Page 28 of Storybook Christmas

“No thanks, Finn. I appreciate the offer. Really.” I look down, fighting to keep any more tears from falling. “But I just want to go home.”

“Fair enough. You wanna share an Uber?”

“Sure.”

As we walk to the curb, I say, “I just can’t believe it.Annabelle. She’s got Joshua. She’s got the ring. And probably, from her conversation with her dad that day in the conference room, the vacation, too.” I hesitate, my mind working overtime to put my feelings into words. “I just thought the spark had faded between us when Joshua got promoted and I didn’t. I thought if I had more success, he’d look at me like he used to.” My voice trembles when I say, “How could I have been so stupid?”

Finn’s eyes are shiny, sympathetic. “You’re not stupid, Lacy. Joshua betrayed you. He’s the stupid one.”

I plunge on. “I was never going to be good enough.”

“Only because it wasn’t about your success. Or you, for that matter.” Finn’s tone is soothing, kind.

But right now, I’m beyond soothing. “Joshua wanted something else entirely. Something shiny.”

“And shallow. Like he is.”

Maybe Finn’s right, but I can’t process that now. I’m too hurt, and my emotions are in charge. “It’s the holidays. My favorite time of the year. Joshua and I were supposed to be having a romantic trip to Paris. Instead, he’s with her. And I’m alone.”

Finn squeezes his lips together, shrugging. There’s an edge to his tone when he says, “I’m here.”

I tap my shoe on the curb, then I force myself to stop as I study him. Hurt’s etched across his face.

His emerald eyes have gone stony, desperate, as he stares me down. “Why not me, Lacy?”

His words pierce me, in my hurt place, and my face crumples. I’m desperate to think of the right words to say, but I can’t think of any—not ones that won’t crush him, anyway. It all feels like too much, and I blurt, “I don’t even know you.”

His face drops. “I know it hasn’t been long, but youdoknow me.”

“Do I?” I lick my lips and realize they’ve gone numb in the cold. “You have this whole separate life that I’m not a part of. A life where you’re around scores of women who touch you, swoon for you. Maybe it shouldn’t bother me, but it does. I have no idea what happens.”

He nods, his jaw clenching. “What happens is I do what I’ve been paid to do—I take off my clothes, then I go home. From myjob—which covers the bills stacking up.”

What bills can Finn have? He’s a young, single man who drives a beat-up Honda and lives with his grandmother. Is Finn irresponsible with credit cards?

Yet another thing I don’t know about him, and another thing that could be a deal-breaker.

“It’s my work, not who I am, Lacy.” He looks away, and when he looks back, his face twists in anguish.

“I can’t handle it.” My heart squeezes like it’s in a vise, and I shiver harder.

He stands quietly as he clenches and unclenches his jaw. His tone is lifeless when he finally says, “I get that. It’s an impossible ask.”

My Uber pulls up, and Finn approaches it, opening the back door before ushering me inside. “Go ahead. I think I’m gonna walk for a while.”

My stomach roiling, I slide into the backseat. I don’t know what else to say to Finn, or what to do. I’m in complete overload, and I can’t process anything more. Not tonight.

Finn shuts the door, and the driver hits the gas.

12

The Visitor

AS I’M RIDINGin the Uber, my phone buzzes, and I look to see that it’s Sage Katz, the author of Fireflies Save Christmas, calling. I have to take it.

“Hey, Sage,” I answer.

“Lacy.” Her tone’s off.

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