Page 58 of The Holiday Honeymoon Switch
He looks down at his plate. “I did. When I was at MIT, I just became so disillusioned with the way so many of my classmates talked about working for huge corporations when they graduated, coming up with technology or ways of investing, formulas designed to make money, more and more of it for the people who didn’t need it. The smog tower was an idea I’d been toying with since high school—”
“I remember, you did a rudimentary form of it as a science fair project one year!”
“Yeah, but back then it didn’t work, so I lost to you. And Mr. Snuggles.” He smiles good-naturedly. “Anyway, I just decided to go for it. I found an investor, and when it actually worked this time, I ended up dropping out of MIT to work on it. I guess that’s when Toni started to get a little upset. We were on a certain trajectory together. We had a life plan.” Holly nods, because she knows exactly what this is like. “But I just…got off the train.” His expression is faraway. “And Ilovedit. I was so happy. I felt like I was doing what I was meant to be doing and making the world a better place at the same time—but I woke up one day, and Toni and I hadbroken up, and I hadn’t spoken to my family in months, except by text or voicemail—and my mom was having an important scan that week. I started thinking about how I would feel if she got sick again. And…I just decided to sell. I got a pretty good price on it, bought a few properties out here, and this is my life now.”
Holly stares at him, processing all he has just said to her and feeling a wave of pride in his accomplishments that she hopes he feels, too. “I think that’s brave. You thought up such a meaningful idea—but you knew when it was time to step away. I’m so impressed by you.”
His smile reminds her of the shy, smart high school boy she knew. They kiss again, and this time she knows their breakfasts will go unfinished. “Should we celebrate the fact that you think I’m a super genius by going back to bed?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” She hops off the stool, and he carries her across the room fireman-style while she laughs. At the bottom of the loft ladder, he pauses and sets her down.
“Wait. We never did talk about what I was thinking about back there, though.”
“Oh, right…”
“Would you like to join me and my family for Christmas dinner tomorrow?”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.”
“I want you there, Holly. I want you to meet my family, too.”
She smiles. “Tell me about Christmas with your family in Krimbo.”
“First there’s a town parade, right at sunset every Christmas Day.” His blue eyes are alight with what she’s sure are years of happy Christmas memories. “My parents live on Main Street, so we set chairs up on the sidewalk and watch. My dad and grandpa cook a Christmas dinner with all the fixings. I act as sous chef, and my mom, Sidra, and Alexa—and this year, you—get to sit around drinking mulled wine and teasing us about all the dishes they’re going to have to do later.”
“While Idosomewhat resent the fact that this social engagement means you’re going to have to put on some pants and not just reindeer boxers,” she says, tugging at his waistband, “that sounds like the perfect way to spend Christmas, Aiden. I’d love to. Now, can we go back to bed?”
They can’t get up the ladder fast enough.
17
Ivy
December 24
Kauai, Hawaii
The night of the Christmas lu‘au, tiki torches create a glowing runway leading to the beach in front of the hotel. Ivy, Oliver, Larry, and Shira follow the beacons toward a team of hotel dancers doing a fire dance. The bass thrums through Ivy’s body, and she feels excitement coursing through her as they arrive. She slips off her sandals so she can feel the sand beneath her feet.
Oliver ended up working another shift for Paula, so she hasn’t seen much of him. She went to Glass Beach on her own to draw, but found herself filled with anticipation all day not just about the lu‘au, but also about spending time with Oliver. She’s been turning her dinner conversation with Larry over in her mind constantly. She doesn’t haveany answers, but she knows one thing: Oliver is just as much of a distraction when he’s not around as when he is. She can’t simply pretend her feelings don’t exist.
“Mai tais for everyone?” Shira says. She’s as outgoing as Larry, and Ivy took to her immediately. She’s loved listening to Shira’s Hollywood stories about the adaptation of a mystery book she’s directing.
Shira and Larry walk toward the bar hand in hand, and Oliver and Ivy are left alone.
“Hey,” she says, suddenly shy.
“Hey. I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages,” he says. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me, too,” she answers honestly, looking up at him.
“So, I know that kiss we had was supposed to get it out of our systems, but I haven’t been able to think about anything else since.”
“It was a really great kiss,” she admits.
“One for the ages.”
“But just because we had a really great kiss doesn’t have to mean we’re…” She trails off.
