18. Thorne
EIGHTEEN
Thorne
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock / Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring.
11:25 am
The hotel lobby has been transformed into a kind of winter wonderland drive-in, minus the cars. The chairs and tables have been cleared away, leaving room for people to sprawl out on blankets and pillows spread across the floor. A large screen dominates one side of the room, ready for the midday feature: National Lampoon ' s Christmas Vacation .
I can't help but grin as I look at the setup. It's not just any Christmas movie—this is the Christmas movie. My favorite, not just during the holidays but in general. I've seen it a hundred times, maybe more, and every single time, it cracks me up.
Woodley is beside me, settling onto a blanket we've claimed near the fireplace. The smell of popcorn and hot chocolate floats through the air, and a fire crackles in the background, casting a warm glow over the room. It's cozy, festive. The perfect setting to just relax and enjoy the afternoon.
The crowd has thinned out a little since the weather's cleared, but there's still a decent number of guests, all bundling up on the floor, ready for the movie. Families, couples, kids—everyone looks ready to just unwind after the storm.
Woodley hands me a steaming cup of hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and a candy cane sticking out. "Here," she says with a smile, settling in beside me. "Can't watch a movie without the essentials."
"Popcorn too," I add, grabbing a bowl from the snack table. "And for this movie, it's a requirement."
She chuckles, sipping her hot chocolate. "I get the feeling you love this movie. You're so subtle."
I nod, a grin spreading across my face. "The best. I'm giddy, I can't help it. Sorry if I'm being annoying."
"Not annoying, cute," she says glowing.
As the movie is really getting into its groove, I glance over at Woodley. She's smiling at the screen, obviously enjoying it. Theres something about the whole scene. It's like we've crossed into something new. No tension, no awkwardness—just us, sitting together, watching a holiday movie like any normal couple.
The scene where Clark's stuck on the roof trying to put up his Christmas lights comes on, and I laugh, shaking my head. "Poor guy just wants the perfect Christmas, and everything keeps going to hell. I can identify. The good news is, it all works out in the end."
Woodley grins, leaning closer to me. "Wait, don't spoil it."
"I didn't tell you how…"
"Kinda like us, huh? Stuck here when everything went wrong but it hasn't turned out so bad."
"We still have to see how this meeting goes this afternoon before I can say definitively," I joke as I poke her playfully.
"Where is that blind confidence from a few days ago? Of course we will land it. What did you say, we would have to shit the bed not to get it, or something like that?"
"Good point," I laugh and lean in to kiss her. "I guess things going wrong isn't always so bad."
3:42 pm
We stand by the door, both of us dressed and ready. I glance over at Woodley, who's checking her reflection in the mirror one last time. Her hair is sleek and perfect, her tailored suit giving her an air of complete professionalism, even though the last few days have been anything but smooth. She's sharp—more than ready for this meeting.
I'm adjusting my own tie when she looks over at me, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It's hard to believe we've only been here for three days," she says, shaking her head. "Feels like we've been through a lot more than that."
"Yeah, no kidding," I say, straightening my jacket. "We've survived a bomb scare, a snowstorm, two flight cancellations, and being stranded at a hotel. All for this damn meeting."
Woodley steps closer, giving me a once-over. "Well, at least we're finally here. We made it."
I grin, reaching out to brush a small smudge off her cheek. "Yeah. We're going to kill it."
She smiles up at me, and without thinking, I smooth my thumb across her skin, making sure she's absolutely flawless. "There," I say softly. "Perfect."
Woodley chuckles, reaching for my tie. "You know, for someone who's so rich and confident, I wouldn't have expected you to have this crooked tie the whole time."
She adjusts it, her fingers brushing lightly against my chest as she fixes the knot, and for a second, everything feels still. There's something about this moment—the two of us standing here, side by side, looking our best after everything we've been through—that makes me realize just how far we've come.
"Ready?" she asks, stepping back and giving me an appraising look.
I nod. "Ready."
We lock eyes for a beat, both of us knowing how much this pitch means. It's not just about the account anymore—it's about everything we've overcome to get here.
"Let's kick ass," I say, grinning.
She nods, determination flashing in her eyes. "Let's do it."
And then, without thinking, I step forward and kiss her. It's not rushed or frantic like it's been before. It's calm, sure, like we've both found our balance. When I pull back, she's smiling softly at me, and for once, I feel steady.
We grab our briefcases, and as we walk out the hotel room door toward the elevator, there's a sense of finality in the air. This is what we came here for, and after everything we've been through, we're more than ready.
ValorTech Offices
500 Boylston Street, Boston
5:36 pm
Woodley and I stand to leave. I reach out my hand to shake hands with Thom Vicary, who stands to meet me with an approving grin. The room is still filled with the energy from our presentation, and I can feel the adrenaline buzzing in my veins. We did it.
And I'm pretty sure we nailed it.
"Well," Thom says, his eyes twinkling as he looks between us, "I'll need to discuss things with the rest of the team, but I have to say, your dedication to getting here, and the pitch itself, tells me everything I need to know. You both showed up despite all the obstacles. That speaks volumes."
Woodley smiles, the glow of excitement lighting up her face. "We appreciate that, Thom. We're just glad we were able to make it happen."
Thom stands and extends his hand toward Woodley and says, "You two knocked it out of the park."
"Thank you. We're looking forward to working with you," she says as she shakes his hand firmly and makes that strong eye contact she does so naturally. I love her closing, alluding to the fact that we will work together, no waiting on the word from him.
Woodley and I gather our materials, offering final thanks before heading out of the office. As the door closes behind us, we exchange a glance, one full of shared excitement and a sense of accomplishment. We walk down the hall toward the elevators, both trying to keep our cool, but the second the doors close behind us, we can't contain our excitement.
I can't resist anymore. I turn to Woodley, cup her face, and pull her in for a deep, passionate kiss. I've been wanting to do that ever since we walked into the conference room, watching her command the room. "We nailed it," I say with a grin, letting her go. I hold up my fist for a bump.
She grins back, bumping her fist against mine. "We fucking killed it, Thorne. You're sexy as hell when you're in your element."
The rush of everything hits at once—the pitch, the tension of the last few days, and now, this overwhelming sense of success. I lean back against the elevator wall, feeling lighter than I've felt in days. "There's no way we don't get this account."
The Grand Meridian Hotel
6:12 pm
The high from the meeting hasn't worn off. Woodley and I are sitting in the hotel lobby, the warmth of the fire flickering nearby, surrounded by Christmas lights and holiday decorations. It feels like the perfect moment, celebrating a win that just a few days ago seemed impossible.
I lean back in my chair, feeling more relaxed than I've been in a long time. Everything is falling into place—professionally, personally. I take a sip of my drink.
The vibration of my phone in my pocket pulls me out of my reverie. I pull it out, glancing at the notification on the screen. It's my flight confirmation. It's finally rescheduled after all the changes and road blocks. I'm leaving tomorrow at 11 AM and heading back to D.C.
Relief washes over me for a moment. Finally, a way out, and just in time for Christmas. I exhale, feeling the weight of the last few days lift slightly.
But then I glance over at Woodley, who's checking her phone, too. She frowns, her lips pulling into a tight line.
"Still delayed?" I ask, setting my glass down.
"Yeah," she sighs, "until Christmas Eve. I won't get back to Chattanooga until the afternoon. I guess the good news is I won't have to travel on Christmas Day."
I nod, but the truth is, that doesn't seem like good news to me. I appreciate her ability to find the silver lining, but the thought of leaving her here, alone at this hotel at Christmas, makes my chest tighten.
I sip my champagne, my mind racing. She shouldn't be here alone at Christmas. She shouldn't be stuck in some hotel, stranded in a city that means nothing to her, while I'm back home with my family.
Suddenly, the idea hits me—bold, maybe a little aggressive, but if Woodley has taught me anything through this, aggressiveness is important in certain situations.
I set my glass down and lean forward, catching her eye. "Woodley," I say, my voice softer than before.
She looks up, curious. "Yeah?"
I hesitate for a moment, wondering if I'm about to go too far. But I can't shake the thought of her being here, in this place that's meant so much to us, without me. "Come with me."
Her brow furrows in confusion. "Come with you where?"
"Home," I say, the word hanging in the air between us. "To D.C. Spend Christmas with me. With my family."
Her eyes widen, surprise flickering across her face. She opens her mouth to say something, but no words come out. I can see the wheels turning in her mind, processing what I'm asking.
"Look," I continue, "you shouldn't be stuck here by yourself. I don't want to leave you behind. Just come with me. Spend Christmas with us. With me. We have a huge family dinner on Christmas Eve. You'll love it, even if I'm annoying, you'll get good food and get to meet all my people."
She stares at me, and for a moment, everything else fades away—the noise of the lobby, the crackling fire, even the fact that I just made the most impulsive move I've ever made.
She doesn't respond right away, and I can feel my heart beating faster as I wait for her answer. I've never wanted anything so badly in my life than for someone to say yes.