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“Give him a sec, Hope. You know his boat will sail right past us.”
“I know, but I want to see him now. Why couldn’t we sit at the beginning of the parade?”
Because that was where she and Jay had always sat. Bebe blinked. Was that right? Had her subconscious been keeping her from memories of Jay all this time? She gulped. What did it say that being back in Peachwood Bay constantly reminded her of her first love? And was Jay right, insinuating that they could be great together?
No, that’s not the plan. You stay friends, and when he leavesfor Texas, youmightkeep in touch.Though she wouldn’t bank on that. She’d been foolish to believe that before. No way she wanted to make the same mistakes once more.
Bebe pushed the thoughts aside and watched her daughter as glee covered her face when the Santa’s sleigh–themed boat floated right in front of them. Bebe grabbed her cell and took a picture of Hope, then the boat, before pocketing the phone.
She wanted to remember this time with her daughter. With Will being an absent parent, Bebe was more cognizant of how fast time went and how important it was to show up.
Jay wants to show up.
She stuffed down a scoff. Jahleel had caught the love of Christmas and nostalgia wrapped in one. She couldn’t trust his feelings were real because she’d done that before and had the burn marks to prove it wasn’t what she’d hoped.
Never again.
But another part of her heart said,Never say never.
“You’ve got it bad,” Ryan said.
Jahleel snorted. “I’m not the one who turns beet red and can’t take my eyes off a certain woman whose name is the same as a month of the year.”
“May’s awesome, but that’s beside the point. We’re talking about you and Bebe. She’s the one, right?”
“The one what?” Jay asked just to hear what Ryan would say.
“The one who got away? You have that lovesick longing expression on your face.”
Jay shook his head. “More like I’m the idiot who let her get away and now I’d like another chance.”
Ryan blew out a breath. “I don’t know what to tell you, bro.” He stopped, staring out at the canal as the Santa sleigh sailed by. Then he turned to Jahleel. “What’s the story? Is she the woman you dated in high school?”
Jay nodded.
“Ohhh,” Ryan drew out. “Yeah, I have no tips except maybe grovel. You left her without a backward glance. That had to have stung.”
“And now she’s divorced, so kind of a double whammy, right?”
Ryan shook his head. “You need a Christmas miracle to get back in her good graces.”
“She said we could be friends.”
“I guess the friend zone is the only end zone you’ll be getting in this season.”
Ouch.Jahleel rubbed his chest to take away the sting from the imaginary dart Ryan threw his way.
“Too soon?” Ryan asked quietly.
“You’re not wrong.”
“Still, that was probably a little insensitive.”
Jay sighed and leaned back in the lawn chair Ryan had set up. “Forgetting about my bum leg for a moment, do you honestly think it’ll take a Christmas miracle to win Bebe back?”
“Without a doubt. You probably hurt her in ways you’ll never understand by severing ties. Then her husband did the same—at least, I’m assuming.”
“You assume right.” Jahleel’s jaw clenched just thinking about that man.
