“Are you serious!?” Chloe sneers. “We’re just going to all spend time at the lodge together like some big old happy family? Like this isn’t just a ruse they’re playing at?” She’s glaring at me as she takes a step toward where Xavier and I are sitting on the couch. Dalton grabs Chloe by the elbow and quietly says something to her. His eyes quickly dart to me before returning to Chloe. It’s too late. Chloe saw the shift in his attention. She makes some sort of angry screech before she stomps toward the exit. “Fine!” she shouts. “Come on Dalton. We’re. Leaving.” She has his hand gripped tightly and is dragging him out the room before he even has a chance to say goodbye.
“My goodness, what is up with her? I mean, honestly.” Penelope shakes her head before sitting on the arm of Theo’s chair, as he quickly wraps his arm around her. “Anyway, I’m so happy you guys will be coming to the lodge!”
“Yeah about that, Mom,” Xavier starts and the look on his moms face begins to fall. “No, no. We’re still coming,” he clarifies before continuing. “While I will be able to move things around to get the time off, Harper still needs to work for at least the first week we’re there. She’s an editor, so she can do it remotely. So she’s going to need a space of her own for the first week so shecan get work done.”
“Oh, absolutely no problem, we can make that work! Especially if that means you’re still going to be coming!” She sends hopeful eyes in my direction.
“If I can get my own space where I can work for a couple hours a day, then absolutely.” I give her a genuine smile, happy my work doesn’t have to suffer for this, and relieved at the load of stress I no longer have to face.
We spend the next half hour going over the events that will be happening during our trip. The first week sounds like it's just getting ready for Christmas, with socializing and shopping. There are a few Christmas parties that Penelope informs us we will be attending. Xavier cuts in a time or two, asking about going skiing and some ice fishing. While his parents don’t seem to be entirely open to that idea, they still agree to it, nonetheless.
A yawn escapes my mouth before I can stop it. Xavier catches me trying to cover it, but stands up and offers his hand. I place my hand in his and he helps me stand.
“I think it’s time to head out. Thanks for having us for dinner.” Xavier has pulled me into his side, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I follow suit by wrapping my arm around his waist.
I smile brightly at his parents. “Thanks so much for having me over. Dinner was delicious.”
Penelope grabs my hand with one of hers and pats the top of my hand with the other. “It was a pleasure having you here. I’m so happy to see Xavier finally bringing someone around. For a moment, I thought he would just stay single forever!” I feel Xavier's body stiffens, and I look up at him to catch the way his jaw flexes. He gives a forced smile before leaning forward to give his mom a kiss on the cheek.
He still has me tucked at his side, even after we’re away from everyone. I don’t let go though, because it feels like he needs this comfort right now. I begin to smooth my hand up and down his back as we walk. He seems like he’s in a trance of some sort. As I continue my motions, he begins to relax a bit more. I finally decide to break the silence as we make it to thetruck and he unlocks it, removing himself from my side to open my door for me again.
I get little flutters in my stomach every time he’s done this. It’s something you don’t see anymore. I tilt my head up, studying him. His jaw is still set in a tight form, and the look in his eyes seems like he was trying to keep me at arms length. It is as if Xavier doesn’t want me to see the emotions that he’s holding back. I place my hand gently on his forearm, and he flinches. I remove my hand quickly, giving him an apologetic look. “Where’d you go up in there?” I bring my hand up to my temple and give it a tap. His eyes pierce mine for a minute before a soft smile appears on his face.
“It’s nothing. I’m sorry.” He runs his hand over his face and sighs heavily. “It’s just—I dealt with some shit when I was younger, and it put me off from getting close to anyone. I’m only telling you this so you understand the reason why I mentioned the two of us fake dating after we kissed. I just need you to know that.” He pauses and looks off into the distance.
“It’s okay. I get it.” I say with as much support as I can portray in a look. “You don’t have to give me your life story. I don’t expect you to do that. I do want you to know that I got you, okay? Whatever that means during this whole thing.” I don’t give him a chance to respond as I hop into the truck and close the door myself. He stands there for a minute before shaking his head and heading toward his side of the truck.
The drive home is quiet. The music is on low, and I watch the world pass as we drive back to my house. I begin mentally making a list of everything that I will need to pack for this getaway. It’s then that I realize I have zero winter gear of any sort. Alright, then. I will be immediately ordering things when I get home. I’m sure there isn’t that much that I need. Right?
The truck slows as Xavier turns into my driveway.
“Thank you for the ride. I guess I’ll see you next week?” I begin to unbuckle myself, when Xavier interrupts me. “Wait.” My eyes drop to the seatbelt.
“Oh no. I can get out by myself, it's fine.” I hear the click of the truck as he locks it while he runs around the truck, and then unlocking it before opening the door for me. “You know I am perfectly capable of getting myself out of your truck.”
That smirk that melts my panties appears on his face. “And miss an opportunity to catch you when you fall?” He says it with such amusement, and it is a stark contrast to how he was when we left his parents. He helps me down and walks me toward the front door. I’m looking in my bag to grab my keys in case Evie locked the door.
“I just wanted to apologize for how I was when we left. My mom can seem like a good person, but she knows what to say to get under your skin.” When I turn to look at him, his hands are in his pocket and he’s looking down at his toes, shifting his weight. When he looks up, I see the sincerity shining in his ocean blue eyes. “It’s part of the reason I do my best and attempt to not attend these dinners. I try to avoid the remarks about my single life, because that seems to always be the focus. Not my successes, like the clinic.”
I take a step forward and watch as his eyes focus on my movement. “For what it’s worth,” I pause, noticing how being this close forces me to look up at his over six foot stature. “You should be proud of your accomplishments. That clinic is amazing. You really care for these animals, and you can see it in the way you interact with them. The way you helped someone out in an emergency situation, because her poor dog got into a scuffle with a porcupine.” I see the slightest twitch of his lips, and it makes my own smile grow. “You don’t need to apologize for your feelings.”
Xavier stares at me, the air around us heavy. There’s a sense of awe in the way he’s looking at me, and it makes a chill go down my body. He catches the movement before taking a slight step back. “Thank you. I appreciate that. I’m going to get going. I’ll text you more details of the trip as my mom sends them over.”
“Okay, sounds good! I’ll talk to you later then” I begin walking backwards to my door. “Goodnight, Xavier.”
“Goodnight, Harper.”
I stand on my doorstep, watching as he drives off. My mind replays the night as I turn inside. It didn’t go as bad as I thought it would. The look on Dalton’s face when he saw me was absolutely priceless. I thought for a moment that he was going to pass out. I didn’t expect the way that Chloe reacted though. I mean, I didn’t interact with her that much when I would visit Dalton on his lunch breaks. She definitely was fake-friendly to me to save face, but I caught the way she looked at me with judgement. When she accused me of trying to get Dalton back? That’s where she was so wrong. When I found out Dalton had been cheating on me, it broke something in me. Yes, he broke my heart, but he also broke my trust. And that’s something that he won’t get back. Trust is huge for me. When I give my trust, I am believing in you that you won’t abuse or break it.
She seemed to be so fixated on that, so I knew I needed to say something and set things straight. The only white lie in my whole spiel was that Xavier and I didn’t know Dalton would be there. And then there’s this three week long vacation at the ski lodge. I feel my heartbeat pick up again thinking about spending three weeks with his family… and Dalton. That’s three weeks of having to keep the charade up and act like a couple. I’d rather crawl into a hole and avoid it all, to be honest.
And dear God, if Xavier keeps kissing me the way he did tonight? I’m in for a rude awakening when this is all over. I think back to that kiss, and the way the world seemed to have slowed down when I faced him, seeing just how close we were. My breath hitched as he leaned forward and closed the small distance between us. It was soft and sweet, not rushed or demanding. His woodsy scent was rich and warm, with the undertones of spice mixed in, reminding me of a warm fire. It was perfect. Andthatwas terrifying.
Itisterrifying.
I’m not able to think much more about it as the front door swings open, and Winnie barrels through the doorway, right into my side. I let out a small grunt as he collides with me. I bend over to greet him, laughing as he circles around me, wiggling his whole backside in happiness. A loud clearing of her throat informs me that Evie is standing there in thedoorway. I peek through my lashes and am met with Evie in her favorite band t-shirt and shorts. Arms crossed over her chest, her golden locks are pulled up into a messy bun. The spacers in her ears are a plain white silicone, and when I look at her moss green eyes, they’re looking at me questioningly.
“Get your ass in here, and spill.” She demands, as Winnie runs past her back inside. I stand up and follow into the house, putting my things away and taking off my boots.
