Page 3 of Once Upon a Holiday Vacation
“Absolutely.” He grinned, flicking some soap suds at me. “We'll start new traditions. Maybe I'll even let you read me one of those boring classics you love so much.”
I gasped in mock offense, splashing him back. “Boring? I'll have you know thatA Christmas Carolis a timeless masterpiece!”
Weston laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that always made my stomach flip. “Alright, alright. I'll give it a chance. But only if you promise to go sledding with me.”
I hesitated, thinking of the last time he'd convinced me to go sledding. We'd ended up in a snowbank, tangled together, his face inches from mine. The memory still made my cheeks flush.
“Deal,” I said finally, trying to ignore the way my heart raced at the thought.
As we finished the dishes, a comfortable silence fell between us. I couldn't help but steal glances at him, admiring the way the soft kitchen light played across his features.
He was strong and lean, his muscles rippling beneath his fitted Henley as he dried the last of the dishes. The fabric clung to his broad shoulders and tapered waist, hinting at the toned body I knew lay underneath. His blond hair was tousled, as always, falling across his forehead in a way that made my fingers itch to brush it back.
The light caught on his lip ring, drawing my attention to his full, perfectly shaped lips. I quickly averted my gaze, only to find myself captivated by his sea-blue eyes. They were like the ocean after a storm—deep, intense, and ever-changing. Long lashes framed those mesmerizing eyes, casting shadows on his high cheekbones.
As he reached up to put away a glass, the neck of his shirt shifted slightly, revealing a sliver of tanned skin and the edge of the tattoo I knew was inked over his heart. I knew every detail of that tattoo, a black compass with the E and W in red ink. He'd gotten it on his eighteenth birthday, dragging me along to the tattoo parlor. “East and West,” he'd said with a grin. “So I'll always find my way back to you.”
The memory made my chest ache with longing. If only he knew how much those words meant to me, how often I'd replayed them in my mind.
“Hey!” His voice broke through my reverie. “Where'd you go just now?”
I blinked, realizing I'd been staring. “Oh, um, nowhere,” I stammered, feeling heat creep up my neck. “Just thinking about Christmas, I guess.”
His expression softened, a warm smile tugging at his lips. “It's gonna be great, East. I promise,” he said, his voice low and sincere. He stepped closer, resting a hand on my shoulder. The warmth of his touch seeped through my sweater, making my skin tingle. “I know it's not what we planned,” he continued, “but maybe this is our chance to make some new memories. Just us.”
My heart raced at his words. “Just us.” The possibilities swirled in my mind, equal parts thrilling and terrifying.
“Yeah,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. “That sounds... nice.”
He tilted his head, a devilish smirk lifting the corners of his mouth. “Nice? Come on, East. Do you trust me?”
I didn’t even have to think about my response. “Of course I do.”
“Good! Then leave all the planning to me. I promise this is going to be the best Christmas you’ve ever had.”
CHAPTER TWO
WESTON
I gripped my phone tightly,my heart racing as I dialed Easton's number. The ring echoed in my ear, each second stretching into eternity until I heard his soft “Hello?”
“East! Hey, buddy. Listen, are you free for lunch today? I've got something awesome to tell you.” I couldn't keep the excitement from my voice, practically bouncing on my toes as I waited for his response.
“Um, sure,” he replied, hesitation clear in his tone. “Is everything okay, West?”
I chuckled. “Everything's perfect. Meet me at Rosie's Diner in thirty minutes? I promise it'll be worth your while.”
“Alright, I'll be there.”
As I hung up, a grin spread across my face. I couldn't wait to see his reaction to my surprise. The cruise tickets burned a hole in my pocket, and I patted them absentmindedly, imagining us on the deck of a ship, surrounded by crystal-clear waters and white sand beaches.
Twenty-five minutes later, I pushed open the door to Rosie's, the bell chiming cheerfully above me. The diner buzzed with the lunch rush and the aroma of coffee and burgers filled the air. I slid into our usual booth, my leg bouncing with nervous energy.
Easton shuffled in a few minutes later, his dark hair tousled and in need of a trim, and his wire-rimmed glasses sitting slightly askew on his nose. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of him. He looked adorably rumpled, like he'd been lost in a book all morning and only just remembered the outside world existed.
“Hey, East,” I greeted him warmly as he slid into the booth across from me. “Thanks for coming.”
He gave me a small smile, pushing his glasses up. “Of course. Though I'm a little worried about what this big surprise could be. You're not planning to drag me on another cave exploration, are you?”
