Page 28 of Silent Night Temptation

I lean back, exhaling deeply. For weeks, I’d been stuck, frozen in place by the memories the holidays always stir, memories of my late father. They lock my creativity away, leaving me staring at a blank screen and drowning in thoughts I can’t control. The deadline loomed closer, and I grew more anxious with each passing day.

I came close to calling for an extension. But something shifted these past few days. It’s as if the dam finally broke, and the ideas and words, all came rushing back. Now, I’ve finished half of what I needed to, and the relief I feel is immense. Being here has helped more than I could have imagined.

I know exactly what would’ve happened if I had stayed home for the holidays. The memories of my father would consume me. The same numb, heavy ache that settles in my chest this timeevery year would paralyze me. Last year, it pushed me to the edge, so close that I almost didn’t make it. If it weren’t for Coco, I might not be here now. She saved me then, and in some ways, she’s saving me again by bringing me here. I’m not sure she even realizes it.

But more than the change of scenery, it’s been Marcus. His presence, the way he makes me feel, alive and excited, almost desperate for more of him. I can’t stop thinking about him, about everything we’ve done. He’s ignited something in me, something raw and powerful that has spilled over into my writing. He’s been the spark I was missing.

The soft creak of the door interrupts my thoughts, and I look over my shoulder. Coco pokes her head into the room.

“Hey, how’s the writing going?” she asks, her voice warm.

“So much better,” I say, unable to hide the excitement in my tone.

She steps fully inside, closing the door behind her. “Really?”

“Yeah, I just sent in half of it,” I say, feeling a surge of pride.

Her face lights up. “That’s amazing! You’ve been struggling with it for a while now.”

“I know… but now it feels like I can’t stop,” I laugh, her smile comforting in response. After a moment, I add, “Thank you, Coco. For inviting me here. It’s really helped me get back on track. Helped me... clear my head.”

She nods, her eyes softening with understanding. She knows how hard this time of year is for me, how easily I sink into that darkness. A pang of guilt twists inside me. I’m grateful for her friendship, for her support. But the secret I’m keeping from her gnaws at me. The guilt of what I’m doing with her father, and the guilt of keeping it hidden from her.

Her voice cuts through the silence. “We should celebrate,” she says, smiling.

“Celebrate?” I ask, caught off guard.

“Yeah! Getting your creativity back is a big deal. We should do something fun, even if it’s just a small celebration.”

I pause, considering it. The idea of loosening up, even just for a little while, sounds good. “Okay,” I say, my excitement growing. “What do you have in mind?”

She shrugs, but there’s a spark in her eyes. “We could have a few drinks. Relax a bit. I think we all need it, with everything going on between Ethan and Dad and me…”

Her voice trails off, and for a moment, her smile falters. I see the tension in her eyes, the weight of everything between her father and her boyfriend. It’s wearing her down.

“I just think... if they could sit down, have a drink, and actually talk, maybe they’d realize they’re not so different,” she says, her voice filled with hope. She wants so badly for them to get along.

I nod, though a part of me is anxious. Maybe she’s right. Maybe if they just talked, things would settle down. But there’s a fear in me, a small, persistent worry about what might come out of that conversation.

We move to the living room, where Ethan is already on the couch. Coco disappears into the kitchen, re-emerging with a bottle of champagne in one hand and red wine in the other. She sets them down on the table with a casual clink, her mind seemingly elsewhere.

"Hey, Nyree," she says, her tone light, almost offhand. "Could you get my dad?"

I freeze and nearly obey. But then I catch myself. The way my body instinctively responds to his presence, like I’m drawn to him, it’s like it’s the most natural thing in the world. My pulse quickens, and my thoughts spiral. Does she know? Could she possibly suspect something? Or is this just an innocent request, one I’m twisting into something else entirely?

My eyes dart towards his room, and I teeter on the edge of getting up when Coco turns fully to me, her voice cutting through the tangle of my thoughts.

“Oh, Nyree. He doesn’t bite,” she says, her tone light, reassuring, far too normal for someone who might know the truth. I exhale, tension unraveling just slightly. She doesn’t know. “Don’t worry,” she adds with a soft smile. “I’ll go.”

Relief washes over me as she moves past, heading toward Marcus’s room.

Moments later, Coco returns, and Marcus follows close behind. My eyes are magnetically drawn to him. Even now, with the strain between him and Ethan hanging thick in the air, he looks effortlessly handsome. His presence fills the room, commanding attention without even trying. I swallow hard, the memories of him still fresh in my mind, an undeniable pull even when I know I should look away.

“Heard we’re celebrating,” Marcus says, his deep voice calm. Though, his eyes flicker to mine for the briefest moment before moving on, as though he’s careful not to let them linger too long. “What’s the occasion?”

“Nyree beating her writer’s block,” Coco chimes in, pouring champagne into glasses, the bubbles rising like little bursts of energy. “Plus,” she adds with a sigh, “I think we all need a drink.”

Marcus turns his gaze back to me, this time with more focus and warmth. A smile curves his lips, and the intensity of his attention sends a jolt through me. “That’s great news, Nyree,” he says, his voice low and intimate, meant only for me.

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