Page 105 of Must Love Christmas

“Sorry,” Garen told Simon as he backed away toward the bar. “I’ll see you at home, okay?”

Simon’s ride-hailing app beeped with an update. His car was now two minutes away.

His finger hovered over the Edit Ride button as he considered canceling the trip. But he didn’t know how long it would take to get another wheelchair-friendly driver.

Besides, what could he and Garen say to each other right now that wouldn’t make things worse?

Too tired to think straight, Simon pushed his wheelchair to the front door and left the rink.

Chapter 22

It was nearlymidnight by the time Garen arrived home. Simon’s bedroom door was shut, and no light shone through the crack beneath. Garen knew he was here, thanks to their terse text message exchange:

Simon: Home

Garen: ok

He wobbled as he walked down the dark hallway, still slightly blootered after a long broomstacking. The bonspiel had been a smash, despite the puddles of spilled lager and his absolute balls-up of the draw—which he’d fixed without Luca’s help—and it seemed as though every curler had bought Garen a drink to celebrate the success.

Now that the pretend-happy drinking was over, it was time to start the genuine-sad drinking.

Garen went into the kitchen and found a series of sticky notes on the worktop, comprising a letter from Simon:

G,

I’ve decided to go home tomorrow so I can see my parents

He picked up the next sticky note, where Simon’s shaky handwriting was even harder to read:

before they fly to Greece. Will stay in L’pool for 2 wks to spend hols w/friends & other family there. If you could

Garen read the third note, the final words crammed against the bottom margin:

look after Poppy, I’d be ever so grateful. We can talk in the a.m. if you like, but tonight I think it’s best we give each other space. - S.

His heart racing, Garen reread the notes, hoping he’d misunderstood. Simon was to be gone for two weeks, so there’d be no Christmas with him…no kissing under the mistletoe at the Christmas Eve–Eve party, no cuddling in front of the fake Christmas fireplace, no Greek Christmas bread or melomakarona Christmas cookies…

Was this the end of them? He scanned the sticky-note letter a third time, trying to read between the lines. If they were still together, why would Simon want to spend the holiday away from him?

His phone buzzed in his pocket. He yanked it out, hoping it was Simon inviting him into his room.

Karen: Home yet?

“Shit.” He’d totally forgotten she’d wanted to Skype.

Garen: Can it wait until tomorrow?

Karen: It’s about Christmas

Garen: Just a sec

He grabbed a beer and headed back to his room.

“You okay?” Karen asked when their connection went through. “You look tired.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “Long day at the charity event. Now what’s so important you canceled your glamorous Saturday night plans to video-chat your brother?”

“I wanted to let you know…” She tapped her palms together. “Nikolaj said he’d love to come home with me for Christmas. Isn’t that great? It’ll be the four of us.”

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