“We weren’t.”
“Have you seen him?”
“Of course. It’s like nothing happened. Except it did. But I just need to put it out of my head. Onward. I’m not pining after a guy and honestly, I was a bit tipsy, he was all dressed up, it was romantic. It’s Wes. He drives me nuts and makes me laugh in equal parts but it wasn’t like that between us before and it’s my own fault I made things messy.”
“Are they messy?”
Hailey shrugged. Not really. But every now and again, she caught him looking at her in a way that made things feel … messy.
“No. They’re good. I’m seeing him tomorrow with his family. I’m excited. I can’t wait to give him his gift.”
She’d worked hard to choose just the right image from his drawings to have inked and framed. In addition to that, she’d bought him a gorgeous leather-bound art book with high-quality pencils. She hoped he’d love it. He didn’t put nearly enough stock in his own talent.
“I’m sure he’ll love it. I’m glad to hear you’re not pining away for him.”
Hailey smiled. “He’s my friend. There’s no room for pining.” Keep saying it. Maybe it’ll feel true.
Piper made herself busy, putting the turkey in the oven and not meeting Hailey’s gaze. Like a sixth sense, Hailey’s skin prickled.
“You know what would make tonight perfect?” Piper met her gaze finally.
“What did you do?”
“It wasn’t me. Not really. I mean, people shouldn’t be alone on Christmas.”
“Piper.” She gripped the countertop.
“It’s just us and I didn’t think there was any harm and you’re not pining for anyone. I thought—”
“Piper.”
She winced. “Seth is joining us for dessert on the way home from Christmas with his family.”
Hailey shook her head. “I’m borrowing one of your shirts.”
“You’re not mad?” Piper came around the counter, put an arm around Hailey’s shoulders.
This might be just what she needed to keep her from pining. “Mad that you invited a good-looking, successful, nice man to dinner at a time when I need a distraction? No.”
Piper’s forehead creased with worry. “Do you need a distraction from how you feel about Wes?”
Did she? “Maybe just a distraction from trying to figure out how I feel.” That was as much as she could admit right now.
“Then I’m not sorry. Why don’t you go up and use the Jacuzzi tub? Borrow my clothes. Go pamper yourself. You’ve been working so much.”
“You’re the one with kids. Shouldn’t you do that?”
Piper pulled her arm, putting a finger to her lips. They walked to the doorway that separated the kitchen from the family room. The girls were asleep with their heads on their stuffed animals. Jason had crawled up and curled into his father’s side. They were all snoring softly.
“Merry Christmas to all,” Piper whispered.
Hailey smiled, nudged her cousin forward. “Go rest with your family. I’ll watch the food.”
Her cousin went to the couch, nuzzled up to Jason, kissing his forehead, before laying her head on Nick’s arm. When her eyes closed, Hailey took her phone out of her reindeer-patterned pocket and snapped a picture.
A distraction would be good.
29
Wes listened to Morty’s sister, Dolly, tell them how he used to use her Barbie dolls as an audience for reading his favorite books.
Beside him, Hailey put her hand over her mouth and he knew she was hiding her grin.
Morty was doing nothing to hide his scowl. “If we’re telling tales, I have some memories of you having some pretty elaborate tea parties with members of the Beatles who looked a lot like stuffed bears.”
Dolly, an energetic woman with a strip of bright green in her snow-white hair, shrugged. “I regret nothing.”
It felt good, Wes realized, to be sitting with this eclectic group of people. It felt more like a family Christmas than any of the ones he could remember as a kid, even before his parents divorced.
They’d decided to use Boxing Day as their family Christmas to allow for the couples to have their own Christmases. Wes had spent a quiet day finishing up Hailey’s gift and texting her. He’d nearly suggested they get together but didn’t want to intrude on her day with her cousin.
Chris and Everly were curled into an oversized chair in Noah and Grace’s living area. The fire danced, giving off a low-level heat that worked against the breeze coming in through the open, screened windows. It was interesting, the scent of the ocean blending with the crackle of the fireplace.