Page 20 of One Night at Christmas

“I don’t mean to hurt you. The last thing I want is that, but I can’t help how I feel, Morris. We had some good times. I don’t want to lie or pretend with you. I don’t know when or if I’ll ever get over Bryson, and I don’t want to use you.”

“And if I want to be used?” He kept his head bowed.

“That’s not fair to you.”

“But it’s my choice.”

“That’s the choice Bryson gave you?”

He ground his teeth, hating to admit Bryson advised him. “He reminded me about what I already knew. If I want to be with you, I needed to think about wheth

er I could accept what happened with him.”

“I—”

“I know.” He didn’t want to hear again that she still loved Bryson. “Look, you can be alone, and there’s nothing wrong with that, or you can be with me. I will gladly give you everything I have. It’s not much, but I’ll do it. I can close on that house.”

“You said there was a time limit.”

“There is, but I have what my dad left me last year when he died.”

“Morris, that’s probably going to be all of your inheritance.”

“Yeah and it’s what that kind of thing is for.”

“If you buy the house, you do it because you want it. Not for me.”

“I’ll do it for both of us.”

“I can’t take advantage of you.”

“You would be giving me the woman I love. Think about it, okay? Just…think about it.” He kissed her cheek and left the apartment without another word. She fell onto the couch and shut her eyes. When she started that day, she never could have imagined it would turn out like this.

Chapter Eight

Four years later…

“You have got to be kidding me.” Charon glared at the flat tire as if it would fix itself. The stupid thing continued to mock her. She grumbled under her breath as she phoned her roadside service. All she needed to ruin her night was to get home late. Every time she turned around, it seemed like life conspired to put her through more mess.

“Are you alright, sista?” An African American man pulled his car up next to hers. She’d seen him in the grocery store checking her out, and she never made eye contact. The ring on her finger should have been enough to deter him. Apparently, it wasn’t.

“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks.” She dialed the number on the service card. “I’m covered, so everything is fine. Thanks for asking though.”

He threw his car in park, but he didn’t lower the volume on the music blasting from the stereo. “Don’t sweat it, baby. I got you. I’ll have that tire changed in a minute.”

She bit off a groan. “Seriously, I’m good. My husband is on the way.”

He grinned, not taking no for an answer. “If he knew what he had, he’d have brought you to the store himself rather than let you run around alone.”

“He trusts me, and I’m a grown woman who can decide for myself where I go.” She didn’t mean to sound harsh, but he was plucking her nerves and delaying her getting out of there.

A glance in the back of the car told her that her daughter was still content with the cookies Charon bought for her. Naomi’s chubby cheeks were covered with double chocolate chip cookie crumbs. Charon decided then and there when she got in, she would unwind with her baby girl in the bathtub. They would include bubbles of course and about a million toys Naomi couldn’t bathe without.

The idiot who couldn’t take a hint stepped into her line of sight, cutting off the vision of her daughter. “How about after I change your tire you give me your number?”

“Maybe you didn’t hear me. I’m married.” She held up her hand as he began to speak. “And before you say anymore, I’m not interested. I don’t cheat, and Morris is super jealous, so please back off.”

He swore. “Damn, well you aren’t that fine anyway.”

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