Page 23 of Mistletoe Masquerade
My chin quivers despite her reassurance. “He hates me so much, now.”
Dani waves a hand. “Men are emotional like that. Once he gets the whole story, he’ll come around.”
I shake my head. “If he lets himself hear it, and even then, it doesn’t change the fact that we move in very different circles.”
“It might not be easy, but only time will tell. Don’t write him off yet.” Amelie’s lips pull into a thin, sorrowful smile. “I know you may not be in the mood, but we stillhave loads of cookies to decorate. It might make you feel better.” She peers at me questioningly.
She’s right. I’m not really in the mood, but what else am I going to do? Go back home and be depressed? Tempting, but I probably shouldn’t. I’ll get past this whole ordeal much faster if I keep busy. That’s why I came over in the first place, right?
I nod. “Yeah, let’s decorate some cookies.” It can’t make me feel any worse.
We spend two hours talking and designing cookies in the shape of ball ornaments, presents, and stockings. My time with them truly is cathartic. They keep the topics of conversation light, and by the time I’m packing up to go home, my emotional storm has ebbed, leaving me calm but exhausted. Hopefully, a good night’s rest will bring a more positive perspective in the morning.
“I’ll drive you home,” Sante offers, grabbing his keys from the entry table.
“You sure? I have no problem walking.”
“Yeah, I don’t think Malone would corner you, but he was pretty upset. I’d feel better making sure you got home safely.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
I can’t imagine Dean hurting me, but having Sante with me won’t hurt, so I don’t argue. Once we’re in the car, I realize Sante’s gesture had little to do with Dean’s anger and more to do with his desire to have a few words with me alone.
“I appreciate that you want to look out for us, but you don’t have to do that. We aren’t afraid of the cops.”
I nod, gnawing on the inside of my cheek. “I’m glad, but it worries me that if I dated someone like Dean, you guys wouldn’t want Amelie and Dani to be around me as much. They mean the world to me—all of you guys do—I don’t want to risk losing that.”
“One, you don’t even know if it would work out between you, and two, Malone isn’t gonna get shit on us.”
I flash a small smile because what he’s doing is sweet.
“Mellie tell you to talk to me?”
“Yeah, but despite what she may think, I don’t have to listen to her. I’m talking to you as myself. I don’t understand the draw to Officer Hotshot, but if that’s what does it for you, then have at it.”
“It’sDetectiveHotshot,” I tease softly.
He cuts a glance my direction, his lips hooked upward in a wry smirk.
“Whatever.”
The first genuine grin of the day spreads across my lips and warms my heart. However, while getting his permission is sweet, I don’t think it changes anything. Dean thinks the absolute worst of me right now. Even if I explain what happened, it won’t undo the harm, but I appreciate knowing Sante would support me if things somehow worked out.
We park outside my building, and Sante even walks me to my apartment door.
“Try not to let him upset you, Sach. Everything will work out for the best. You’ll see.” He taps my chin like a big brother might, and my heart swells.
Sante, Amelie, Tommy, and Dani are the family I never knew I needed. And while I may be the fifth wheel, they only ever make me feel wanted. I’m absolutely right in prioritizing my relationship with them over that of an unlikely romance. I know it’s true. So why do I feel like I have a boa constrictor squeezing so tight around my rib cage that I can’t breathe?
“Thanks, Sante,” I manage to get past my tight throat. “I really appreciate you bringing me home and everything you’ve said.”
He shrugs. “Not that Malone would try anything crazy—he’s too straight-laced for that—but it never hurts to be safe.”
I give him a weak smile and enter the code to unlock my door. “See ya.”
He waves and turns back toward the elevator. I take a step inside my dark apartment when a hand clamps tightly over my mouth, and I’m yanked inside, the door closing behind me.
I suck in air through my nose to attempt a muffled scream only to have an all-too-familiar scent invade my lungs.
