Page 29 of His Christmas Love Song

“Yeah, but Hank was home that summer from school. I remember,” Emma says, “you always played the piano when you were on break.” She nods to the corner, where a baby grand is partially hidden by the Christmas tree. “Hank loved it. He was always humming the tunes you played.”

Cameron’s blush gets darker, and Jesse fights a smile. He and Emma exchange a glance and his matchmaker gene is activated in a big way. But he’s more concerned with his own love life than with Cameron’s at the moment. He swallows a Vermont cheddar-topped cracker and waves at Emma. “We’ll be back in a second,” he says, steering Cameron to a quiet corner.

“So, uh,” Jesse starts eloquently, before he realizes he has no idea what he should say. Cameron is Ryan’s ex-boyfriend. No matter how friendly the terms of the breakup, Cameron probably doesn’t want to give Jesse advice on how to win Ryan’s heart. “Um.”

“Look, man,” Cameron says when it’s clear Jesse’s not going to be uttering more than a syllable at a time, “it’s nice to see you two, but I don’t really want to get in the middle of whatever you have going on.”

“We don’t have anything going on,” Jesse says automatically, giving the response he would give to the press or to inquisitive fans. Then his shoulders slump. “Okay. I really messed up. Ryan says he’s going back to Nashville tomorrow. He says he can’t,” he swallows hard against the lump in his throat, “be around me right now.”

Cameron frowns. “That’s not like Ryan. I mean, you two are joined at the hip.”

“Yeah. Well. I screwed up and he needs space, but I can’t fix it if he goes away.”

“What did you do?” Cameron asks.

Jesse hesitates. If he tells Cameron they came here because Jesse wanted to throw Ryan and Cameron back together romantically, he’ll have to tell him why that plan flamed out so spectacularly, and that’s not exactly his information to share. Plus, it’s not like Cameron wants to know his ex is in love with someone else.

Cameron sighs. “I can guess.”

Or maybe he already knows.

Cameron slowly turns the bottle in his hands. “What Ryan and I had wasn’t forever, and I was okay with that. But I kind of felt sorry for you both, because you had this precious thing and didn’t seem to realize it. I’m sorry if you’re hurting, if Ryan’s hurting. But if the two of you are finally figuring out what you have, then a little hurt is worth it. You’re the luckiest bastards I know. Disgustingly handsome. Talented as fuck. And you live and breathe each other like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Everyone’s jealous of that, and you don’t even know how good you have it.” Cameron could sound bitter, but he doesn’t. He sounds like a guy who wants what Jesse was too stupid to notice he already had.

“I always thought he’d never see me like that,” Jesse says quietly, “so I didn’t let myself—and now he thinks it’s just physical for me and he’s going to leave.”

“You can stop him,” Cameron says. “You only have to bat your big pretty eyes at him, and he’ll do anything you say, anyway.” He only sounds mildly disgruntled.

Jesse’s worried he’s run out of his lifetime allotment of playing the “I saved your life” card.

But maybe the universe is on his side. A second later, Hank runs into the great room in a parka and hat. “Ems! Look,” he says, pointing to the big picture window.

Emma and everyone else in the place look outside. Big, fat snowflakes drift to the ground and it’s cold enough that they’re already starting to accumulate.

“Snow!” Emma cries.

“Just heard the updated forecast,” Hank says, striding over to the bar. “It’s supposed to last all night and into the morning. Eight inches, at least, with more coming.”

“Snow. That’s a sight for sore eyes,” Cameron says, grinning. Jesse can’t help noticing Cameron is looking more at Hank than outside.

Snow means Ryan might not be able to get out of Columbia. Snow means Jesse might get a second chance.

FOURTEEN

Things happen quickly after that. Emma calls Hank over and asks him to watch the bar so she can make sure the walkways are sanded and the snow shovels are ready. Hank takes one look at Jesse and frowns.

“What happened?” Hank asks as he peels off his hat and coat.

Part of Jesse wants to deflect and stall, but he’s done hiding from his feelings. “I have a problem. I need your help. Well, Ryan needs your help. Okay, we both do.”

“Spit it out, Jesse.”

“Ryan’s leaving, tonight, I think. We talked and…some things came to light.”

“Things?” Hank says heavily. “You boys finally told each other?“

Jesse represses a flare of anger. If everyone and their brother knows Ryan has—had—has feelings for Jesse, and if he’s been just as transparent, why hasn’t anyone done him a solid and actually let him in on it? “Jesus, does everyone know?”

Hank ignores him. “What’s the problem and why is Ryan leaving? Unless you—”