Page 32 of One Foggy Christmas
“You’ve heard of it?”
“You’re not going to believe this, but…” I hold up my cell phone, showing him my background with a similar picture of the same magical place.
His brows inch upward. “Have you been?”
“No, but it’s my dream to go there someday for Christmas to see the flying Santa with Lake Geneva in the background and experience Christmas markets, fondue, and skiing. I can’t think of a better way to spend the holiday. Have you been?”
“No.” He lifts his hand to his mouth, hiding a smile. “But it’s my dream to go there during Christmas too. For all the same reasons.”
“For real?”
“No, I just have it as my screensaver for nothing.”
If Nash weren’t my boss, I would think he was the perfect man for me.
And if I weren’t already in love with Stetson.
That reason should’ve come before the boss one, but it didn’t—unfortunately. I’m claimingout of sight, out of mindon this one. I haven’t spoken to Stetson for a week, so naturally the boss thing would come to my thoughts first.
“Well, you should go,” I say flatly.
“Maybe we should go together,” he offers. “Or do you already have plans to go there with Stetson?”
“Oh, no. Going with Stetson won’t happen.”
“Because he’s gone from akind ofboyfriend to anex-boyfriend?” Nash’s smile is hopeful.
“No, he’s still just a confusingkind ofboyfriend.”
“Then why won’t you go to Switzerland with him?”
“Um…”—I fidget with the corner of Nash’s laptop—“Stetson is afraid to fly.”
“He’s afraid to fly?” The shock in his voice is pretty valid.
“Yeah, that’s why he hasn’t come out to Chicago to visit me. It’s a long drive, and he can’t miss school.”
“I thought he hadn’t visited because he broke up with you.”
“That might be part of it, but I just say it’s the flying thing to make myself feel better.”
“So if Stetson doesn’t fly, how will you get to Switzerland for Christmas?”
“It’s not just Switzerland. I’d love to travel the world. Tahiti, Thailand, Bali—you name it, I’m interested in going.” I lift my chin, masking the disappointment I’ve felt about this topic for years. “But you know, my friend Autumn loves to travel, so I’m sure I’ll go with her. Or maybe my little sister, Annie.”
My facade isn’t fooling Nash. There’s so much behind his stare—a promise that he’d give me the world if he could.
But I’d be blowing up my entire life plan if I opened my heart to him.
That’s a lot to give for love.
SADIE
Nash is dressedas a trophy or maybe an Academy Award for Halloween. The way he went all out has me smiling my face off.
He’s wearing gold tights, gold shorts, and a fitted gold shirt—no comment on how good it looks on him. But the best part is the gold body paint that covers every inch of his skin and hair. From across the party, he really does look like a human-sized trophy. And every so often, he poses in the classic trophy position.
Not that I’m watching him.
