Page 34 of One Foggy Christmas
“Yeah, all day. I just got in town. Came straight to you. I tried calling a minute ago to give you a warning.”
“I couldn’t find my phone because of my costume.”
“What do you think of my costume?” Stetson beams.
He’s wearing a suit. Like he always does.
“I’m a lawyer. Get it?”
“Yeah,you’rea lawyer.” My smile is fake, but it’s there.
He hugs me again, planting a quick kiss on my lips. The last time I kissed Stetson was almost two months ago when I was home for Tate’s funeral.
“Are you surprised I’m here?”
“Yes, I wasn’t expecting you at all.”
“I just know how much you love Halloween, and I wanted to do something special. It’s been too long since we’ve seen each other.”
It’s the effort and the grand gesture I’ve always wanted him to make. So why, in the back of my mind, am I worried about Nash?
“Are you going to introduce me to your friends?”
“I only know the people I work with. Everyone else is a stranger.” I spin, looking around the crowded apartment. My gaze stops on Nash again. This time, he gives me a tight smile, tipping his head as if he’s happy for me that Stetson showed up, but I know he feels as blindsided as I do.
Stetson showed up like a reminder that I have a completely different life waiting for me back in Skaneateles. I’m pulled in two different directions. I love the freedom and unpredictability of my life in Chicago, but it feels like my future is in Central New York. I may push against the life plan laid out for me, but it’s still the plan. It still has elements of what I’ve always wanted—a marriage to Stetson, taking over my dad’s business, settling in Skaneateles, and raising a family.
Those dreams have been at the root of it all ever since I was a little girl.
Am I really prepared to give all that up because Nash makes me want and hope for different things?
I don’t know, and I definitely don’t know how I’m supposed to figure it out.
NASH
I’ve kept mydistance from the happy couple all night.
Am I pouting? Maybe.
Am I pissed? Yes.
But I don’t want Sadie to know, so I pretend I’m having the time of my life across the room from her. Because, really, I have no reason to be upset. I’ve known about Stetson from day one. And it’s not like she invited him here. He just showed up, and he’ll leave again, hopefully. I don’t want this weekend to be the time they get back together or rekindle their relationship.
I’ve been holding out on pursuing Sadie the way I want because of the internship, but there are only two months left, and I plan to start slowly shifting things between us. Hence the invite to the Bears game, which obviously she won’t be going to now that Stetson is here.
My eyes drift to them. Stetson is trying to dance to the techno music but looks like an idiot doing it. Honestly, he seems like the type of guy whose ego enters the room before he does.
I will never understand why Sadie still holds on to him, especially after he broke up with her for pursuing something important to her. I mean, what kind of guy does that?
The music fades, and Stetson gets everyone’s attention.
He’s going to make this about him.
“Hey, I’m sorry I crashed your party. I don’t know most of you, but I drove a long way to be here with my girl.”
My girl?
Dude, he gave Sadie up the second he ended things.
