Page 46 of When the Fake Snow Falls

“No.” I smile. “I guess it wasn’t.”

He leans in, and even though my heart feels like it stops, everything else is in overdrive. I force myself to breathe, and when his lips find my cheek, I freeze. A kiss on the cheek? Leave it to Chase to be modest now. When he pulls back, he keeps his face close to mine. “I promise to kiss you properly before the event. I’m just afraid if I kiss you now . . .” His gaze is fixed on my mouth.

“It will be too soon.”

He blinks. “Yeah.” The corner of his mouth lifts. “We might forget.”

Despite my disappointment, my mouth pulls upward. “We wouldn’t want that to happen.” Turning, I unlock the door and slip inside. Before closing it, I say, “Goodnight.”

Chase nods. “Night, Candace.”

As soon as I’m fully inside, I lean my back against the door for support. Miles is watching some type of gruesome horror movie, but he pauses it when he sees me. “So . . .” he says hesitantly. “How did it go?”

What a loaded question.How did it go?Great. Easily the best date I’ve ever been on. I didn’t want it to end. It felt too short, too fun, and for a man I’m not actually dating, he knows how to turn me on way too much.

So, in another sense, the date was terrible. Nothing about him turned me off like I was hoping, I’m no closer to finding his fatal flaw, and he left me wanting more—a lot more.

I walk over to the couch and lie down, my head landing just outside Miles’s lap and my legs up on the couch even though I haven’t taken my heels off. Staring up at the ceiling, I sigh. “I am so fucked.”

He just laughs and pets my head. “I know, honey. I know.”

twenty

The following night,Just Friendsplays on our TV because Miles and I watch it every year religiously during the month of December—usually more than once.

“You know,” Miles says as he stretches out on our couch like a lazy house cat. “Your favorite Christmas movie isn’tthatChristmassy.”

I frown. “Sure, it is. There’s caroling, Christmas parties, elaborate light displays.”

“Yeah, but that’s all frilly shit. The movie is barely about Christmas at all. You’re just a sucker for love.”

Taking a sip of my wine, I shake my head. “I’m a sucker for Ryan Reynolds.”

Miles stares at the screen. “Aren’t we all?” My phone buzzes, and he looks at it with an eyebrow raised. “Is that him?”

I reach for my phone. I don’t think it’s Chase. He already told me he’s working late tonight. It’s the group chat I have with my parents.

Mom:

We were starting to get down about the house not being decorated, so we decided to pack!

Dad:

The neighbors were asking about the toy shop, and when I told them we were going on a cruise this year instead, they looked devastated.

Mom:

Your father can’t live with that type of guilt.

Dad:

I’m tempted to set it up even though we won’t be here.

Mom:

Don’t be ridiculous! It’s too much work!

A chuckle escapes me as I type back my response.

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