Page 35 of A Game-Changing Christmas

Chapter Ten

Monday December 10th

“Babe, are you coming to bed?”

Lance stood in front of the living room window with a hand propped against the seal as a glimmer of light from the moon spilled through the space. It was three a.m., and missing his warm body, Allison sought to find him.

She crept down the carpeted corridor, past a bathroom, and down the spiral staircase to find Lance staring quietly into the night.

Since the urgent morning meeting in the middle of last week, Lance hadn’t been his usual upbeat self. But, every time Allison questioned him about it, he would shake it off and immediately change the subject.

Now, he was absent from bed, and to say Allison was worried was an understatement.

“I thought you were asleep,” he said.

“I … was, but it appears I can’t stay that way.”

He kept his back to her, and silence stretched throughout the room.

“Are you having second thoughts about the wedding?”

Her voice was low and discreet, but Lance heard her words. He turned around, dropping his hand from the window and strolled across to stand before her.

“Come here.” He pulled her into the warm cocoon of his strong bare arms, and she lifted her chin to a kiss on her nose and lips.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “My mood has nothing to do with us. I would never ask you to marry me if I wasn’t sure. I love you, beauty. I never meant to make you feel as if I am having second thoughts about us. I’ll never neglect you again.”

Allison’s heart soared with relief, a tear crept out of her eye, and she rushed to wipe it away, but Lance kissed the spot where it had spilled.

“Please tell me what’s wrong. I can’t stand seeing you like this.”

Lance sighed and nodded, then slipped his hand into hers and led Allison to sit on the Luxdeco Berwick sofa.

“Last week, I spoke about a possible confrontation I might have with an old friend.”

“Yeah.” She tightened the grip on his hand to edge him forward. “Did you approach him?”

“Something like that.”

Allison’s questionable look made him drop his gaze.

“Apparently, our relationship is too far broken to mend.” He lifted his head to her, reclaiming their connection.

“It’s my fault.” He glanced at the window seal. “I should’ve reached out sooner.”

Allison rubbed his hands. “Are you sure there’s no way to save the friendship?”

Lance didn’t respond; instead, he wrapped Allison in the coil of his arms and pulled her into his torso from behind.

Dropping his lips to her ear, he whispered, “Let’s go to bed. I’m sorry for keeping you awake.”

Allison sighed. “Are you sure there’s no way to save the friendship,” she asked again, refusing to drop the subject.

Lance pushed a kiss against her ear. “Anything’s possible I suppose, but not likely.”

Allison offered him a look of empathy.

“The only way it’s too late is if the person is no longer among the living. So, I would say, while you may have lost a lot of time, and anger is still very much alive in your situation, it can still be rectified. Would you tell me who this person is?”

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