Page 46 of Fall Wherever They May

We have a policy in place here for fraternization. Everyone has to sign contracts with HR if they enter into a workplace relationship. Mine is just a little more extensive withme being in a position of power. There are clauses about abuse of power and so on. Teagan presented the stack to me after the incident with the paparazzi. She didn’t believe with one hundred percent certainty that nothing was going on between Cal and me. The papers are still sitting on my desk four months later.

“Mmhmm. I saw the way you got lost in that picture of him, but whatever you need to tell yourself to make you feel better. Look, everyone knows how close you two are, and not a single person in this organization would think anything of it if you two were officially together,” she says, as she saunters away to her office.

I collect my belongings from my desk, then make the jaunt through the snow-covered parking lot to my SUV. I’m just ready to get away from work and lose myself shopping in peace. I pull my cell from my purse and text Cal.

Me:What are your plans for Christmas?

Without waiting for a response, I toss the device back into my purse. Thirty minutes later, I’m pulling into a parking spot near the shops in the city. My phone chimes, and I retrieve it out of my purse to find a message from Cal.

Cal:I don’t have plans.

Me:Want to spend Christmas with us?

Cal:I can’t think of anything better.

Christmas is truly magical in New York: the hustle and bustle of people shopping, the decorations, the smells, the Christmas music pouring over the streets. Sleigh bells ring on a horse-drawn carriage, carrying a couple wrapped in each other’s arms. The woman giggles as the man buries his nose in her hair.I feel like an intruder; I can’t help but watch their sweet moment. A longing aches within me to have someone look at me the way he’s looking at her. Once they pass, the spell is broken. A woman stands on the street corner swinging a bell, so I grab a bill and drop it into her tin as I pass by.

“Merry Christmas,” the lady calls out.

I toss her a smile. “Merry Christmas.”

I’ve been mulling things over lately, deciding that now is as good of a time as any; I pull my phone from my purse to call my mom.

“Aspen, I’m so glad you called. Marcy and I both received the plane tickets yesterday. We can’t wait to see y’all.”

“That’s why I was calling, actually. I wanted to make sure everything was set.”

My mom and I have been talking since the whole paparazzi incident; it gave me a different perspective. I can relate to her. I would move Heaven and Earth to protect my child. I still don’t agree with their methods, but no one can go back and change the past, so I chose to forgive her and move on.

“I’m already packing. One whole week with my babies. I can’t wait,” she laughs.

“I’m excited too. Listen . . . I now have several investment properties; why don’t we look at them while you’re here? I would love for you to be closer.”

Mom stays silent for what feels like a few minutes, and I look at my phone to make sure it’s still connected. “Mom?” My brows furrow.

“Yes. I’m still here. That was just an unexpected question. Those are yours now, Honey. Why don’t you move into one of them yourself, or you could sell them off?”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t feel right to sell them, but I don’t want to live there either. I just want you close by, and I know Tucker misses his Mamaw. Our lease is up at the end of April, soI will have to make a move soon. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to look at them yet, but once you get here, we could look at them all and figure it out together.

“Sounds great, Baby. Whatever you need. I have nothing tying me down here.”

“Perfect. I can’t wait to see you, Mom. I miss you so much.”

Mom’s voice cracks. “Me too, sweetheart. I love you. Give River and Tucker my love.”

I enter a little boutique and glance around. “I will. I love you too. See you soon.”

I hang up the call and toss my phone back into my purse. Now, what do you buy for a man who has everything?

I’m pulling a ham from the oven and chatting with my mom and Marcy, River’s mom, when the front door opens. I hear the clear sound of boots stomping on the mat as the door closes. My lips curl into a smile.

“Merry Christmas!” Cal calls out.

I circle the kitchen island to greet and introduce him to my mother, but Tucker comes barreling down the stairs with Puck hot on his heels, stopping me in my tracks.

“Merry Christmas!” Tucker says, plowing into Cal.

I watch their interaction. Cal and Tucker do the whole bro hug thing, then bump fists. Cal is looking too sexy for his own good. A red Santa hat rests on his head. He has on a redhenley to match, which sculpts his big biceps and clings to his washboard abs. The jeans he’s wearing hug his muscular thighs and perfect ass. In his hand is a Santa bag full of gifts. I can’t control my body’s reaction to him. Heat pools in my abdomen. My mom is right behind me with Marcy at her side. I turn my head to look at them, and my mom raises one eyebrow while Marcy blatantly ogles Cal.

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