“Send me your flight information.”
There’s no mistaking the snap of command in her words. I say goodbye and hang up.
I let out a long sigh and trudge back to the living room. I hear Valencia’s voice, and when I round the corner, I see she’s on the phone.
“That’s so nice of you, Heather. I would love to see you and Patrick, and, of course, Fern, but ...”
At the mention of Fern, I realize what’s happening. If Heather and Patrick are Fern’s parents, that also makes them ...
No fucking way.
I stalk over, letting my stockinged feet slam on the floor so Valencia hears me coming. She sends me a weary look but continues speaking to Heather Mulholland.
“Yes, I always enjoyed spending Christmas morning with you, but I don’t think it would be ... All right, maybe Christmas Eve dinner ...”
My jaw tightens and I shake my head.
Valencia gives a helpless shrug. “Well, if you think it’ll be okay, maybe I can stop by for a little bit.”
I run my hands through my hair and fight back a growl.
“Sure, Heather. Thank you. See you then. Bye.”
When she hangs up, I let loose. “What the hell was that?” Lingering frustration from the call with my own mother makes my voice harsher than I intend.
“Gideon, please.” Valencia doesn’t meet my eyes as she pulls the blanket around her.
“Should I guess? Because it sounded like you were letting Mulholland’s mother steamroll you into spending Christmas with yourex-fiancé.”
Her eyes squeeze shut, and my heart sinks. Shit, I’ve gone too far. But when she opens her eyes again, they’re blazing with dark fire.
“Do you think I don’t realize that?” she hisses. “But that woman is the closest thing I’ve had to a parent foryears. I miss her. And besides that, she’s not easy to say no to. She wanted me to come over for Christmas Day, and this is the compromise.”
I glare at her. “You and I already have plans.”
“It gets dark at four o’clock. We can go see the lights before dinner, and then your obligation to me will be over and you’ll be free to spend the rest of the day with your mom.”
The wordobligationpings my radar. This isn’t the first time she’s said it. But I don’t want to tell her my mother is staying in Paris, so I ignore it and try a different tack.
“I’ll go with you.”
She chokes out a disbelieving laugh. “Are you kidding? You and Everett, in the same room? Withme? I don’t think so.”
It does sound like a recipe for disaster, but the thought of her being around him makes my blood boil. I don’t know what happened between them, only that Valencia broke off the engagement, but I wouldn’t put it past that dickhead to try to cajole his way back into her life. That’s how he was in school, always worming his way into and out of trouble. I don’t know what the hell she ever saw in him, but then, I don’t know what she sees inme, either.
I press the issue. “You shouldn’t have to go alone. That was our deal, right? To keep each other company leading up to Christmas.”
She tries to shrug that off, but I can see it gets to her. “Fern will be there, and her parents. And probably some of their friends and relatives.”
“That’s not going to be weird for you? With everyone knowing you’re his ex?”
“Ofcourseit’ll be weird!” The words burst out of her, tinged with exasperation, and—shit—sadness. “But they’re the closest thing to family I have left.”
What about me?I think, but it’s ridiculous. I have no right to say that.
Her shoulders slump and she rubs the back of her neck. “Look, can we just give it a rest and finish the movie? We were having a really nice day before this call.”
I don’t want to give it a rest. I love arguing, and I lovewinningarguments even more. But this isn’t a case, and Valencia isn’t the opposing counsel. I can tell this conversation is hurting her, and that’s the last thing I want to do.
