Page 24 of My Secret Santa Daddies

But the words feel heavy, weighed down by all the things I can’t say, all the things I’ve never let myself feel. And just as I’m trying to steady my breath, I see movement from across the room.

Griffin.

He’s making his way through the crowd, searching for Jack. His gaze sweeps the diner, and then it locks on me.

Our eyes meet, and for a moment, everything else disappears. The noise, the chatter, the lights—it all fades, leaving just the two of us.

Jack’s father. My past. My heart.

Griffin’s eyes widen with recognition, shock and something else I can’t quite read. He starts to make his way over, dodging through the crowd.

But I can't do this. I can't face him now, not here, not in front of everyone. Not when my emotions are so raw, and my heart is hanging by a thread.

"Jack!" I say, my voice louder than intended. "I think your dad's looking for you."

He turns around and spots his father, waving enthusiastically before turning back to me with a grin. "Thanks for sitting with me, Sierra! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Jack," I manage to say as he darts off towards his dad.

I watch them go, my heart pounding in my chest as Griffin scoops him up in a tight hug, but before I can duck out, the ding of a bell echoes and there’s Betty fucking Thompson standing on a chair, staring straight at me.

“Everyone, the drawing is about to start. Sierra, will you come to do the honors of holding Santa’s hat?”

My cheeks flush as the entire diner stares at me, waiting. And I know is there's no way out. Not now.

Shit.

My heart’s pounding in my chest as Betty’s voice cuts through the noise, singling me out. Of course. Of all the people in this diner, she had to pick me.

“Come on, Sierra! Get up there, honey,” Laura Benor calls to me, waving me over with that bright, knowing smile of hers. Everyone’s watching now. The warm hum of conversation has turned into a low murmur as all eyes shift in my direction.

I don’t have time to think about how to escape. The only option is to move, to pretend like this is no big deal, like my heart isn’t about to jump out of my chest. I push myself up from thebooth and make my way over to Betty, plastering a smile on my face that feels tight, and forced.

“Here you go, sweetheart,” Betty says, pressing the oversized, red velvet Santa hat into my hands. “You hold the hat for the drawing!”

I swallow hard, taking the hat from her. The room feels too warm, too close. All I can think about is how Griffin’s eyes are probably still on me, how the entire diner is waiting for me to pull a name, to play along in this little holiday tradition like nothing’s wrong. Like I’m not seconds away from a full blown meltdown.

“Since Sierra’s doing the honor of holding Santa’s hat. She get’s to go first. Then Mayor Gregory.”

I reach into the hat, my fingers brushing against the folded pieces of paper inside, each one bearing the name of someone in town. I pull one out and unfold it, my eyes scanning the name written in bold, black ink.

Griffin.

Of course. It couldn’t have been anyone else. Not when I’ve spent all this time avoiding him, avoiding everything about the past.

I glance toward the booth where Jack is now sitting with Griffin, laughing, completely oblivious to the tension simmering beneath the surface. Griffin’s eyes catch mine for a brief moment, something unreadable flashes across his face. I turn away before I can get lost in it.

I need to breathe. I need to get out of here.

But there’s no escape, not now. Not with Griffin’s name burning in my pocket, reminding me that no matter how hard I try to outrun the past, it always finds its way back to me.

8

GRIFFIN

Isit in the corner of Millie’s Diner, Jack nestled against me, munching on a sugar cookie that’s already crumbling into a mess on his lap.

My eyes keep drifting to Sierra as she stands near the front of the diner, clutching that red hat on the small stage. Her shoulders are stiff, her gaze avoiding mine at all costs. She’s always had that wall, but it feels even higher now, thicker, like all the years apart have only solidified the barrier between us.

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