9. Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Cole

I woke early the next morning, cheerful, blinding sunlight streaming into the bedroom, reflecting off the thick blanket of snow piled high outside, West curled against my side, my arm around him. He stirred a few moments later, groaning as his eyelids fluttered open. I tightened my grip on his shoulder and pulled him in close for a quick kiss.

“Good morning,” I murmured.

He grinned sleepily. “Good morning.” A beat passed before his eyes lit up. “Merry Christmas.”

“Hmm, so it is.”

“Christmas is my favorite holiday.”

“I’m not surprised to hear that.”

He smiled so brightly that it almost hurt to look at. “It’s the magic, you know? Presents and gift-giving and snow. Families getting together to show their love for each other. There’s just something special about it.”

I kissed him again. “I’m really glad I’m here to start your Christmas out right, then.”

He glanced around and let out another soft groan. “It looks like the power’s still out.” Before he could say anything else, there was a loud beep from the kitchen and the hum of his heating system kicking in. “Or not.”

I slipped out of bed and made my way to the window to peek out through the blinds. “It looks like the roads are mostly plowed and passable, too.” Turning back to him, I sighed. “I should probably get out of your way.”

He shrugged, looking unbothered. “You’re not in my way. I am headed to celebrate with family in a bit, but you’re welcome to join. I’d really like it if you did, actually. I’m sure they’re going to ask about you. You are my boyfriend, after all.” He winked and grinned.

I’d almost forgotten about the way we’d convinced them we were dating, even though it had only been a few nights prior. I wished so much that I could take him up on the offer, but I knew it was impossible.

I shook my head and came back toward the bed, finding my discarded clothes from the night before and pulling them on. “I appreciate the offer, but my mom would have a fit.”

West laughed. “I believe that.” He hesitated for a brief second. “Are you headed back to the city tomorrow?”

A knot formed in the pit of my stomach and I bit my lower lip as I processed his words. The city. I’d almost let myself forget that I didn’t live here in Silver Creek. “I guess I am. Gotta get back to work.”

He nodded, sadness in his eyes. “I get it.” A second later, he slipped out of bed and opened his drawer, pulling out clean clothes and tugging them on. Once he was dressed, he turned to look at me. “I’m glad you came to Silver Creek though,” he said softly. “I hope you come back to visit sometime.”

My stomach hurt at the thought of leaving him. I wasn’t ready. “Of course I will.”

He nodded again, swallowing, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he did. We looked at each other for a few moments, awkwardness settling in.

“I’m going to go,” I murmured. I moved toward him to kiss him goodbye, but second-guessed myself, shoving my hands in my pockets instead. “I’ll show myself out.” I nodded and left the room, grabbed my things, and left West behind.

The walk to my mom’s house was miserable—cold, snowy, wet. I wasn’t wearing thick enough clothing to protect myself from the wind or cold and I paid the price for it. By the time I’d made it the several blocks away to my destination, I was chilled through. I kicked my boots on the top step to knock the snow off and proceeded into my mom’s house without hesitation.

“Mom?”

“Cole? I’m so glad you’re home. I’ve been worrying all night.” Her voice got closer as she spoke until she was standing in the foyer in front of me, wearing an apron and holding a spatula. “And look at you. Soaked to the bone and covered in snow.” She pulled me in for a hug and continued fussing over me. “You just had a health scare. You can’t put yourself at risk like this.”

I hugged her back tightly. “What did you want me to do? Miss Christmas morning?”

She pulled away and smacked me lightly on the shoulder. “I would’ve preferred if you’d just used that brain of yours and not stayed out into a blizzard. Did you lose power over there? We lost it here. It just came back on about an hour ago.”

“Yeah, the shop lost power too. It’s okay, we were fine. His apartment stayed warm.”

Mom smirked and raised her eyebrows knowingly. “I bet it did. I hope you were safe.”

“ Mom , seriously. It wasn’t like that.”

“If you say so, honey. Now, go take a hot shower and change so we can get on with Christmas. I’ll let your brother know you’re here.”

A little while later, I was warm again, in clean clothes, and sitting around the tree with my mom and my brother, laughing and sharing holiday magic. My heart ached though—I couldn’t stop thinking about West. Had he made it to his parents’ house, or did he stay home, alone on Christmas? Would I see him again? Soon? Or was what we had a quick fling? It hurt to think of it like that, but maybe that’s what West wanted. I suppressed a sigh and re-focused my attention on the holiday at hand.

The next morning, I headed out of Silver Creek and back to the city, to work and my apartment and my stressful life. As the next few days ticked by, I got back into the routine of working—taking on less stress than I had before—but I still felt off-kilter. I just couldn’t stop thinking about West Davies, the sexy, sweet shop owner who’d taken a liking to me. The feeling had been mutual.

I couldn’t stop wondering if he missed me or if I’d been just a ship in the night for him. Finally, after a week, I texted him.

Cole: Hey there. I hope your Christmas was a good one.

I didn’t expect a response, at least not anytime soon, but it came quickly.

West: It was good. Yours?

I took a deep breath and decided to tell him the truth.

Cole: A little lonely if I’m being honest.

West: Weren’t you with your mom and your brother?

Cole: I wasn’t with you.

When he didn’t respond right away, I sighed softly, trying to decide if he was busy with the shop or just trying to send me a message without explicitly turning me down. I shook my head—I had to stop waffling and just act already. I went to Tim’s office to have a little chat. I’d made my mind up, and I had every intention of going back to Silver Creek.