Page 43 of The Grump Who Stole Christmas
“But this better go well,” Ethan said, sitting down at the kitchen table, loosening his tie as he did. “I’m the one who lives in this town, who wants to be mayor. I’m the City Council President now for Pete’s sake! What I don’t need is you and Matt coming in, messing everything up, before you both conveniently leave again.”
“Do you resent me, Ethan?” Kay-Kay asked her brother.
“What?”
“For leaving. For living in New York, while you stayed here and looked after Dad. Especially after Mom died. Did you think I should come home? For good?”
He shifted in his chair, lifted his hands, and then set them carefully on the kitchen table. “Kris, no. Your life is in New York. I understand that. Dad does too. And you didn’t hesitate to come when I called you. That’s all I can ask.”
“But if I did decide to move home. That would make things easier for you, wouldn’t it?”
Answer, yes, stupid.
The thought came and went before I could control it. I had no say in Kay-Kay’s future here. We were just…playing.
Teasing.
Having a little fun.
Would we have kissed if Ethan hadn’t interrupted us? Sure. Would it have gone anywhere?
No. I wouldn’t have let it. I was too old for casual hookups. I meant what I’d told her. I was ready to get serious. To look for a wife. To find someone who did have a family as a goal. Whether that meant kids or dogs it didn’t matter. I wanted a life partner who wanted to slow down and enjoy the little things with me.
Boss Lady was beautiful. She was smart and funny and I loved her snarky personality. But she was not for me. Not for the man I wanted to be. The arborist who lived in Salt Springs and ran a tree farm.
“Well, I’m going to call it a night,” I announced. “Good luck with everything tomorrow.”
“You’re going to bed?” Kay-Kay asked me. “Now? Like, bed, bed.”
“Like bed, bed,” I said, then faked a yawn hoping she understood the message.
We’d gotten lucky with the interruption. I was starting to…think things. Sexy things.
If I let myself go down that path, an affair with Pop’s daughter, it would just make things awkward in the future.
When she came home the next time and I was dating the future Mrs. McCleer.
This was for the best. At least that’s what I told myself.
ELEVEN
Later That Night
Kristen
Men, I thought, lying in bed, unable to sleep. Why did they have to be so freaking complicated? Why couldn’t they just be clear about what they wanted, when they wanted it? Instead, it felt like Paul was playing games with me.
Did he want to kiss me? Was he just playing with me?
If Ethan hadn’t walked in, would it have actually happened, or would he have pulled away at the last second?
Like Lucy pulling away the football. Only I didn’t know if I even wanted his football.
I didn’t have time for footballs. I had to save the inn, help my dad.
There were decisions to make. Big life decisions that were going to have a major impact on my future.
“Screw him and his football,” I said aloud to the empty room. Only that wasn’t enough. Saying the things out loud so I could hear them only helped sometimes. But this was bottling up inside me and I knew it would only be made better ifheactually heard me.
