The Plight Before Christmas(110)

“I’m looking forward to it.” I look back toward the sky. “You know, I can’t really talk about crazy. I was just having a chat with the moon.”

She nods as if it’s the most natural thing in the world to admit as she searches the sky and finds it.

“So that guy is a friend of yours?”

I nod. “I was sick when I was young, cancer, and spent long stints in the hospital. When a close friend of mine died, my parents sheltered me to the point of unhealthy isolation. The moon sort of became my only friend.”

“Well, that makes sense. It’s got one hell of a gravitational pull, which has you fitting right in with us.”

She pulls me into her embrace, hugging me tightly to her. Emotion clogs my throat as I hug her back for several seconds. Maternal warmth surrounds me, a feeling I haven’t had in endless years.

When she pulls away, she beams up at me. “Welcome to the family, Eli.”





Ten days later…



Lova: I’ll be there when you get home. Kick ass today.

Don’t forget the habanero zauce and Pledge.

Lova: Ha ha. See you soon, beautiful.



Giddy, I tuck my phone into my purse and exit the warmed leather seat of my sparkling new SUV. I plant my matching red Jimmy Choo’s on the floor of the parking garage, feeling every bit the bad bitch as I strut away, chirping it locked behind me.

With pep in my step, I stride out of the elevator in a new sheath dress my serendipitous lova picked out for me during our week together.

The best week of my existence.

From the minute we left Triple Falls, we started to make little plans with big meanings.

For now, we’re going to do the long-distance thing so Eli can keep his promise to help Brenden migrate back to Nashville. After they’re sorted, we’re going to figure out where to go from there. Though Eli’s being tight-lipped about it, I’m positive he’s coming to Nashville not only to see me but to case the place. He’s mentioned more than once that he will do whatever it takes to make us work, and I have no doubt he will. Even though our living situation is unsorted, we’ve got an idea of what we want.

We made a new birthday bucket list on New Year’s Eve that included both travel plans and goals. Every night, I fell asleep on his chest, exhausted and sated. Waking up in his arms every morning felt like Christmas.

Striding past reception, I see Jared and Wes lift their brows as I whiz past, tempted to Fried Green Tomato their asses with a ‘face it boys, I’m older and have more insurance,’ but decide not to give them the time of day. Instead, I head toward my office, where Sophie and Zoe stand in wait, their heads whipping in my direction when they spot me, their collective eyes widening.

The three of us collide in afterglow, with smile-filled greetings and enthusiastic hellos.

“Who’s first?” I ask.

“You,” Sophie says. “Girl, what happened? When I didn’t hear back from you, I got worried. But, from the looks of it, you had one hell of a Christmas vacation.”

“Oh, I did,” I assure her, beaming.

“And does this vacation have a name?”

“He does. Eli.”

“Well, you look amazing,” Sophie says.

“You’re one to talk. Is that a tan line?” I ask.

“Yeah, you’re not going to believe what went down after our first night.”

“I have an idea. I got the pictures,” I say with a laugh.

“I’ve got so much to tell you,” Sophie says.

“Same.”

“And you,” I turn to Zoe and catch the new sparkle coming from her hand.

“Oh, wow, Zoe,” I gawk at her newly occupied ring finger. “He proposed?”

“Yeah,” she beams. “It was a total surprise.”

“It’s beautiful. Congrats.”

“Thank you.”

We all start talking at once just as Rich barks out my name, striding down the hall toward us.

“Lunch,” Sophie whispers, “on me. I’ll message you both.”

We quickly agree before Zoe hits her desk outside my door, and I head into my office. Rich follows. “You’re looking well, Whitney.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m feeling well. Did you have a good Christmas?”

“I did, thank you. Are you still working on that jingle for the Morton account?”

“Actually, sir, the Morton account now belongs to Stuart.”

“Well, I see no reason you two can’t—”

“Actually, sir, I’ve been meaning to talk with you about that. Honestly, that’s far above and beyond my job description.”

His bushy brows draw.

“While I value my position here, Rich, truly, I do, I have no intentions of that being ongoing if my efforts are going to continue to be overlooked. The Morton account belongs to your new Senior VP. You’ll have to get with him on that.”

“I see.”

“I’ve thought long and hard about it over the holidays, and I’ll be honest, I believe I deserved that promotion—and I think you know that.”

“I had to make a hard decision, Whitney.”

“To be frank, your decision is going to make things hard for this firm because he cannot invest the time I could have.”