Page 43 of When Ivy Met Mr. Holiday
I wasn’t a spill-my-guts kind of guy.
“Thank you,” was all I could think to say.
Jaquelyn’s shoulders rose and fell like she was disappointed, but her demeanor was still warm. “Well, just let me know if you need anything. I mean it. Anything at all. You can just think of me as a second mom.”
I never really had one to begin with.
“Thank you,” I murmured, looking anywhere but at her.
I had this feeling she would use her “mom powers” on me and get me to divulge my past or tell her the truth about the nature of my relationship with her daughter.
“Okay, then,” she sang. “Are you sure you don’t need anything?”
I intended to politely tell her no, but then the picture ornament of Ivy and me caught my eye. It gave me an idea about what I could make Ivy for Christmas. Our love story in pictures.
I pointed at the tree. “Do you have any more pictures of Ivy and me?”
I had several on my phone I could print out, too. No doubt Jaquelyn had a photo printer in her craft room.
Jaquelyn’s face lit up brighter than the lights on the Christmas tree, as if she knew I was going to need her help, and it would give her more opportunities to break down my defenses.
“I do,” she trilled.
“Do you think you could help me make a photo album for Ivy?”
I’d probably just broken her rules about not sharing who you pulled out of the hat. But judging by how she practically tackled me when she threw her arms around me, she didn’t care.
“I would love to.”
Reluctantly, I embraced her while letting out a heavy breath. I was stepping into deep waters. A place where I might drown in motherly love and Christmas cheer.
But Ivy was worth it.
All of it.
Chapter Thirteen
“I found out what the secret to life is: friends. Best friends.”
Fried Green Tomatoes
Ivy
Jackwalkedintothefamily room with my mom, her arm strung through his. She was beaming. Jack, on the other hand, wore the look of a hostage in crisis. What had Mom done to him? I hadn’t even realized she’d left to apparently traumatize my fake boyfriend.
And boy, were we faking it. I couldn’t stop thinking about our very real kiss. Not that my family would letme, even if I could. The razzing was out of control. Even my nieces and nephews were in on the torture, making kissy faces and kissing noises around me.
It was the most public display of affection of my life. Made even more so considering how freaking famous my best friend was.
I only hoped it was enough to quash any of the fake dating rumors Sienna had started. Unfortunately, I knew that . . . dear . . . was going to strike again. Next time, it would probably be more lethal. Yikes.
There was no telling what I might have to do next to save Jack’s career. At this rate, I was going to be walking the red carpet in some uncomfortable evening gown come awards season. Or standing across the altar at a quickie wedding in Vegas that would have to get annulled one day. Oh, gosh.
There was no time to worry about it now. Jack’s wide eyes begged me to save him. I jumped up among the chaos that was family game night.
The older kids campaigned hard to play Exploding Kittens, while Emma pulled out the big guns, using her adorable voice and those big, beautiful eyes to win everyone over to Candy Land.
Believe me, she was going to win. No one around here stood a chance against Emma’s powers. Except maybe Kaden and Graham, who would no doubt find a way to turn Candy Land into a cutthroat battle for supremacy where Mr. Mint and Lord Licorice were evil overlords willing to sacrifice Princess Frostine.
