Faking Christmas(40)



Fun. He thought my mom’s past life hadn’t been fun. He was trying to make her think it hadn’t been fun. My toes and fingers curled tightly in a clenched ball.

Miles was watching me curiously, and I expelled a rigid breath, hoping to release my frustrations. My mom could do what she wanted. She was a grown woman. If she wanted to plaster her face in makeup and turn herself into some sort of outdoorswoman, so be it. I just hoped that she didn’t allow her new husband to make her think that the past thirty years hadn’t meant something.

Because they did.





THIRTEEN





“I'm in the depths of despair!"

L.M. Montgomery - Anne of Green Gables





In case there was any confusion, pulling on an old swimsuit in the middle of winter to go jump in a frozen lake was my personal version of hell on earth. How did one dress for that? Miles insisted on picking me up at the cabin because he knew, with certainty, I’d never meet him on my own (points for being correct). After lunch, we’d met up with Chloe and Ben and the girls outside of the lodge and built two epic snowmen. Ivy and Holly’s snowman was of the Picasso variety, parts and sticks poking out everywhere. Miles and I went with a more classic look, with rocks and carrots, complete with an old scarf. We didn’t end up winning the competition, but one square of the bingo card got crossed off, which was enough for me. The crisp air had been surprisingly refreshing, and if Chloe had been on the fence about me and my supposed boyfriend, watching Miles chase her girls around the snowmen, tossing them into the air and catching them, definitely had to sway her in our favor. I even caught myself smiling at the non-stop giggles I heard from the girls and Miles.

It was only when my mom and Russ showed up that I feigned a headache and made my way back to my quiet cabin for a cup of hot chocolate and a book.

By the time the knock at the door sounded later that evening, I had pulled on Miles’s sister’s old swimming suit (the one he had kindly dropped off earlier), but it was now covered by my joggers, my flannel pajamas, and my white parka.

When I opened the door, Miles stood leaning against the door frame, a duffel bag strapped across his shoulder. He wore tan, insulated coveralls, his blue coat, and his gray beanie. There were bits of straw in the part of his hair not covered by the hat. He must have come straight here from doing chores.

“Broccoli.”

“Miles.”

“You skipped dinner.”

“I had a headache.”

“That sounds like something your boyfriend should know.”

He was probably right, but I hadn’t cared. “Sorry.”

I scooted back to make room for him to come in while I pulled on my boots. He stepped forward, but to my surprise, he headed toward the bathroom.

“I’ve got to change really quick.”

As he walked farther away from me, I contemplated a quick escape somewhere. Outside, a sky full of clouds covered the moon, resulting in a pitch-black evening. If that didn’t give me pause, the stiff breeze wafting into my cabin definitely did. But it had to be better than—

“I will hunt you down if you run,” Miles called cheerfully as he stepped into the bathroom.

I scowled at his back and closed the front door. Before I could put on my boots, Miles poked his head out of the bathroom.

“Quick question. How do you like your ham? Board shorts or Speedo?”

I threw my boot toward the bathroom door. Miles was laughing as he easily caught the boot and tossed it back to me. But it wasn’t until he was safely tucked away into the bathroom that I let out an embarrassed huff of laughter.

Thankfully, he chose the board shorts. He had a t-shirt on over his muscles, and I couldn’t decide whether I should feel grateful or disappointed.

“Is that all you’re wearing to walk over there?” I asked incredulously.

“Not all of us are wimps.”

“We’ll see how you feel on the walk back.”

“I’ll have my girlfriend to keep me warm.”

“If that’s your plan, I suggest you find a new girlfriend.”

“But I’m having so much fun with this one.”

We grabbed towels and fell into step together on the pathway leading toward the lodge, me stuffed inside my oversized parka and Miles dressed for a quick summer dip.

I paused when the pond first came into sight. It was probably about the size of half of a football field. It looked completely frozen over, save for a small dark hole in the ice next to the dock that two people could fit through.

“Looks like we aren’t the first to do this,” I said.

“We probably are. My dad keeps this section broken so people can jump in.”

“Of course he does.”

We rounded the corner of the lodge, and both of us stopped in our tracks. Through the steam and fog of the frigid night, the hot tub was already occupied—by one Glenn Foster. I froze, not sure what to do. Why Glenn? And why was he by himself? Next to me, Miles didn’t seem to know what to do either, but before we could retreat, Glenn looked up and saw us both. Thanks to Miles refusing to wear anything resembling winter wear, we couldn’t pass our appearance off on just going for a walk. We were clearly there for the hot tub.

At least, Miles was.

I began backing away. “He doesn’t know I’m here to swim, so…” I whispered frantically.

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