Page 31 of The Christmas List

Which is funny as hell, but I’m never going to admit that out loud.

“Yeah, that’s theHome Alonehouse if Marv and Harry werepimps, sis,” he scoffs.

Motherfucker.

Josie goes deathly still, her jaw set in a firm, tense line. I’m unsure of what’s going to happen next mostly because, well, my daughter’s present, and as sweet and gentle as my Josie girl is, she has her spitfire moments, and this sure as hell seems like one.

Finally, after the longest, most uncomfortable silence in the history of Christmas, Josie smiles. A wide grin that overtakes her entire face. “You know, Jensen… This is a family Christmasactivity, so I’m going to refrain from saying what I’m thinking of saying, but I think now is as good of a time as any to tell Mom and Dad about yournewgirlfriend.”

Jensen’s eyes widen, and I watch as he visibly gulps.

“Jensen Pearce, new girlfriend? You have a new girlfriend that you didn’t tell us about? You know I’ve been telling you that I’m not getting any younger, and as the oldest of my boys, I hoped you’d settle down soon and give me some grandkids, and this whole time, you’ve been seeing someone… in secret?” Mrs. Pearce says with surprise written on her face. She brings a hand to her heart and clutches it.

“Ma, I’m sor—” he starts, but Josie cuts him off with a saccharine grin.

“Oh, and did I mention his newoldergirlfriend?”

Shots fired.

“Josie, God d—” he begins, but Josie throws a piece of gingerbread at him, where it lands with a splat on the front of his shirt. Promptly cutting him off.

“Itoldyou to stop cursing in front of Lucy!” she says.

He shakes his head. “I wasn’t going to fu— Her ears are still covered!”

I’m watching the exchange between both of them alongside Jackson and Emma, who are both holding back their laughter, shaking their heads.

“Can I uncover my ears now?” Lucy says, and we all lose it. The breaking point of the chaos is my daughter, and it’s the perfect icebreaker for the tension between Jensen and Josie.

She has zero idea what’s going on, but she joins in with the laughter until Jameson scoops her off her feet and holds her in the air like an airplane as he runs around the kitchen.

And it’s right now that I realize how important this moment is, both for me and Lucy. How much we fit in with the Pearcefamily and how right it feels to be here again with Josie at my side along with my daughter.

It feels like this year is going to be the best Christmas I’ve ever had.

Both of us at home in Strawberry Hollow.

With Josie.

10

josie

Ihonestly can’t evenrememberthe last time I went on a date. An actual date that wasn’t at the hands of my mother, trying yet again to set me up with one of the poor, unsuspecting guys from town.

Which makes me even more nervous about tonight.

Both that it’s been forever since I’ve been on one and because I’m going on a date withWyatt.

An official,realdate. For the first time since we were teenagers.

Or a holidate, as he’s calling it, since Christmas is less than two weeks away.

I have absolutely no idea what he has planned, and that does nothing to help the swirl of nerves dancing in the pit of my stomach. He just said to dress warm, which probably means that whatever we’re going to be doing is something outdoors.

Truthfully, the last few days have seemed like a dream. A dream that I’m terrified if I hold on too tightly, it’ll disappear like a cloud of smoke within my grasp.

I’ve been asking myself the same questions over and over, somehow expecting the answer to magically come to me like aChristmas miracle:Could I give my heart to Wyatt again? After everything we’ve been through? Could I chance being hurt by the man who has more power than anyone has ever held over my heart? Will it last this time?

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