Page 47 of Just Home for the Holidays
“No, not really.” Mandy sat on the side of the bed. “I just wondered whether Hunter would be awake yet or still recuperating.”
Normally, Chloe would have smiled, but instead she frowned, remembering their disagreement. “Looking for a fake date?” she said lightly instead of sharing that and Mandy studied her.
“I owe him a carousel ride. Since we’re going to Central Park to check out their decorations and carousel this morning, I thought he might want to come along.”
“He’s working,” Chloe said and got out of bed, avoiding her sister’s gaze.
“Is he coming to see the lights in Dyker Heights with us tonight? There’s room since Marshall’s driving up and Mom won’t go.”
“No,” Chloe said.
“Skating tomorrow?”
“I don’t have another ticket.”
“You could...”
“Look, Mandy, Hunter’s not going to be around again. We had a fake date for last night and it’s done. We’re done.”
“I see.” Mandy perched on the vanity. “You didn’t look like you were done last night. Josh sure didn’t believe that you were done.”
“Well, it was just fun.”
“Are you done, or is Hunter done?” Her sister had no shortage of perceptiveness.
Chloe exhaled. “He hates Christmas. Something happened, he won’t tell me what, and we argued last night when I asked. He says we’re done.”
Mandy nodded. “How was the sex?”
“Great.”
She nodded again, thinking.
“We’re too different,” Chloe said. “It would never work. That’s why I thought it was perfect when he volunteered. There’s no chance of either of us falling for the other one.”
“Is that right,” Mandy murmured.
“What?” Chloe spun to look at her sister, who had her Wise Older Sibling expression.
“I’ve never seen you as radiant as you were last night,” Mandy said. “You were having a great time and everyone knew it. Hunter was having a blast. You two had eyes only for each other and there was a magic about the way you were together.”
“It was an act.”
Mandy shook her head. “No. Everyone who was at that function knows you’re both falling in love. Maybe he’s afraid of that. Maybe you’re afraid of that, and grabbing at the chance he’s giving you.”
“I don’t think so,” Chloe said but she wondered.
“Here’s what I think,” Mandy continued. “That kind of connection doesn’t come along very often and when it does, you should check it out. It might not lead to forever, but there’s something powerful about it. Maybe you just need to learn something from each other. Maybe you’re just going to have a good time together.” She nodded wisely. “Maybe it’s just about great sex, but don’t discard it, kiddo. Not before you’re sure.”
“He said it’s over. If I call him about attending any of these events on my schedule, he’ll just pass.”
“Shouldn’t you find out?”
Chloe got her phone and called Hunter while Mandy watched. The call went directly to voice mail. “He’s blocked me.”
“Interesting that he’d bother. It must matter.”
Chloe sent him a text message.
