Page 43 of If You Give a CEO a Chance

Fallon: Life is short. What’s worse, risking it or later regretting you never took the chance?

Lila: Don’t you have a hockey stick to bedazzle?

Fallon: I couldn’t decide between red rhinestones or silver glitter for the finishing touch.

Fallon: I think I’ll use both.

Lila: Am I going to have to fly out there and intervene when Harrison gets back?

Fallon: I can handle him on my own, thank you very much.

Lila: You’re not the one I’m worried about.

Fallon: Ha. Ha. Very funny.

Lila: I’m going to finish decorating for the wedding, but we’ll chat later, okay?

Fallon: You can count on it.

I set my phone on the counter and go back to the dining room, admiring my work on the bedazzled hockey stick so far. It’s turning out much better than I could have hoped for. Will Harrison be furious when he gets home? I’m counting on it. That’s what he gets for saddling me with his cat from hell.

The past week in Aspen Grove with my family has been great. We don’t often get the chance to all be together, so the holidays are extra special when we’re under the same roof. The only problem is I haven’t been able to get Fallon out of my head. Whether I’m caught up in family activities or working in my dad’s home office, I find myself wondering what she’s doing at that particular moment.

I’ve gone as far as texting her a couple of times. A few days ago, I asked for her gluten-free gingerbread recipe when my mom was looking for one, and yesterday, I asked for her advice on the best way to sear a steak—never mind that I’ve done it plenty of times before.

Now, after a long morning holed up in my dad’s home office on back-to-back meetings, I’m unable to resist texting her again.

Harrison: Don’t tell my mom, but your lasagna beats hers, hands down.

Fallon: Your secret is safe with me.

Fallon: How’s your trip going?

Harrison: Good. My family goes all out for the holidays, so there’s never a dull moment.

Fallon: Not working too hard, are you?

Harrison: Who, me? Never.

Harrison: Have any plans for Christmas?

Fallon: Catering a brunch in Brooklyn and a Christmas dinner on the Upper East Side.

My stomach churns. I shouldn’t feel guilty, but the idea of Fallon being alone in my apartment for the holidays gnaws at me. I’m fortunate to have a close-knit family, and it makes this time of year that much more magical. No one should have to be alone for Christmas, not even Fallon.

Ready for a distraction, I head to my parents’ kitchen to join in on our yearly cookie decorating tradition. There are bowls of icing on the table in every color, a variety of edible glitter per Lola’s request, and candy cane pieces. I’m not a fan of glitter since it makes such a mess, but it’s all about spending time as a family. And if Lola’s happy, we all are.

My mom stands by the oven, taking out a fresh batch of cookies and slides them onto a cooling rack.

I notice a container of gluten-free ones she’s set aside for me. Since I was diagnosed with celiac disease, she’s gone out of her way to make sure all of my meals are cooked with separate utensils and cookware, careful to avoid any traces of gluten.She also has a cabinet dedicated to gluten-free foods, labeling everything clearly to avoid any mix-ups. It makes it so much easier to visit, not having to second-guess whether the food is safe to eat.

I step closer, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. “It smells good in here. What can I do?”

She glances at me with a smile. “Go help your siblings with decorating. We’ve got twelve dozen cookies to decorate and less than two hours before we have to start delivering them.”

I nod. “Sure thing.”

It’s her way of making sure we spend every possible moment together when we’re all in town.

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