Page 28 of Merry Kissmas

“Pierce…”

I kissed her temple.“I want you to remember me,” I said, sounding like a complete fool.

“Is this a goodbye gift?”

I stared into her eyes.“No.”

The woman offered me a bag, but I shook my head and put the keychain in my pocket.

I felt as if we made a promise to one another right there.To allow ourselves that day in the bubble we’d created for each other.We’d deal with the questions of what it all meant later.

The problem was, we left that store, went back to my place, and spent the rest of our time in bed.We exchanged numbers when she said she had to leave my place on Sunday.And when she walked out my flat’s door, I felt sure that we’d start dating and figure out how we fit in each other’s lives.

But Monday changed everything.

I roll over and grip the pillow under my head, pushing the thoughts away so I don’t have to think of what a wanker I was to her.How I was the one who ruined it.

ChapterTwelve

Brynn

Iwake up to an empty villa.

Pierce isn’t on the sofa.In fact, the sofa bed is already tucked away, his blanket and pillow stacked neatly at one end of the couch.

Where would he have gone?

I flip my legs over the edge of the bed and stare out the window.The landscape is gorgeous.The mountains, the fresh snow, the green trees.I hate to admit it, but I think my family was on to something when they decided to come here for the holidays.

There are footsteps in the snow from our villa to the main lodge, and I notice then his coat isn’t hung up on the coat tree next to the door.Guess he didn’t feel like taking the shoveled path.

Pierce’s suitcase sits open on the other luggage rack, and I have the urge to be nosey and take a peek, wanting to see some evidence of the man he is now.

I shake my head and go into the bathroom.His stuff sits neatly on one side of the counter—a contact case, toothbrush, razor, cologne.It feels oddly intimate to be sharing this space with him, even without him here.

Not wanting to leave him alone with my family since I know my mom will wake up early as she always does, I hurry to brush my teeth, finger-comb my hair into a messy bun, and throw on a sweatshirt over my flannel pajamas.After slipping my feet into my boots, I trudge out of our villa and make my way to the main lodge.The air is crisp and smells like pine trees.

I open the door to find my mom and dad on the big leather chairs by the window, admiring the light sprinkling of snow coming down.

“Good morning,” I say, walking over to them and sitting in the other chair.

“Better in the daytime, right?”My dad points at the window.

“It really is something.”I grab the blanket lying over the arm of the chair and pull it over my lap.

“So, do you want to tell us what’s going on?”Mom asks, poking as she always does.

“What do you mean?”I don’t look at her or my dad.

“You know, Brynn.How well exactly do you know your TA?”

I take a chance and glance at her.Sure enough, her eyebrows are raised.She’s the worst, always knowing when something is going on.

But I don’t get a chance to answer because the door opens, and Tessa walks in with my niece, Ryah.Since I spent no time with them last night, I throw the blanket off me and beeline it over to her.

“Hey, sweet girl,” I say, holding out my arms.

Ryah comes to me easily, and I twirl her around, walking over to the circle of toys in the corner.

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