Faking Christmas(28)

I turned to face Miles. “Alright, let’s do this.”

His lips broke into a smile. “So romantic,” he murmured.

“Shut up,” I whispered just before I grabbed the collar of his flannel shirt, pulled him down to where I could reach, and pressed my mouth against his. I hadn’t realized how cold my lips were until they were touching his. How were men always so warm? The attractive pine and spice smell of his cologne immediately tried to weaken me, but I remained strong, like an immovable oak. As far as kisses went, it was what I imagined giving a grandparent a peck on the lips would feel like. Our lips were slightly puckered, but I refused to open my mouth any more, so we just stood there with our mouths pressed together for as long as I could stand. I pulled away and tucked the hair behind my ear, wondering why my heart was pounding. It couldn’t have been from that kiss.

I cleared my throat and turned to face my executioners. “There you go.”

“Wow,” was all Chloe could say.

“Huh,” Mom said.

We all stood there in a semi-awkward silence for a few moments before my mom put us out of our misery. “Well, Olive, you’re still in trouble for keeping him from us,”

I wrinkled my nose playfully. “I’m sorry. I wanted to be sure he wasn’t a dud before I told everyone.”

Miles chuckled appreciatively, his arm snaking around my waist once more.

Suddenly, Chloe bent over, resting her hands on her knees, and took a deep breath. Her face had grown even more pale since we’d been standing here.

“You okay, Chlo?” I asked.

Another breath. “Yeah. Just nausea.”

“We have a general store here with over-the-counter medicines. I can go grab you something if you need it,” Miles offered. I looked at him in surprise, but his eyes were on Chloe.

“We have some at the cabin.” She smiled at him gratefully. “But thank you.”

“So, is this the guy I’ve been hearing so much about the past…five minutes?” Russ’s booming voice broke into our group. We turned to see him and Ben walking toward us, each holding a twin in their arms.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as my shoulders sank in defeat. This freaking foyer was busier than a subway.

Miles leaned forward, shaking Russ’s hand. “Nice to meet you, sir. I’m Miles.”

“Russ Ellis. Has anybody ever told you that you look like a young Bradley Cooper?”

“Right? I thought the same thing,” Ben chirped from behind my mom.

A grin split across Miles’s entire face. “I have heard that a time or two.” The hand that was around my waist dug into my side, tickling me. I tried to casually get out from his grip, but he held me firmly.

“How’d you come to be here?” He eyed us curiously. He must have missed Chloe’s explanation.

Mom stepped in, looking at me. “Miles’s family owns the entire lodge. I still find it crazy that you were able to keep this secret that long.”

“He loves a good joke.” I looked up at him and patted his cheek, maybe a smidge too hard.

Mom squeezed my arm. “Well, we’re going to get Chloe home.” Looking at us, she said, “Good night, you two. I can’t wait to chat more with you, Miles.”

“Looking forward to it,” he replied. We said our goodbyes, and they all turned to go. To me, he whispered, “Should I call her Mom?”

I elbowed his stomach. “Why does it seem like you’re overly thrilled about this?”

Warm puffs of air hit my ear as his lips moved dangerously close to me. “Because now you owe me. Big time.”

Before I could protest or demand we cancel whatever this was, Miles claimed he had to help clean up the building and strode off without another word. My eyes narrowed, not sure if I believed him but not wanting to drag this out, so I let him go, hoping that, by tomorrow morning, we’d be on the same page with the whole breakup plan.





NINE





“If she do bid me pack, I’ll give her thanks as though she bid me stay by her a week.”

William Shakespeare - The Taming of the Shrew





Though I wasn’t far behind them, Chloe had gone straight to bed by the time I arrived at the cabin. I didn’t like to see her so sick, but I couldn’t help but feel relieved that I wouldn’t get the Spanish Inquisition from her tonight. The twins were eating at the table when I entered, apparently famished after having refused to touch their dinner at the lodge. I set up my pull-out bed and then helped Ben change the girls into their pajamas. We laid out blankets on the floor next to the fireplace along with their sleeping bags. Once the giggles and mischief died down, they drifted off to sleep. Ben said goodnight and snuck into the bedroom. I sighed as his door closed and I finally had the quiet I had been craving since my arrival.

Fluffing the pillows we’d found stuffed in the closet, I tried to get comfortable. Technology had definitely not advanced in the pull-out bed department. A long bar stretched out across the bed frame, protruding through the thin mattress pad. I contemplated changing the bed back to a couch but realized I didn’t have the energy. There were more important matters to address. I reached for my phone.



ME: Just letting you know…I will no longer be bringing you double Oreo milkshakes on the second day of your period. And when you have to pee so badly during your fourth hour, when I have my break, I will no longer be coming to relieve you. Ever.