Page 53 of Stuck Together
There was no stopping the tears from spilling out. They ran freely down my cheeks. For a moment, I debated on following Logan, forcing him to listen to me. He couldn’t possibly think I was interested in Jonathan. If he’d given me a chance to explain, then he’d understand that I didn't do anything wrong.
But I didn’t follow Logan. Instead, I hailed a cab, and I went home.
Chapter 18
Logan
It was hard to believeit was already Christmas Eve. My least favorite day of the year. And this year I had even more reason to be down for the holidays.
December flew by. I was exhausted between new client accounts, my grandmother's never-ending excitement over the Christmas season and all the planning she insisted we do, and then Madison.
Madison more than anything else made this holiday harder than any one before it. We hadn’t spoken since the office holiday party when I accused her of accepting Jonathan’s advancement. She was right. I didn’t stick around to see what happened after he kissed her. I’d left in a fit of fury and anger. And when she found me outside, I had already convinced myself of the worst. My state of mind in that moment was not one that would see reason.
So what did I do? I insulted her in the worst way possible and walked away. I can’t even begin to imagine how my behavior made her feel. She needed my support and understanding, and I gave her anger and disappointment.
She must hate me. I know I’d hate me if I was her.
When Carl called me and told me Jonathan had been replaced for personal reasons, I knew Madison was telling me the truth. I don’t know how Carl found out. It didn’t matter. All that matter was I’d failed Madison and I didn’t know how to fix it.
My desire to avoid the holidays was stronger than ever before. But of course, I couldn’t do that. I had to pretend to be happy for Rylee. Seeing the smile on Rylee's face on Christmas was the only thing that got me through the season. I couldn’t ruin it for her.
“Come on, Daddy. I want to open my present.” Rylee called out to from the living room. We had just finished dinner at Grandmother’s and now it was time to sit around the tree on Christmas Eve and open one present each. Opening a present on Christmas Eve had been a tradition since I was a little boy. And it was one that we kept up after Rylee was born.
I put up a tree at our apartment for her, but we stayed at Grandmother’s on Christmas Eve and opened presents with her on Christmas morning. She was the only family Rylee and I had, and we wanted to spend it with her.
“I'm coming, I'm coming. Be patient.” I poured the hot water over the tea bags for Grandmother and I and poured hot milk to make Rylee some hot chocolate. I sat the tray on the side table by the sofa and sat down next to Rylee. “Have you picked out the present you want to open yet?”
She shook her head and poke around under the tree.
“Which one do you think I should open first?” I asked.
“Hmm. I don’t know.” She tapped her finger against her chin and looked at me. It was absolutely adorable. I shuffled through the presents under the tree making large sweeps with my arms like I was searching for a hidden treasure. Just like I hoped, she wiggled and giggled next to me. I may be negative about Christmas, but I never tired of seeing Rylee this happy.
“Don't you dare go opening presents without me.” Grandmother called from the archway.
“Don't worry, Gigi. I won’t start without you,” Rylee said.