Page 53 of Meet Me on Christmas Eve

He shook his head, over and over. “I don’t … I don’tknow.This is insane, you know? People don’t really do things like this, do they? And my own sister … it’s impossible.”

“And yet …” I trailed off. I knew he just had to come to this on his own. If I tried to convince him, he’d want to defend her, and I’d be the bad guy. Maybe. Or maybe there was no other explanation.

“My dad wouldn’t have done this. Right? Oh crap, I don’t even know anymore.” He looked truly crushed. “Even if my dad was in on it, Blair would’ve probably known. Those two were thick as thieves.”

I hesitated before saying this, but it needed to be said. “Well, and there’s also the fact that she hated me. Your parents didn’t approve of me either.”

I couldn’t interpret the look on his face then. Maybe he wanted to defend his family, but he couldn’t. Not in this moment. His expression was devastated as he said, “I thought she liked you. But I guess you knew better. So … she had the motive.”

“It’s almost like a Caroline Bingley situation, but so much more devious. Maybe even illegal,” I said, more to myself than to him.

“Caroline who?”

I offered a slight smile. “Never mind. Fictional thing, another time.”

He nodded absently. “So what are we going to do?”

I winced. “Well,I’mnot going to do anything. She’s not my sister. I wouldn’t even know how to get in touch with her anyway. If you want to confront her, it’s up to you.”

“Damn right I’ll be confronting her. That’s putting it nicely.” But the sudden rage seemed to dissipate quickly, and he blew out a long breath. “I don’t see any possible way we can get over this, honestly. Unless there’s some misunderstanding that explains … but how likely is that?”

He looked so sad that I squeezed his shoulder lightly, and he eventually looked over at me. “So you really came for me on Christmas Eve, all those years ago?”

Moment of truth.

I took a deep breath. “I really did. Even though I’d heard nothing from you … for some reason, I still had a little stupid hope.”

“Hope isn’t stupid,” he said softly.

My breath hitched. “It’s not?”

He shook his head, his eyes wandering all over my face.

We were only inches apart, and I think one of us leaned in. Maybe both. Hips face, his lips, so close. His breath on my face. His eyes held mine, and nothing could’ve taken me away from him, from this moment. Nothing—

Except an irritating phone beep. I jumped back, placing my hand on my chest as my already fast heart rate seemed to double. Disoriented, I watched him fumble for his phone in his pocket and then unlock the screen.

He was silent for a moment as he read and then chuckled, wiping his brow. He typed something in response to the message and then turned it off and looked back at me.

I crossed my arms. “What was that?” I realized how I sounded. And yet … I had to know, dammit.

“Oh, just a text, wanting to see if I’m home tonight.”

My eyebrows must have floated up to my hairline. “Oh, really?”

He rolled his eyes. “Not that kind of text. It was Gram. Making sure I was safe at home from the snow.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Your grandma texts you at …” I looked down at my watch and widened my eyes. How had the time passed so quickly? “Midnight?”

“Well, sometimes. She’s a night owl. And it’s not just any night, it’s Christmas Eve.” He grinned.

I wasn’t sure whether to believe him, but I nodded warily. “OK, if you say so.”

“Mariana, I’m serious.” He picked up the phone again and unlocked it before holding it in front of my face. “See?”

I looked at the screen. It was indeed a text conversation with Gram. And she did indeed ask if he was safe from the blizzard. I had to laugh at that. “Blizzard, eh?”

He took the phone back. “She’s a bit dramatic at times.” He looked me in the eye then and turned to face me again. “Mariana, I wouldn’t lie to you. I have plenty of faults, but you can trust me not to lie to you at least.” He took a long breath in and out. “OK?”

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