Matt loved me.
He was out there. Thinking about what today could have been too. I traced his smile with my fingertip. I’d find my way back to him if it was the last thing I did.
Runaway - Chapter 17
Tuesday - Christmas
Miller knocked on my bedroom door.
I groaned and rolled over. I didn’t want to face today. The 22ndhad been hard enough. But this would be my first Christmas without my mom. I thought I’d be spending it with Matt in the Bahamas. Two newlyweds having fun on the beach. The holiday would have been easier to swallow that way. But here in this house? No, I wasn’t going to face today. I’d already planned to tell Miller I was sick and had to stay in bed all day.
Miller slowly opened the door. “Merry Christmas.”
I opened my eyes and couldn’t help but smile. He was wearing a Santa hat and carrying a steaming cup of something.
“What are you wearing?” I asked.
“Just bringing some Christmas cheer.” He walked into the room and handed me the mug.
I looked down at the marshmallows floating on the top. “Hot chocolate for breakfast?”
“It’s Christmas. What else would we have for breakfast?”
I laughed. “Oh, I don’t know…” I pictured Christmas with my mom. “Monkey bread and eggs and fresh fruit and so much candy from our stockings.” I took a sip of the hot chocolate. Honestly, this was pretty great too.
He laughed. “Well, as we both know…I’m not that great of a cook. But…I think you’ll like what’s waiting for you in the kitchen.”
“What?”
“You’ll have to get up and see.” He grabbed the hot chocolate mug out of my hands.
Well, now I was too curious to not climb out of bed. Plus, it seemed like I had to or else he wouldn’t give me my hot chocolate back. And I didn’t feel like cooking, so that was probably the only thing I would get to eat all day. I shoved my feet into a pair of fuzzy slippers and followed him down the stairs. My feet froze on the last step.
Miller had transformed the whole first floor into something straight out of a Christmas movie. There was thick, green garland draped all over, covered in red ornaments and white Christmas lights. There was fake snow, candy canes, and the tree I’d ignored in the corner was fully decorated. It looked like a Christmas elf had broken into the house overnight and gone totally ham.
“What is all this?” I asked.
“I thought maybe we both needed a little Christmas spirit. Are you hungry?” He gestured toward the kitchen counter that was filled with everything my mom would make. The fresh fruit, the monkey bread, and scrambled eggs.
“But…how? How did you know?”
“You told me once. One of those times we chatted the night away in my bed.”
I remembered now. One of the nights I’d crawled into his bed back at my dad’s apartment. I always worried I rambled on and on. I wouldn’t have blamed him for not listening. I was…very talkative in his bed for some reason. Probably because when I was talking it was easier to keep my hands to myself. I shook my head and smiled up at him.
“I can guarantee it won’t taste as good as your mom’s…”
“Are you kidding?” I ran into the kitchen. “Besides, it’s the thought that counts.” I piled my plate high with everything, being careful to pick away a few burnt pieces of monkey bread. “Really, how did you even know what monkey bread was? No one ever knows.” I put a big chunk of the sugary goodness in my mouth and practically groaned.
He smiled. “I just looked it up. It’s basically cinnamon rolls.”
“Only a million times better. This is fantastic.” Sure, it wasn’t quite the same. And he’d definitely forgotten to salt and pepper the eggs. But I was so overwhelmed by his sweetness that I almost burst into tears.
“And wait for it.” He grabbed a remote and hit a button. Christmas music flooded into the room. “May I have this dance?” He bowed and put his hand out for me.
I’d told him dancing around the kitchen with my mom was one of my favorite memories of her. But she and I had never done it on Christmas. We were too busy eating too many sweets andopening presents. But I had a feeling this was going to be a new favorite tradition of mine. I took his hand and laughed as he spun me in a circle.
Honestly, I never thought I could be happy again. But it was really hard not to smile as Miller dipped me low in the kitchen. He was about as good at dancing as he was at cooking. And I kind of loved that.
