Chapter twenty-one
Marley
Afterwavinggoodbyetothe last of the crowd, we got into our respective cars with a plan to meet back at my place. James needed to stop at his apartment to pick up Bambi and pack some clothes for the next few days. I made it clear I wanted him in my home and in my bed at least through Christmas morning.
My sisters did me a solid by grabbing a room at the Hampton Inn near the highway, giving us privacy for tonight. I had enough time to straighten up before James arrived. When I stopped to put some carols on in the living room, the image of him singing Kelly Clarkson flashed in my mind. I hadn’t had the ability to focus on the stage during his song—I’d been so keyed in on the messages flashing in the slideshow behind him. But there had been plenty of folks recording. I’d already received texts from friends containing links to James’s performance. Maybe it would go viral. A burly bearded guy in a red suit, long hair flowing, doing his best to channel his inner diva. I giggled, thinking of James’s voice breaking on the high notes and—oh my goodness—the image of him making the heart shape with his fingers, pumping them against his chest as he sang. Priceless.
And he’d done it all for me. By the time he finally knocked on my door, I was ready for a proper celebration.
Once we got the dogs settled, James and I retreated to the bedroom. It wasn’t my usual mode to play pillow princess, but he immediately had me on my back, coaxing me to “relax and enjoy it,” as he put his hands and mouth on me, drawing two orgasms from my overheated body before finally slipping inside.
As he moved himself slowly and methodically above me, I realized how much more confident he seemed compared to the first time we’d been together, especially considering the brightness of the moonlight through the window. But if he believed I loved him, then he must have understood that meant his sweet, grabbable love handles too.
We’d built so much trust between us in such a short time. The chemistry had always been there, waiting to ignite, but it had taken the magic of the season to fan the flames.
The next morning, James and I relaxed on the couch in our pajamas as we drank coffee and munched on toast, teasing the dogs with ribbons. From opposite end tables, our phones vibrated at the same time. I looked down with a frown to see James and I had been included in messages on a group text. From Kasen.
KASEN:I know I probably should have sent this yesterday. But in my defense, I wasn’t there yet. It’s hard when you realize the girl you once loved is actually the perfect person…
KASEN:For someone else.
KASEN:Just so you know, this next part is a copy/paste. These words took a minute.
KASEN:Marley, when James reached out to me explaining his position and telling me what he wanted to do, it really hit home how much I’d failed you during our years together. He’s known you less than half a year and he’s ready to do whatever it takes to make you love him. I picked our college. I picked Portland. Our apartment. And you went along with it because that’s what you do. You take care of people. You did everything to make me happy. Then the one time you asked me to do something, you asked me to come home with you while you took care of your dying mother who we both loved. And like a ginormous dick, I said no. I justified it at the time. But you were right to drive away and never look back.
“You contacted Kasen?” I asked James.
“Um…yes. After our last conversation, I kind of freaked out—you were pushing me away pretty hard—and Travis had his number. I figured it was a longshot, but I was willing to try anything.”
I smiled at him in understanding as a picture came through our phones. Kasen, standing in front of his parents’ house, holding a sign: MARLEY—IT’S OKAY TO CHOOSE HIM. HE SEEMS LIKE A GOOD GUY.
“Wow,” James breathed out.
I thought about the earnest way Kasen had asked for my friendship only a few days ago, hinting that he’d be open to something more. Deep down, he must have known our ship had sailed. “That must have been hard for him.”
I’d already made my decision about James. Kasen’s gesture was just a bonus. An unexpected, beautiful bonus. I opened my private text chain with him and sent just two words.
ME:Thanks, friend.
A moment passed. Three dots appeared and disappeared a few times before his message came through.
KASEN:Anytime, pal.
I showed the texts to James. He was probably a ways away from being totally comfortable with mine and Kasen’s friendship, but I imagined it would be okay, eventually. And, of course, it didn’t need to be figured out right this minute.
Just after noon, my sisters came back, followed closely by Will and James’s family. We ate an easy lunch of sandwiches and chips as they exclaimed over the decorations in my neighborhood and my house. Deanna and Chris had been charmed by everything they’d seen in Coleman Creek. I laughed when Leo leaned over to show me something on his phone, a picture of his parents with their arms around the Hawaiian-shirted Santa in front of the bowling alley.
I explained to everyone how James had helped with my decorations. There were several instances where James picked up a photo or knick-knack and could competently deliver its origin story. He’d clearly been listening when I’d relayed some of my family history. My sisters stood next to me as James held a photo of our mom from twenty years ago. He was telling his family about how Oscar had kept my mother company in her last days.
“I want that. One like him,” Miranda whispered in my ear.
I put my arm around her shoulders. “You will. You just have to stay in one place long enough to get it.”
Maureen murmured even lower, “I thought I had that once. But I was wrong.”
“What?” Miranda and I asked as one.
“Nothing.” Maureen said. “It was a long time ago, and it’s not up for discussion.” I thought I caught her eyes narrowing at Will, but it might have been annoyance with herself over the shocking piece of intel she’d just unwittingly given up.
