Page 14 of Merry Kissmas

Then he’s gone.

Lost in the throng of people.

But I can still feel the ghost of his lips on my cheek.

I place my palm on the spot where he kissed me.

“Come on, lady, let’s go,” an older woman shouts from somewhere close to me.

I snap out of my fog and head in to buy some gum.

I’ll never use that number, but at least this memory of Pierce is better than the last.The urge to call or text him rises up immediately, which is exactly why I’ll be deleting his number when I get on the plane.

ChapterSeven

Pierce

It’s all George Michael’s fault.Had he never written the song “Last Christmas” and had his band Wham!perform it, I wouldn’t have heard it over the speakers in the airport store right before Brynn ran into me.

What is it about the holidays that make you relive life’s decisions?

It seemed like fate that she was there right after I told myself that as soon as I was back from holiday, I’d look her up and try to get in contact with her.

I walk back to the gate, still in disbelief that she exchanged phone numbers with me.That has to be a good sign.One that would suggest she feels the same as me—that our time together might not be done.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that it takes me a moment to realize my cousin and his wife seem to be having a disagreement.The urge to turn around and head back into the store with Brynn rises, but that would be a little much.I don’t want to push her too far, too fast.

“Hey,” I say, my gaze falling to the suitcase sitting across from them.I’d swear it was Brynn’s, but… “Where did this come from?”

Andrew looks at me.“It belongs to the woman I told you about.”

“Woman?”He hasn’t told me anything about a woman.

“You didn’t bother telling him?Do you ever listen to me?”Kenzie picks up a crying Nolan out of the stroller and walks away, rocking him.

“I did.”He pushes his hand through his hair.“Why is it always my fault?”

“Not that I’m taking sides, but you didn’t tell me.”I usually wouldn’t ask questions about the suitcase or bother Andrew when he’s clearly distracted, but it looks identical to the one Brynn wheeled down the hotel hallway last night.

He throws up his hands.“It’s Kenzie’s best friend’s husband’s sister.She’s on our flight.”

“Meaning she’s joining us for the holidays?”My heart shouldn’t soar with the thought that maybe it’s Brynn.

Andrew stares long and hard at me, his expression suggesting he wants to punch me in the face if I ask one more question.“Since she’s Tre’s family, yes.”

“Tre is the best friend’s husband?”I ask, sitting down next to the suitcase.If it is Brynn’s, I’ll be waiting right here for her.

“Want me to map out a family tree?”His gaze follows Kenzie, who I assume is behind me somewhere.“Yeah, he’s the husband.”

“Does she live in New York?”

Andrew’s gaze diverts to me, but only for a second before it returns to Kenzie.

“She has a crying baby, bloke.I don’t think anyone is going to try and woo her away from you.”

Now I earn his really pissed off look.The one I thought was only reserved for me when I beat him at Battleship.

“Well?”I ask.

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