Page 79 of Need You Now

Lacey stands frozen, the words blinking in her head like a gigantic neon sign of doom.

I QUIT. I QUIT. I QUIT.

Zero promotion, zero commitments, zero money.

She gave it all up.

“Oh my God, Seth,” she moans, pressing a hand to her head. “What did I do?”

A chuckle comes from behind her. Seth’s warm arms slide around her waist. Lacey twists, turning into him. Awe flashes in his eyes. “You did good, Lace. I’m proud of you.”

She moan-laughs again, resting her forehead against Seth’s chest. She takes a steadying breath, inhaling his reassuring scent before she panics her way into a spiral. “Tell me I’m not an idiot.”

A wry chuckle. “You ain’t an idiot.”

She looks up at him shyly, sliding a hand up his chest. “So now that I’m unemployed ... it looks like I’m coming for Christmas.” She gives a casual shrug. “If you still want me to.”

Joy, straight-up joy, overtakes Seth’s handsome face. He grins. “Hell yeah, I do.”

With a wild hoot, he kisses her, then picks her up and spins her around and around. Laughing, Lacey winds her arms around his neck. No doubts, no anxiety, no worry about where this is going or how long it’ll last.

Right now, freaking out is not in her cards. That comes later.

For the first time in her life, she feels like she just won everything.

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