Page 19 of The Christmas Letters
“Hell yeah,” he says. “I’m Preston Vanderhorst. Do you know how many women would kill to marry me?”
I roll my eyes at his teasing. Well, hisalmostteasing. I know Preston well enough to know a part of him is absolutely serious. He’s also right. Therearea lot of women who would kill to marry him.
“What I’m saying is I hope this works for you, Tess. I hope you find the life you’re looking for, and I appreciate you sparing me an expensive divorce in the future.”
An image of Drew pops into my mind. Maybe because he’s the last man with whom I had a conversation, and the first man I’ve felt any attraction for since Preston. Maybe because the image of his bright blue eyes hasn’t left my mind all day. Maybe because despite my initial embarrassment, meeting him filled me with a hope I’ve been missing the past few months. Not that I’ll have a relationship with him—though I’m definitely on board with that—but just that I’ll have a relationship withanyone.
A spark of excitement lights in my belly, and I can’t keep from smiling.
Preston’s lips lift in a small smile. “What’s that look for?”
I quickly shift my expression into something more neutral. “Nothing. I’m just…I’m glad I ran into you. I want you to be happy too, Preston.”
“Good. I’m glad we agree.” He holds out his hand. “Friends?”
I slip my hand into his. “Is it going to be weird?”
“Yes,” he says. “But you’re Chloe’s best friend, and Deacon’s mine. I’m willing to make the most of it if you are.”
“I’m definitely willing,” I say. I breathe out a sigh, a sense of peace I didn’t know I was missing filling me up, pressing out to my fingertips and down to my toes.
We head inside together, finding Chloe and Deacon pressed up against the front window, where they’ve clearly been watching us. We all laugh about it before the brothers do as promised and disappear into Deacon’s office to work.
Chloe levels me with a long look, her hands propped on my shoulders. “So this feels pretty significant,” she says. “How do you feel?”
I smile, the peace from moments before steadying me, filling me with confidence, making me bold. “Ready to move on,” I say.
Now I just have to hope Drew calls.
Chapter Five
Drew
Ipauseoutsidetheemergency room doors of the hospital and stretch. After back-to-back shifts, I am beyond exhausted. My muscles are tight with tension, but after several difficult calls on our shift today, I’m also tapped out emotionally.
Ben walks up behind me and claps me on the back before heading toward the ambulance. “Long day.”
I barely muster a nod. “I’m beat.”
“You have a few days off now, yeah?”
I push a hand through my hair. “Yeah. I’m off till Friday—”
My words cut off when Ben nudges me, pointing toward the sidewalk leading into the ER. “Hey, isn’t that the woman we saved last week? From the bathroom stall?”
On impulse, I duck behind the rig, pulling Ben down with me. I practically knock him over in the process, and he yanks his arm away just in time to stop himself from face-planting onto the pavement. “Seriously?” he says when he’s steady on his feet, crouched next to the rig’s front tire beside me.
“Sorry. Gut reaction.”
“Your gut reaction was to hide? Why? I thought she was totally into you.”
I glance around the back of the rig at the group of women Tess is walking with, unsurprised to see the familiar scarves the Southern Society women always wear.
Ben follows my gaze. “What do you think she’s doing here?”
“Volunteering,” I answer. “Those women are from the Southern Society.”
“How do you even know that?”
