Page 35 of A Grinchmas Delight

“Wow.”

“Yep. You got played, bestie.”

“Maybe. Just because they left at different times doesn’t put him in the clear one hundred percent.”

Maia’s jaw drops. “Are you serious? Did you not see the way he wantednothingto do with her? I’m telling you, ain’t no way anything went down between the two of them that night. Now I can’t speak for other occasions, but that was a completely uninterested man who made it glaringly obvious that he wasn’t entertaining anything to do with her.”

I sigh and sit down on the bed. “Yeah. I can agree with that. I feel like an ass. Maybe I could’ve started by asking him a question first? I’ll call him. Not right now though.”

Maia grins and says, “Ooooookay.”

“What?”

Still grinning she chirps, “Nothing.”

I eye her questioningly but she bounces off the bed and heads back to the living room to gather with the rest of the family. She’s up to something, I just don’t know what. Maybe she’s going to text Zane and tell him that I know the truth now. Who knows with her.

I rejoin everyone in the living room and we spend the evening eating food and playing games. We’ll do gift exchange last. Aunt Cindy always buys one gift for each adult in attendance, with a few extras in case we have any stragglers show up. Each child gets an unlimited number of gifts. She gets a little crazy for her grand babies, but that’s what makes her, her. Sometimes other people will bring gifts but usually, it’s just the one gift from Aunt Cindy for everyone. And it’s usually something practical or fitting to each person’s personality. Lastyear, she got me a spatula with a dachshund as the handle. I still use it any time I make an omelet.

Maia is sitting next to me when her phone chimes. She opens it, types something out, locks it, and hops off the couch. She walks quickly out the front door, shutting it behind her. I stare, wondering what the hell she’s doing when the door opens again and she comes walking back in.

I nearly die right here on this couch when Zane Moore walks into my family Christmas gathering. I stare, wide-eyed, at Maia with Zane in tow. I have no words. Everyone starts to turn their head in Maia’s direction as she walks into the living room with Zane right behind her.

“Oh, Maia. I didn’t realize you were bringing someone with you this year,” Aunt Cindy says, standing up to greet Zane like the wonderful host that she is.

“I’m not. This is Zane, Dayra’s… boss.”

I’m going to kill her. I’m going to strangle her right here with all of these witnesses. The entire room is staring at me.

“Oh…” Aunt Cindy says, an awkward silence filling the room.

I stand from my seat at the couch and shoot daggers at Maia. I walk over to Zane and say loud enough for everyone to hear, “Can I talk to you outside?”

He nods with a stupid grin on his face. He’s so amused with himself that he’s snuck into my family Christmas. God, I’m going to kill both of them.

“When you’re done, come back inside! Both of you!” Uncle Ken yells from across the room as I close the door behind us. We sit on the front porch and Reese Piecie jumps into his lap. Jesus. Iseveryone on team Zane?

“Listen,” he says, rubbing his hands together. I look at him, really look at him for the first time in a few days. He looks tired, but his eyes are alight with joy as he looks back at me. He’s wearing a green Christmas sweater with white deer on the frontand a pair of blue jeans. He looksreallygood in them, too. I’m not used to seeing him in anything but a suit.

“I’m listening,” I say, offering him a smirk.

“I almost lost my mind when you blocked me and I couldn’t get through to you. I was terrified you weren’t going to have anything to do with me anymore and that you’d do something drastic and crazy, like quit without a notice and disappear off the face of the Earth. And I was terrified of what that would have done tome. I think you would’ve made a mad man out of me. I didn’t do what you think I did. I wouldneverdo that to you. Or anyone else, for that matter. It’s not who I am. It’s not in my DNA. I physically would not be able to. I’m yours, Dayra. I don’t know how it happened, but it did and I’m not afraid to admit it.”

I listen intently with tears welling in my eyes at his words. I think that’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.

“I—I don’t know what to say. You scare me, Zane. Everything about you terrifies the absolute shit out of me. You make me feelsomany things I never though possible and I don’t know what to do with those feelings.”

“Just feel them, baby. Know that I will be here for every single one of them, no matter what. I’m in this for the long haul with you, no matter how much you hate me,” he says, winking at me.

“Oh, and it’s so much. You sure you can handle that?” I tease, lightening the mood.

He nods, leaning in close. He hooks a finger under my chin, lifting my lips to his. He kisses me gently and then presses a soft kiss to the center of my forehead.

“Come on. I guess we’re just diving off into the deep end with you meeting my family before I even know your middle name.”

He stands and walks behind me to the door. “Warren.”

I whip my ahead around and look at him. “Warren?”

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