Page 75 of Home for the Holidays

“I love it. I love it so much.”

She looked down at the necklace again, knowing that if she didn’t stop staring at Heidi, it was going to cause questions. Unfortunately, her best friend and ex-fake-boyfriend never missed a beat.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

Sandy was trying so hard. She’d brought gifts for everyone—except Iris, of course.

Heidi hadn’t missed the way the two of them were studying each other. The entire family probably saw it. She was irritated with Stanley for inviting Sandy, and she was irritated with Sandy for accepting. She had accepted on purpose because she was upset about the other night at Lincoln’s. The texts she sent were a clear indication that she wasn’t stupid. Especially the one that read,Do you think I’m stupid?

In short, Sandy knew what was going on with Iris. And now here they both were. In Heidi’s living room. Surrounded by her family. The only thing missing was a cage for the MMA match that could unfold if Heidi wasn’t careful.

“Well, are you going to open it?” Sandy asked, eyebrows raised. She was sitting next to Stanley, who fortunately looked like he, too, was regretting his choices.

“Of course, just waiting for everyone to finish.” Heidi cleared her throat as she looked down at the package on her lap. Sandy was always a thoughtful gift giver, but something was urging Heidi to tread lightly. She started to rip the paper at the edges. It was a frame. Oh god, which picture had Sandy put in it? Heidi’s heart was racing. She flipped it over and gasped when she saw it, a picture of her grandparents on their wedding day. “Sandy, this is beautiful,” she said. “How did you do this?”

“I knew the picture had been damaged, so one day when I was over, I stole it and took it to my guy who does picture restoration. He said it was in pretty bad shape, but—”

“He did a remarkable job,” Heidi whispered. She smoothed her hand over the glass.

“I know how much you miss them.”

Heidi glanced up at Sandy, but Sandy was glaring at Iris. Christmas morning was not the time for a pissing contest. She cleared her throat to get Sandy’s attention. When her eyes finally snapped back to hers, Heidi stood. “Can I see you in my office, please?”

As they marched down the hall, Heidi had to shake her head at herself. At this point, she should just establish office hours, given how often she was having hard conversations in there. She closed the door behind Sandy. “What are you doing?”

“Seriously?” Sandy let out a laugh. “What amIdoing?”

“Yes. What are you doing, Sandy? You’re glaring at her, you’re giving me this heartbreaking gift… What are youdoing?”

“What areyoudoing?” Sandy shot back. “You’re the one who’s chasing a woman who will never be what you need her to be.”

“Excuse me?” she asked, flabbergasted.

“Iris?” Sandy jabbed. “She’s not going to give up her life for you. We both know that.”

“And you think that means that I should just—what? Force myself to fall in love with you?” Heidi looked around the office. “What thefuck?”

“We can do this; you know we can.” Sandy’s hands were on her arms now. “Look at me, please.”

“No.” Heidi shook Sandy away from her. “You can’t force me into a relationship. I’ve told you it’s not what I want.” She crossed the gap to the door and went to open it, but Sandy was behind her, holding it closed. “Let me leave, please.”

“Heidi, I’m in love with you.” Sandy’s hand was still pressed flat against the door. “I have been since the second I met you, when you and Stanley came to dinner that night and had drinks at the bar.”

Her eyes were glued to Sandy’s hand, her peeling nails, the dry cuticles, the scar along the top from a broken beer bottle, the way she started to slowly slide it down the door. Her stomach was churning. She turned and looked at her best friend. “And that means I should fall in love with you?”

Sandy’s voice broke. “I don’t understand how you can’t feel what I’m feeling.”

“Sandy,” she breathed out. “You mean to tell me that when I said this was never going to mean anything, you didn’t believe me? Did you think I was lying? Or naive? That I would eventually fall for you?”

“How can it mean nothing to you?”

“Oh my god,” Heidi whispered. “You are my best friend, and I love you more than anything in this world, but I am not in love with you. At all. And I never will be. You have to be okay with that. Because if you aren’t…” She paused and studied Sandy’s features, the determination melting away to acquiescence. “I’m sorry.”

“You would throw our friendship away?”

“No, you would. Because I’ve been so honest with you. I’ve never lied to you.” She placed her hand back on the doorknob and opened it. “I just can’t—”

And her words were cut short by Sandy’s mouth crashing into hers.

---