Page 32 of This Christmas
“Which is?”
“That I don’t want to be there.” She huffs.
“Caryn—”
“No, listen. I know I said I wanted to but it’s not for me, Zane. The small town, eating at the same place every day, going to the general store that hasn’t beenupdated since the eighties, I’m not about that life. And honestly, when we get married, we’re selling the store. There is zero value in it, and we’ll be lucky to make a buck.”
“We’re not selling the store.” My jaw ticks in frustration.
“We are. You like to think I don’t know anything, but I know a struggling business when I see one. The store isn’t just struggling, Zane. It’s dead. Lock the door and throw away the key.”
Unfortunately, I think she’s right, but the only opinion that matters is my dad’s.
“Tonight was important to my dad, Caryn. He expected you there.”
She scoffs. “He doesn’t even like me. Why would I stand next to someone who doesn’t want me around?”
“You aren’t giving him a chance. We would’ve had dinner with him, been there for him, and done so as a family.”
“Listen, Zane. I get that he’s your dad, but up until Thanksgiving, you never wanted to see him. I don’t know where all of this is coming from or why the sudden change of heart.”
“He’s all I have left.”
“You have my parents. Let me ask you this. Do you really see us bring our children to visit your dad? They’re going to be bored out of their minds. Not only that, but they’re going to know he’s . . . not well off.”
Why does everything have to be about money with her?
I get up and pace, holding my phone in my hand. I’m angrier than I am sad right now. Which says a lot.
“Come back home, Zane.”
I shake my head. “Not until after Christmas.”
“I’m not coming back there, and I want to spend Christmas with you and my parents.”
“I get it, Caryn. I really do. But I’m not ditching my dad. Not now.”
“Zane!” She screams my name in a high-pitch squeal, and I know a temper fit is about to start. I set my phone down on the bed and take a few steps away from it, taking deep breaths to try and calm down. “I will not spend Christmas alone. If you think for one second that I’ll be without my fiancé at the holiday parties, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“Then I guess I’m mistaken.” Whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean.
“Are you serious right now? You know I can ruin your life.”
Her words give me pause. She’s threatening my job, and she’ll probably succeed. I was stupid when I started dating the boss’s daughter. For all I know, she was in on the setup of keeping me in New York and away from Eve.
“Zane!”
“I’m here, Caryn.”
“Get your ass in the car and back here where you belong. No one says no to me.”
I sigh. “I’m telling you no.” I hang up before she can scream again and flop onto the bed. Her voice, the shrill of it, echoes through my mind. Closing my eyes, Ithink of anything but how red her face probably is right now and how she’s no doubt on the phone to her father, demanding he fire me. If he does, I’ll thank him for the opportunity he’s given me, take my severance, and move along to another firm.
Although, it’s likely he’ll blackball me in the legal field. My days as an attorney are likely over.
Lovely.
An hour later,I find myself at the Marching Solider, sitting at the bar, drinking whiskey and Coke. I hate drinking and only do it socially and even then, it’s one drink and I’ll nurse it all night if I have to. But here I am, on my fourth, with no intentions of stopping.