls my finger away from her mouth. “I?—”

I shake my head, smiling at her. I’m not done.

“You’re a light, Lana. You make mefeellight, on the inside. You’re radiant. Glowing. Hell, even your brother saw it today. But that radiance inside you spills out into everyone you touch, intome, and I’m not ready to let it go. I’m not ready to letyougo.”

A single tear breaks over her lashes, tumbling down her cheek.

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