Page 135 of The Holiday Hate-Off
“Sometimes people deserve to be fired. But just as often it’straining that’s at fault, or a person who should be doing job A is hired for job B. You don’t always need to throw everything out to fix things.”
She bites her bottom lip, her expression serious and thoughtful. “What if it’s someone else who wants to hire you?”
“Then they can wait to make their pitch to me until after we’ve had our holiday fun.” She still looks worried, so I smooth a finger between her brows. “You think I’m going to leave.”
I understand that fear. I live with it in my bones. People who are supposed to love you can just leave. They can buy a plane ticket or a bus ticket or drive their car away.
But now that I’m older I realize some of the people who leave come back. Aria left, but she checks in nearly daily, and even though my father has always inhabited his own little world, he still calls one of us every week or so.
“I don’t want you to regret staying.”
“There are plenty of remote jobs I could get, or jobs with travel.”
“You’ve been thinking about that?”
I tuck her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that. Everything is going well with the shop. Our new strategy seems like it’s going to be a success. I’ll need something to do.”
“God forbid Enzo Cafiero gets bored,” she says, but she’s barely teasing.
“It would be hard to get bored with you around. You like to keep me on my toes.”
I wrap my arm around her and pull her close, needing to feel her against me. To prove to both of us that we’re here now, and that’s what matters. I want to hold her. To soothe her.
“I’ve felt more alive this past month than I have in the past five years. I’d be a fool to walk away from you, and I’d like to believe I’m no fool.”
Her only answer is to snuggle closer, although I know she’s still thinking about it.
Truthfully, I’m grateful she cares. I’m definitely grateful she’s decided she wants me here.
I have a surprise planned for Christmas. I told my sister about it, and she thinks I’m crazy for even considering the idea, but the truth is, Iamcrazy.
“Good night, Enzo.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Good night, Lucia. Tomorrow we’ll help shape minds and inspire children at the library.”
“God help them,” she whispers.
I laugh into her hair, feeling at peace, but then tug her closer. “You know, maybe I’m not so tired after all.”
I answermy landline phone in the living room while Lucy showers in the bathroom. It’s Aria.
“You’re honestly reading to kids this morning?” my sister asks. “I already like your new girlfriend. Rachelle would never read to kids.”
“We don’t need to talk about Rachelle,” I say, feeling a strong inclination to never again hear her name and Lucy’s in the same sentence. Even though I might never have talked to Lucy if not for my ex.
“Wow, you really do have it bad,” Aria says, then murmurs something to someone on the other end of the phone. “I want to meet her. I want to buy her an insanely big bouquet of flowers. Or maybe chocolates. Does she like chocolate? Oh, what am I talking about, every sane person likes chocolate.”
“I don’t.”
“My point stands.” She pauses. “Giovanni tells me someone from New York is trying to get in touch with you, but you don’t want to call them back. What game are you playing?”
I head into the kitchen and start the espresso machine. “No game. I think it’s my ex-boss, and I don’t mind making him sweat for a few days. I won’t go back.”
“You shouldn’t. He sounds like an asshole. He’s sounded like an asshole for years.”
“He’s probably been one for most of his life,” I mutter. Switching gears, I ask, “So, what can I say to persuade you to come home for Christmas?”
She huffs into the phone. “Nothing. You’re not nearly the dealmaker you think you are. Greece at this time of year is amazing. It’s like thirty degrees warmer than at home, and there aren’t many tourists. I’m basically on a paid vacation.”
