Page 56 of The Holiday Ex-Files

He faux-stabbed himself in the heart. “Why wouldn’t you ask me to do it?”

“I know how busy the firm keeps you and how much you’re helping your sister right now.”

He stepped closer; his chin dipped. “And you think I wouldn’t make time for you?” he said lowly.

“Um.” I gripped the stair railing. Something inside me was stirring. I assumed it was Sparkles. “I don’t expect you to.” I said, very breathily.

His smile grew, the closer he got to me. “We are friends, are we not?”

I nodded.

He is so sex—

Don’t even think it, I begged Miss Sparkly. Believe me, I know he’s sexy.

I knew it! she cackled.

“Best friends, right?”

I tucked some hair behind my ear and let out a nervous laugh. “We’re good friends,” I stuttered.

His beautiful blue eyes lit up. “I’ve been promoted to good. I can live with that . . . for now.”

“You’re going to have to fight Mara for the title of best friend.” Not like I would ever give Mara up.

He stepped onto the bottom step, now at eye level with me. His snickerdoodle scent, mixed in with his natural muskiness from working, really worked for him. Or should I say on me? I had to grip the railing tighter. Miss Sparkly was purring on the inside.

Noah leaned in. “You’re worth fighting for.”

Maybe I was worth fighting for, but I lost the fight with Miss Sparkly when she threw our arms around Noah. I was totally canceling It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. She didn’t care.

Noah wrapped me up tight. “What’s this for?”

My head rested on his shoulder naturally.

Soak him in, girl, soak him in.

I tried not to, but Miss Sparkly was on a mission. I breathed in deeply and let it out slowly. “It’s just you’ve been so good to me. I don’t deserve you.”

“True.” He chuckled.

I softly laughed on the outside. Inside, I was having a major battle between my two selves. I realized Miss Sparkly wasn’t only on a mission—this was war. She planned to battle me for control.

Oh no, she knows my plan, she mocked me.

Yeah, well, I would show her—right after I took another whiff of my friend. Whoa. He should bottle it and sell it. Eau de Noah. It would be a big hit.

I abruptly pulled away. “That was nice,” I said all nervously.

“Very nice,” he agreed.

“Well,” I squeaked, “I should probably clean up and let you get back to your day.”

Noah tilted his head. “Everything okay?”

“Super great,” I lied. I was having a mini identity crisis. Okay, a humongous one. I was so freaked out that I ran up the steps to do who knew what. I couldn’t remember.

“Cams.” Noah followed me.

I stopped and turned to face him.

He was observing me, probably wondering if he should take me in for a mental evaluation. “You’re safe with me.” How did he know to say that?

“I know.” And that was a big problem.

Chapter Eighteen

Dear Ex-Filers, do I have a funny story for you, and the best comeback of all time, if I do say so myself. Last night at the grocery store, while I was deciding on how many pints of ice cream I should buy (I got four if you must know), some random man slid in front of me as I reached for my precious dairy products and said, “Hello, angel, did you fall from heaven?” Before I gagged on that cheesy line, my brain gifted me with a zinger. “Why yes,” I purred. “But remember, so did Satan,” I said in my deepest evil voice. The man about wet himself before he fled from my presence. Good times.

Stay safe from cheesy pickup lines this weekend. If you do fall victim to one, just remember I’m here winter, spring, summer, and fall to remove them all.

I’m off to snuggle bunnies now.

Lots of love,

Cami

I published my post and then picked up my pooch to snuggle on the couch. Neville and I had been having a lot of heart-to-heart talks since yesterday. I think he’d come to the conclusion that I probably needed anti-anxiety meds more than he did. He wasn’t wrong. I was blaming Miss Sparkly, but she was pinning it all on me, saying if I would just let go, we would be so much happier. I was willing to compromise and let go of a few things. I mean, I’d gone to Hobby Lobby and bought pumpkin pillows for goodness’ sake. And my condo smelled like I was smoking pumpkin spice. Why couldn’t that be good enough? Why did she think we needed a man’s touch? Didn’t she remember how safe we had felt with Ben once upon a time?

I snuggled Neville to my chest, like that would help vanquish the earth-shattering feelings Ben’s betrayal invoked. There was no safe anymore.

There never was, you ninny, Miss Sparkly rudely interrupted my thoughts. At least not in the way you’re thinking, she softened her tone. There are no safety nets in life; if you want to feel the highs, there is always a risk of falling.

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