Page 39 of Snowed In With the PUCK

“Those cookies are looking good!” Laura says with a grin, before glancing at the tree. “Wow, that’s a huge tree.”

“Yeah, Bill went all out this year,” I say, trying to sound casual. But the truth is, I can’t help but feel like it’sourtree—mine and Eric’s—because we’ve been sharing this house together. Decorating it without him feels… wrong.

“Let’s get to decorating!” Kathy says, clapping her hands together. “It’ll be fun.”

The three of us move to the living room, where boxes of ornaments are waiting. Kathy hums Christmas tunes while she pulls out delicate glass ornaments, Laura adds garlands, and I arrange a few strings of twinkling lights. The room starts to transform into something that resembles Christmas magic. I should be happy, but a weight presses down on my chest, making it hard to fully enjoy the moment.

After we’ve strung the lights and hung half the ornaments, Laura glances at me, her expression shifting to something more serious. She’s my best friend. She knows when something’s up.

“So…” she begins, her voice light but probing. “You’re really quiet today, Jess. Everything okay?”

I knew this was coming. Laura always sees through me. I open my mouth, about to deflect with some lame excuse, but before I can, she interrupts me.

“I mean, I know something’s up.” Her eyes lock on mine. “But, uh, before we get into that, I’ve got some news of my own.”

I raise an eyebrow, curious now. “Oh?”

She grins, glancing at Kathy, who looks just as confused as I feel. “I was going to wait until later, but… well, I can’t hold it in any longer.” She reaches into her purse, pulls out a little velvet box, and then slips a huge glittering diamond ring on her finger like it’s hers. I blink. Is it hers? Is she…? Laura holds up her left hand, and there it is in all its glory. A sparkling diamond engagement ring that catches the light, shimmering like it’s showing off.

I freeze, my heart doing an odd little flip. Is this real?Engaged?I gasp, staring at the ring as my brain scrambles to catch up.

“Wait, what?!” Kathy exclaims, rushing over to grab her daughter’s hand. “When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Laura laughs, looking sheepish. “Right before I left for Colorado. I wanted to surprise you both.”

Kathy pulls her into a tight hug, her face lighting up with pure joy. “Oh, honey! I’m so happy for you! I can’t believe you kept this a secret! He’s a great guy! Oh, this is just wonderful!”

I force a smile, my chest tightening as I watch the mother-daughter moment unfold in front of me. Iamhappy for her—truly. Laura deserves all the happiness in the world. But as I stand there, watching them, a deep ache builds inside me.

Laura’s moving forward. She’s getting married, starting this beautiful new chapter in her life. And me? I’m still stuck. Stuck in a fake relationship, stuck in a job that feels like it’s slipping away, and stuck with a dad who’d rather marry a woman half his age than deal with his daughter’s emotional baggage.

Why does it feel like everyone else’s life is moving ahead except mine?

“Congratulations, Laura,” I finally say, stepping forward to hug her. “I’m so happy for you.”

She beams at me, but something in her gaze softens, like she sees past my words. She knows me too well. “Thanks, Jess.”

We finish decorating the tree, the mood lighter with Kathy and Laura chattering about wedding plans. But even as I hang ornaments and smile in the right places, I can’t shake the feeling of being left behind.

Eric’s gone. I’ve pushed him away—maybe for good this time. And I’ve got no one to blame but myself. Laura’s moving into the next phase of her life, and I can’t help but feel like I’m on the outside looking in. Hell, even my dad is moving on, planning a new life with his latest girlfriend, while I’m stuck trying to keep the pieces of my life from falling apart.

The tree sparkles in the corner of the room, its lights glowing softly against the darkening sky outside. It’s beautiful. But it doesn’t feel like Christmas.

Not without Eric.

And definitely not with this ache in my chest, reminding me that I’m always the one left behind.

Will it ever be my turn to have something good? Something real?

Chapter nineteen

Eric

Isit in theprivate lounge at Denver International Airport, my phone gripped tightly in my hand as I stare at the screen. The website for the rehab center in Vegas glares back at me, the words swimming in front of my eyes.Sunrise Rehabilitation Center.

The name of the place seems so… ordinary. For something that feels like it’s going to change my entire life, I thought it would feel more significant. But it’s just a rehab center. Just a building in a city full of them. And yet, it could be the place where my mom works. The mom I’ve spent my entire life thinking was dead. The mom who abandoned me. The mom I’ve only known through the lies my grandparents told me.

I swallow hard, my throat tight. I should be relieved. I should feel… something other than this tangled mess of emotions. Butall I feel is confusion. And anger. And the deep, gnawing ache of abandonment that I’ve carried for as long as I can remember.

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