12 Days of Forever(23)

“Here, here,” everyone says as our glasses clank together.

Yvie is across the room next to her mom and Katelyn, and she’s focused on them. This is how it should be. We aren’t a couple and my betraying heart implied that we were when I arrived earlier. I can’t make that mistake again.

“So you and Yvie?”

Jimmy pats me on the shoulder, as if to congratulate me. Only he doesn’t know that there’s nothing to celebrate.

“Nah,” I say with a shake of my head. “We’re just friends.”

“That’s too bad, mate. She needs a good bloke like you around. That arse she’s been with is a total loser.”

“So I hear.” I haven’t really because we haven’t talked about him much. I honestly don’t care about him and if he succeeds in getting her back, he’s one lucky bastard in my book. But if I find out he tells her she has a fat ass, I may just have to fly to New York and beat his.

I hate that these thoughts are running through my head. I need to be enjoying the moment and not thinking about what it’s going to be like when she goes. She’s leaving, there’s no question about that. Yvie’s been pretty damn clear from the get-go she’s only here visiting.

“You’d treat her better.”

There’s no doubt about that, but it’s never going to happen. “Are you telling me that I should move to New York?”

“What the bloody hell are you going on about? Yvie needs to move here, and you’re the one that could make it happen.”

My gaze falls onto Yvie, who happens to look in my direction. Her smile is infectious, and I find myself returning one.

“JD, even I don’t have the power to make a woman change her mind. Yvie has a career in New York, a life. Beaumont doesn’t have anything to offer her.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Take a look around you. We’re her family. If she knows you can give her all this as well as a happy life, what more could she want?”

I down the rest of my eggnog and turn toward him. “Women like Yvie are just like you. You crave the bright lights, the fans and the stardom that comes with doing something you love. Unlike you though, where you can set up a studio anywhere, she can’t. Broadway holds all her dreams so unless I gave up my business and followed her, I’m strictly in the friend zone.”

I have to walk away from Jimmy for two reasons: one, he makes everything seem so simple and two, because he’s right. She does belong here, but she’ll never be here as long as her dream is there. Sadly, there isn’t anything we can do about our dreams.



Headlights shine into my window, illuminating my dark living room. I bailed on Harrison’s the first chance I could get. After my conversation with JD, I just couldn’t be there anymore. I never thought I would fall so fast for someone, but I have. When I think about my future, I see Yvie standing next to me. I know it’s all a part of my imagination, and I just need to get over it. Everything will be fine once she goes back home. I’ll be able to move on with my life, and she’ll fulfill her dreams. It’s a win-win for the both of us.

I’m opening the door before she finishes knocking. Yvie steps in, and I slide my arm around her waist, pulling her to me with a little force. She smiles, biting her lower lip, teasing me. I shut the door and push her coat off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. I should stop now, but I can’t. I want this with her even if my heart breaks in the morning.

“You left me,” she whispers in the darkness. My fingers trail along her cheekbone.

“I didn’t think you’d notice.” I place a tiny kiss on each side of her mouth.

“How could I not?” she whispers, as my teeth tug on her earlobe. Her hands slide under my shirt and move until she’s tracing my pecs with her fingernails. I step back and pull my shirt over my head because I like the way she’s exploring my chest and don’t want her hands restricted.

“I see you were expecting me?” she says, pulling on my already loose belt.

“I was getting comfortable.” I crouch down and run my hands over her legs. She’s wearing a red sweater dress with black boots that go to her knees. All night I thought about what lies beneath. I trail my hands up her legs, pushing up her dress as I go. I stand and pull her dress over her head.

“Oh f*ck,” I blurt out when I’m rewarded with her perfect breasts covered in black lace. I suck one into my mouth and her nails dig into my back. My heart is yelling at me to stop while both my brains are telling me to go faster.