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My attention turns to the bed. Images of her in bed start innocent enough but quickly move to images of the two of us tangled in each other’s bodies. The memory ofher perfume fills my mind. What it must be like to share a bed with her, consumed by her warmth and scent.
That gives me an idea. I quickly run to my room and return with my cologne. Holding her pillow at arm’s length, I lightly spritz the cologne on the pillow and then repeat the action with the bed’s comforter.
I smile to myself at the thought of her trying to sleep, being tortured like I will be on the other side of the house.
After returning the cologne to my bathroom, I sit on my bed and attempt to settle my nerves. She’ll be here tomorrow. I feel like a child waiting for Father Christmas.
Twenty-Five
LUCY
“I’msorry again about this, Mom.” I’ve apologized repeatedly for the snowstorm. Knowing I have no control over it, I still feel awful about it. She understands, but that doesn’t make it any better. This will be the first Christmas we will spend apart, and I hate to think of her alone.
“Oh, stop that. What are you going to do about the weather?” she says. “I promise, knowing you are safe on the ground is a much better way to spend the holiday. I can’t imagine spending the next week a nervous wreck, worrying about you flying back and forth during snow storms or being stuck in the airport with delays.”
“I’ll miss you.” My voice cracks as I let my sadness come up after many failed attempts to push it down.
“And, of course, I’ll miss you too, darling, but come in after the new year when there are far fewer people traveling, and we will pick a week with clear weather.”
“All right, sounds like a plan, Mom.”
“Besides, Ellie already stopped by to give me the lists of festivities I’m expected to attend at her family’s placeover the next week. I’ll be plenty busy. And you will be too?”
“Yes, I’m leaving soon to go to Henry’s place with Oliver, Finn, Hannah, and Mia.”
“That sounds romantic! The holidays with your new man and his family.”
“His family, who were my friends before I met him,” I clarify. I’m still trying to downplay my fake relationship with Mom. I don’t want her to be too upset when I tell her it’s over.
“Of course. And do you want me to bring Ellie and her family’s gifts to them?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind, that’d be great.”
“Okay, then. Have a safe trip today. Let me know when you get there safely!”
I still need to grab some breakfast and double-check my bags before I leave. I probably packed too much, but I’ll be there for two weeks. Maybe this isn’t too much.
Mia
We’ll be there in 5 minutes.
It’s an hour’s drive to Henry’s home. There’s really no need for these butterflies to be dancing around in my stomach just yet. I grab my coat and check my hair one more time in the bathroom door. Even with being in contact every day, I’m restless to see him again, be in his presence, and beat him in board games, but what I’m looking forward to most is sitting next to him.
I carry each suitcase down separately and then lock up my apartment. Finn and Hannah’s cars are parked in front of my building. Everyone is on the sidewalk, and Oliver is talking to someone near the back of Hannah’s car. I look at Mia and Finn, and they give me an odd look but don’t say anything. Hannah begins to walk over to me as the man speaking to Oliver turns around.
“Lucy!” John yells loudly at me.
John…
John is here, in London. He walks over to me and pulls me into a hug. “Surprise!”
Is this a dream?
More like a nightmare. I shake my head in an attempt to wake myself. This surely can’t be happening. Looking around, fear sets in that this is not a dream, and my ex-boyfriend, John, is standing in front of me outside my London apartment.
My head feels like it’s going to spin off my shoulders, but I manage to get a couple of words out. “What are you doing here?” I ask quietly as if my friends haven’t already seen him.
“I didn’t want you to be alone on Christmas. Your mom told mine you wouldn’t be coming home. As soon as I heard, I booked a flight. I’m here to spend it with you.” He says the second sentence like it was scripted from a holiday romance movie.
