Page 7 of Worth the Wait

My heart told me that it was Patrick.

My brain told me that I’d deserve the loss if it were true.

NO REST FOR THE BROKENHEARTED

PATRICK

Most people looked forward to the holidays and a little time off from their day-to-day routine, but not me. I thrived in my schedule. Needed it. Work was the only thing that helped my mind stay occupied. As long as I was busy building, sketching, or planning, I wasn’t obsessively missing Addi or wondering what she was doing at that exact moment.

Days were my reprieve. Nights were the hardest. Whenever my mind was too calm, the thoughts crept in… quickly followed by a sharp pain. I couldn’t do anything to distract myself then.

It had almost been four years, and nothing seemed to lessen. Not the missing her. Not the wanting her. Not the belief that we were supposed to be together.

I reached for my baseball hat and pulled it off, wiping at my brow. It was cold as shit outside, but I’d worked up a sweat anyway. My dog, Jasper, whined at my feet, as if sensing my sorrow somehow.

“Hey, boy.”

I squatted so I could reach his head and give him a pat. He leaned into my hand as I scratched behind his ears.

I swore this dog had saved me. He’d come into my life out of nowhere, and I’d had no idea at the time how much I needed his companionship. He was my new best friend. One I was pretty damn sure wouldn’t relocate and pretend I never existed.

Jasper and I were the new dynamic duo. I took him everywhere I went, which my brothers loved to make fun of. But it made Clara happy. And as long as my niece approved, everyone else could screw off.

My cell phone pinged out a text notification, and I reached for it, wondering which one of my brothers was texting me. They were basically the only people I talked to outside of work, and since it was my personal phone that was going off, I knew it was one of them. Or my dad.

Get down to Mountain Jewels.

Matthew.

Why the hell are you at the jewelry store?

Matthew was a player. I couldn’t even think of a single situation that would have him at the jewelry store, buying something for someone. Unless it was for our niece. Then, I’d need to step up my Christmas gift game this year. I couldn’t stand the thought of Clara liking Matthew more than she liked me. I was her favorite uncle, and I planned on keeping it that way. I’d built her a room at my house and everything.

Thomas, idiot. He’s ring shopping. Needs us. Just get down here. I know you’re not doing anything else.

Some of us actually work, jackass.

Matthew handled all of the resort’s social media, and the guy took unbelievable photographs. But we all knew he was miserable about it. He used to play professional hockey until he got hurt. He could have stayed in the league, but once he’d realized he’d never quite be the same, he didn’t want to keep taking money from the team when it could go to getting other players. So, he retired early, and I thought he’d hated himself a little bit ever since.

None of us really knew because he refused to talk about it. Even though the little shit got off on dissecting our personal lives. He was super opinionated whenever it came to me and Thomas, but try to get him to dive deep about himself, and he’d grab a beer and clam right up.

Don’t get me started. Bring your dog and get over here.

On my way.

“Guess we’re going to look at rings, Jasper,” I said to my dog as I packed a few things up and unplugged the equipment I’d been using.

His tail started wagging, and he came to stand right at my side, the way he always did.

Main Street was all done up for the holidays, with red bows and garland around each post and pole, just like I’d done at my own home. Addi always loved this time of year. Nothing had made her happier than going around Sugar Mountain and looking at all the decorations. And nothing had made me happier than going with her and watching her face light up as she took it all in like it was the first time instead of the twentieth.

Addison had loved our family resort the most. Not that I could blame her. The hotel always had the best decor. Although this year had been tainted a little since Clara had followed said decor right out the back door and into the snow, where she’d gotten lost.

But we were putting that behind us. At least, we were all trying.

Christmas was supposed to be a happy time. So, why did it seem to hurt so damn much?

I drove until I found a parking spot in front of Mountain Jewels, which was also a pawn shop, and wondered who was watching out for me in order to make that miracle happen. So, when I spotted Matthew standinginthe spot, blocking anyone else from parking there, I realized it had been him.

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