Page 46 of Merry Kissmas

My dad doesn’t ask any other questions.“Those pancakes look good,” he remarks, walking by the stovetop and putting something in the cupboard.

“Abe, can you see if Carter and Faith are back while I go see about the other ones?I don’t want breakfast to get cold.”Mom leaves the lodge.

“I just saw them get back from somewhere, so I’ll knock and let them know.”Dad follows my mom out the door, leaving me alone with Pierce.

Neither of us says anything, and I watch him.

“Please don’t look at me like that,” he whispers, pouring a new round of pancakes onto the griddle.

“I’m not.”I shake my head, but I know that’s why my parents left.To compose themselves.

“You are.I’m fine.I’m in one piece, living my life.”

“Pierce…”

He finally glances up.“This is why I hate telling people.I hate that look on your face right now.”

I walk around the island, unsure of my actions, but I’m going on gut instinct because it’s what I would want if I was him.I wrap my arms around his waist and lean my head on his back.It rises and falls with a deep breath.He doesn’t turn around or place his hands over mine on his stomach.But most of all, he doesn’t push me away.

My heart would break for anyone who went through what he did, but I can’t ignore the extra layers his story dug through me because I do care about him.No matter how much I push away these feelings for him, they’re there.

The door opens, and I quickly unwrap my arms from around his waist, wiping my eyes and opening the fridge to pretend I’m looking for something.

“Yogurt parfait.Tessa’s favorite.”Tre comes in with Ryah in his arms.

She’ll be a good distraction from the puzzling emotions for Pierce I can’t piece together yet.

ChapterEighteen

Pierce

Andrew and I are sitting outside by the firepit, the smoke drifting toward the other side of the ring of chairs from where we sit.

Brynn and I won the tree decorating contest, so we’re up on the board.I don’t really care about that, but it put a perma-smile on Brynn’s face, so that’s a good thing.

“I told Brynn and Gwen… about my parents,” I say, tapping my finger on my boot.

“Brynn didn’t know?”Andrew asks.

“I didn’t think it was a proper come-on line.‘My parents died when I was eleven, and instead of letting me go live with my aunt, uncle, and cousin, I had to go live at a boarding school.’It would have been like waving a red flag in her face.”

He sips his beer and stares into the fire.“What did they say?”

What feels like a century ago, Andrew and I talked about the fact I was put in boarding school.He felt guilty for his dad’s decision, but it wasn’t on him.I don’t even blame my uncle.I gave up a long time ago trying to understand why my parents wanted my uncle to use all the money they had to send me away from everyone who loved me, but then again, I feel as if I didn’t even know my parents that well.On my twenty-third birthday, I realized that I had lived my life without my parents longer than I had with them, and it was a tough realization.

“I think Gwen was about to cry, but I did score a hug from Brynn.”My attempt at humor dies because Andrew knows me too well, and he won’t let me get away with it.“Come on, mate, I got a hug.”

His lips tip up into a smile.“I’m pretty sure you want more than a hug.”

He’s not wrong.

“Am I crazy for thinking it could become something after all this time?”I ask.I want to push harder, but I’m scared that too much, too soon, and I’ll end up pushing her further away.

“Who am I to say?I fell in love with an elf.”

I laugh because his and Kenzie’s first meeting was a funny one.

“In all seriousness, love sneaks up on you.It definitely wasn’t love at first sight with Kenzie and me, but soon I wanted to spend every minute I had with her and like turned into something stronger.But it was different for me.I was scared to put myself out there.Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is your first time, right?”

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