Page 14 of Holiday Hitch
“It’s okay,” Leah said, trying to temper her own annoyance.
Daryl approached her and set her chin on Leah’s shoulder, “Do you want to talk about it?”
Leah shrugged, “I mean you know it’s hard.”
“Yeah, I do. And I’m sorry I was late. But he did get his meds at least,” Daryl tried to smile.
Raising her eyebrows, Leah replied, “Sure, but you could’ve texted me too and not just my brother.”
Daryl couldn’t stop a giggle from rising, “I just figured he’d tell you anyway. Two birds, one stone and all that.”
Leah shook her head, turned around in Daryl’s arms, and pulled her in roughly. They wrapped their arms around each other, and Leah let her lungs inhale Daryl’s scent. Her usual earthy musk was slightly salty; clearly Daryl had been working all day.
Leah couldn’t help how the smell calmed her nerves. Sure, Daryl could be forgetful and a little spacey. But Leah hadn’t ever met someone who was so good at calming her down.
“Fine, I forgive you,” Leah rolled her eyes playfully. But she wasn’t letting her girlfriend off quite that easily. “But now that I’ve got you alone, what’s the plan for Christmas?”
“Ugh,” Daryl groaned, “Can’t we wait until after Jamie and Dani’s wedding to figure that out?”
Shaking her head, Leah said, “Nope, we have to plan how much food we need and where to meet up.”
“I assumed you would be here?” Daryl asked.
“If there were enough people, we could bring Dad to Johnny’s place so he can get some new scenery,” Leah suggested.
Daryl’s forehead scrunched, “Why is that body count dependent?”
Leah waited for the dots to connect in Daryl’s mind. Eventually she nodded, “Right. Stairs.”
Looking into Daryl’s eyes, Leah admitted, “I know you don’t usually like Christmas, and you’ve been… alone for a while. But everyone would love to see you.”
Daryl tensed at the thought. She had spent most Christmas mornings alone for the last few years. Robin and the Greenwoods were very generous in always inviting her to their family dinner. But Daryl had grown accustomed to spending the morning with a hot cup of coffee and her dogs.
“I promise it’ll be fun,” Leah begged.
Taking in a deep breath, Daryl nodded, “I know. Just let me think on it.”
Leah smiled and kissed her cheek, “Besides, who doesn’t love a steamy Christmas?”
All Leah really wanted for Christmas was more time in bed with her lover, and maybe she would would get her wish.
7
Jamie
Jamie lookedin the mirror and gently flattened the navy suit to her body, trying to position it exactly how she liked.
Technically, there was nothing about this suit that screamed, “I’m getting married.”
But as she looked at herself in the mirror, Jamie knew one of these suits would bethesuit, the one she would wear to get married to the love of her life in just a couple weeks. She just needed to find it.
“How’s it looking?” Clarissa hollered from outside the dressing room.
“Good, I think. But I’m not sure it’s perfect,” Jamie said as she took a deep breath and pulled back the velvet curtain to face her mother.
Clarissa gasped as she looked at her daughter, “Oh, I like this one.”
Jamie stepped in front of the tri-fold mirror in the hallway to get a better look at the suit. “Are we sure it’s a good idea to not look for something in the city,” Jamie asked quietly as she bit her lip, not wanting the owner to hear her hesitation.