Page 9 of Christmas with Hope

My body felt like it was on fire. I ached to have his skin against mine. There wasn’t enough air in my lungs, and I gasped with each kiss Colton pressed against my neck.

The fire in my core was doused out whenLike a Virginstarted playing across the room. I busted out laughing and turned my head to the side so I wouldn’t laugh all over Colton.

“Ugh,” he groaned. “Perfect timing, mom.”

“You should get that,” I said, moving off of his lap. Laughter still escaped me.

Colton got up and walked across the room. He grabbed his phone.

“Yes, mom?” he said, answering the phone.

Ten minutes later, he was still on the phone. His mother was upset with him because he chose to go to the cabin to be with friends instead of going to her house. It made me sad to know that his mother was going to be alone for the holidays. No one should spend Christmas alone.

Chapter Five

When Colton hung up, nearly an hour later, he groaned.

“Sorry about that,” he looked at me apologetically.

“For what?” I asked, setting my phone down on the table. I had been playing games on it to kill the time while he chatted with his mom.

“She kind of interrupted things.” His look of defeat made me laugh.

“There are far worse things in the world, Colton,” I smiled.

“Barely,” he muttered, making me laugh.

“Relax. Everything happens for a reason.”

“Everything happens for a reason,” he repeated. “Do you really believe that?”

At first, I thought he was making fun of me. Then I realized he was genuinely curious. I could tell by the soft look on his face and the curiosity that filled his eyes.

“You don’t?” I retorted. He shrugged slightly then sat across from me. “There are so many things we could blame negative things on. However, I choose to think everything is meant to happen the way it happens. Like how you and I got tricked into being alone for a week,” I laughed softly, but nerves filled me as I spoke my last sentence.

“What reason do you think that is, Hope?” he asked, staring straight through my soul. Or at least that’s how his intense look made me feel.

“About us being here?” My voice was mouse-like. My fingers played with the hem of my shirt.

“Yes,” he said coolly. “Why do you think the universe crossed our paths?”

“Because my sister and brother-in-law are menacing cupids?” I teased, trying to hide my shyness.

“I’ll give you that,” Colton smiled. “Don’t think there is any other reason why we crossed paths? I mean, I’m always gone. I rarely take vacation time, yet, here I am sitting in a room with you.”

“It’s kind of funny though,” he continued, chuckling slightly. “I usually turn down Tim’s invitations to holiday gatherings. This year, something told me to accept it. And voila, here we are.”

It was ironic that he usually wouldn’t have agreed to spend the holidays with Stefanie and Tim. I guess it was more than menacing Stefanie and Tim to blame for Colton and my meeting each other.

“My trip was hell,” I admitted softly. Colton raised an eyebrow, making me laugh. “I just mean that getting here was one problem after the next. I debated on turning around at one point, but something nagged at me telling me to keep going. Honestly, I thought it was because of Stefanie and my niece. I’m not so sure now.”

My words had started strong but ended in a whisper. I wasn’t sure where the words even came from. They just flew out of my mouth without hesitation.

“I’m glad you didn’t turn around,” Colton smiled across the room at me.

“Me, too,” I whispered, smiling.

“Hopefully, our holiday will be magical.”

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