Page 7 of Snowed In With The Second Chance Daddy

She is my ultimate weakness. I wasn’t going to say no to seeing Rose.

And I don’t like going home for the holidays, even if only to see my brother. Besides, the Hawthorns do Christmas like no other. A whole week of events leading up to the big day.

I didn’t need to ask if Trevor would be coming to all the Christmas festivities. I knew he would be. And even though I want nothing to do with him, there’s a small part of me that wants to see him again. Just to know what it feels like to be in the same room.

Will I feel as angry as I did walking out of our apartment with my bag packed? Or will I wonder why I ever left?

Only way to know is to do it.

So here I am, dismounting my rented Harley in front of the Hawthorn mansion.

“Violet!” Red calls out, Rose on her hip.

Violet is my gamer handle. A little confusing for those who know me IRL and online, but I never thought the girl I played Call of Duty years ago in my brother’s basement would be my best friend.

I rush up the steps to embrace Red and my goddaughter. “I’m so happy to see you!”

Rose burbles a bunch of words, grabbing at my hair. “Blue!”

“Blue! Yes, do you like it?!” I kiss the baby on the top of her head, soft hair tickling my nose.

Red doesn’t let me out of her embrace. “How do you travel on amotorcycle?”

I am not proud, but I rented the motorcycle at the airport because I knew it would piss Trevor off. He was always freaked out by my riding them, so I backed off. It was nice to have someone worrying about me.

Now, though, he doesn’t worry, so I don’t have to care. “In the saddle bag, of course!”

Red rolls her eyes. “Oh, of course!”

Oliver steps in. “Hey, Iris!”

“Hey, big guy!” I hug my friend’s husband.

I’m then passed from person to person, all the Hawthorns welcoming me as if I was here just last weekend for family dinner.

When I started dating Trevor, I was integrated into the Hawthorn fold. Dinners, birthdays, parties, vacations. My social life became being part of a family that loved me.Me. And all that I am, not what they want me to be.

God, I’ve missed them.

By the time I make it to the final hug, Ash, who is looking grayer than the last time I saw him around the temples, I’m surprised there’s no Trevor.

“Love the hair, kiddo,” Ash says. “What do you think, Ives?”

Ivy pinches her lips, hands on hips, looking up at me. “I like it. I want blue hair.”

Ash and I both laugh.

I give the top of her head a ruffle. “Maybe when you’re older.”

“You arrived just in time. Dinner’s ready,” Ash says. “I made your favorite potatoes.”

“Youdidn’t.”

Ash grins. “It’s not every day our favorite person from Seattle comes to visit.”

I hold my smile in place, though his words cut through me. I’ve only been living in Seattle for six months.

Am Ifromthere now? I still feel like I’m from Chicago.

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