Page 40 of Maybe This Christmas
Caleb was the furthest thing from it.“He makes me feel like Times Square on New Year’s Eve,” Emma said.
“Okay, I’m going to take the metaphor as you laid it out, but right now, I’m thinking about how those people wait all day and use diapers so they don’t lose their spots.”
Emma snorted.“Okay, lose the metaphor.Today felt like it went by in a second, yet it was, alternatively, three weeks long.I feel like a different person now than when I left this morning.”
“This is all good stuff, Em!So why do I get a feeling there’s a big old but coming?”
She covered her face with her free hand.“Because I’m at a major crossroads!I have no job, no place to live.Caleb has kids—he needs someone stable, you know?”
“Wait, he has kids?Seriously?”
Emma lowered her hand, taking in her sister.“Yeah.Which makes it weird.”
Does it?It’d been so long since she’d dated anyone new, she wasn’t sure.Davis had been upfront from the start—it was one of the things that had made her fall for him so quickly.Some men didn’t even know they wanted kids until they realizedshedidn’t want any.They’d start prying, and she’d end up trauma dumping all over some guy.Many men sought a ‘normal’ partner.And kids usually came along with that.
“Only if you allow it to be.And look, we’re talking long-term, anyway.You said the ex is out of town with the kids until the holidays are over.So, if this is just a fling, the kids will never come into play.”
“And if it’s not?”
“Then you’ll all deal with it, like grown-ups.But please, don’t put the brakes on this already, Em.I know you feel bad since you and Davis just ended things.But we both know that relationship has been on life support since before he put a ring on it.”
Why was her heart suddenly in her throat?She stared at her best friend’s face and exhaled.Aniyah was right.She’d always had a terrible habit of living two steps ahead instead of enjoying the moment.
“I know.I’m going to try to slow my roll and live in the moment.”
Aniyah chuckled.“You’ve never been very good at that.But hey, now is a perfect time to reinvent yourself.I’d start with being forthright with Caleb about what this thing between you is.I think that will take a lot of stress off the both of you.”
“Define it, even if that definition is holiday fling?”
“Exactly.Get over that awkward hump before you can do some actual humping.”
Emma groaned.“Goodbye, Aniyah.I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Don’t overthink it!”Aniyah called before Emma ended the call.
If only it were that simple to shut off her brain.
A sharp knock on the door brought her back to reality.She’d asked the front desk for more towels so she could shower before meeting Caleb.She tossed her phone face down on the bed and crossed the short distance to the door.Her eyes caught on the Christmas lights wrapped around the tree in the corner.
She’d miss this place when it was time to leave.Somehow, it felt like home already.
She swung open the door and found Caleb.
“Are you up for room service?”
Chapter Fourteen
Emma eyed the boxes cradled against Caleb’s forearm.Of course, he’d changed and freshened up before coming over.Brand new flannel.And his smell…it was like the woodsy aroma found in the lodge’s main building, but there was something else, too.
If it was his natural scent, she was hooked.
“Emma?”
She blinked to consciousness.Caleb’s expression had shifted.His eyes were full of worry.
“Sorry, I got…distracted.Come in.”
She stepped aside and let him into her cabin.“I realized on the way over here I should’ve called to be sure it was okay.But then my arms were full, I couldn’t remember the number to this cabin, and then I realized I don’t even have your phone number…” Emma took the containers from him.
