Page 171 of Ewan

“Oh…” she says, excited. “Are you having guests?”

Her eyes glint as if she’s hinting at Ewan.

“I don’t know yet,” I say, offering a lie.

The truth is we didn’t make plans for tonight.

Christmas Eve is a good time to be with your family. And I’m not his family.

We pulled away from each other without the promise of a call or a new date.

It was like we both accepted the idea that we needed to take a break over the holidays.

So I don’t know what’s gonna happen next.

Anything can happen.

Maybe I’ll see him next week.

Maybe I won’t.

Minutes later, I excuse myself and return to my place.

I spend an hour putting up my tree––yes, I decided to do it anyway––and decorate my house.

The sun starts to descend toward the horizon when I head to the bathroom and take a shower.

Wrapped in my bathroom, and wearing my slippers I return to the living room and admire the results of my work.

It looks great. It really does.

Still contemplating how I could make my place look even nicer, I almost miss the sound of a car honking outside.

The second time I hear it, I glance out the window, intrigued. A truck pulls up in front of my house, and I have to pinch myself.

It looks like his truck, but it can’t be him.

Letting the engine running, he climbs out.

I think he knows I’m staring at him right now.

Why else would he wear a knowing smile?

I move to the door and open it for him. My stare goes down. He wears nice clothes like he’s about to go out, and I’m convinced he’s stopped by at my house for some weird reason before going someplace else.

“Hey, baby,” he says, leaning in and placing a kiss on my lips.

I can’t move, I’m so surprised.

“What are you doing here?” I ask quietly.

He wears a secret smile.

“Go pack your bags. I’ll take you someplace nice.”

“Where?”

“You’ll see.”

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