Page 6 of Stuffing His Stocking

She wouldn’t have wanted me anyway. I was such an asshole back then, doing anything I could to get my father’s attention. It didn’t work. Whether I was the perfect son or a spoiled hellraiser, he never gave a shit about me.

At least he stuck around. That’s more than I can say about Diane. She stayed until I was five. Then she got the hell out ofthere, and I’ve hardly seen her since. I don’t even call herMom. She says it makes her feel old. It’s her age that makes her old, and no amount of prancing around with cabana boys who are younger than me is going to change that.

I check my watch again as my knee bounces nervously beneath the table. I can’t believe I actually ran into Liv. If I hadn’t gotten there when I did, who knows what those two jackasses would’ve done? I’d like to believe they were just fucking with her, but nowadays you can’t be too sure or too safe.

I had no idea it was even her when I walked up. But as soon as recognition hit, a fresh wave of anger rolled over me and I wanted to hunt those guys down and kick both their asses. Then I wanted to give her a good spanking for walking around alone on a deserted campus when it was practically dark outside. The need to protect her and keep her safe was strong. I chalked it up to our past history. But I know better than that. The truth is I’ve wanted her since the day we met, even if she was off limits.

She looks so much like I remember, but she’s also changed. She’s a hint taller and a little curvier, but her light-brown skin, show-stopping smile, and mesmerizing whiskey-colored eyes are still the same. There’re caramel highlights in her hair now, accentuating her dark curls. And her figure has certainly filled out, making her the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.

My heartbeat speeds up as I think about her.

The front door chimes to signify a new customer. I glance at the entrance, and just like the first time I saw her, my breath catches in my chest. I didn’t think it was possible for her to get any prettier, but she’s damn sure proven me wrong.

I rise from my chair and walk over. “Glad you could make it.” I want to pull her into my arms, but we’re practically strangers, so I refrain.

“Of course.” She hits me with that dazzling smile of hers. “It’s the least I could do for the man who rescued me.”

“Oh, I see. This is just athank youcoffee then,” I tease her, and she slaps my arm.

“Surely, you know better than that. I’m glad I ran into you. I’ve often wondered what you’ve been up to. Seems like we have a lot to catch up on.”

I escort her to the table and pull out her chair. “What can I get you?”

Liv peers up at me with her soulful brown eyes and it does something funny to my heart. “Shouldn’t I be the one buying you a coffee? After all, you were the one who saved me, not the other way around.”

“You don’t owe me anything, Liv. I’d never let anyone hurt you.”

She blushes at my honesty and looks down at her hands.

“So what’ll you have?”

“Um…” Her mouth twists to the side and she looks up at the ceiling. “I’ll have a medium peppermint white mocha latte with whipped cream.”

“Anything else?”

A wide grin spreads across her face. “Blonde roast, extra shot, extra white mocha, and almond milk.”

“Wow, uh… That’s quite a mouthful. How about you text that to me and I’ll go place our order?”

She unlocks the screen on her phone and laughs. It’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. I walk toward the counter and wait in line. Just as I reach the register, my cell pings with her laundry list of demands—AKA her coffee order—and I flash my screen at the barista. The girl gives me a sympathetic smile.

“Don’t worry. You’re not the first guy to have to write down his girlfriend’s drink order.”

I could correct her about who Liv really is to me, but I don’t want to.

“And what can I get for you?” the girl asks.

“I’ll just have a medium dark roast coffee. Black, please,” I reply as I fish my wallet out of my back pocket.

“Keeping it simple, huh? I like it.”

“One of us has to.” I return her smile, then pay for the beverages before heading to the end of the counter. After getting our drinks, I grab some napkins and head back to the table. “Did you miss me?”

I’m expecting some kind of sassy response, but instead, Liv gazes at me with an expression of longing and it hits me right in the gut. Hasshe missed me all these years?

I hand over her drink and take a seat. “So. Tell me everything I’ve missed. How have you been?”

She wraps both hands around the warm cup, and something about the way she looks at me with those kind, sincere eyes makes my heart melt just a little. “There’s not much to say. Obviously, I finished high school. And now, I’m about to graduate from college.”

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