18. Nick

CHAPTER 18

NICK

T he entire drive home, all I could think about was Sydney and how I’d put her in this untenable position. If she lost her job, it was going to be all my fault. I couldn’t let that happen. Worst case, I’d play out my contract and wait for her. It’d be a long two years, but she was worth it.

“Mom, where’s Sydney?” I asked, swinging into the kitchen. I’d already checked upstairs; her laptop and suitcase were still there, but no Sydney.

“She took your bike and rode it up to the beach,” my mom said, glancing over at me from the kitchen sink.

“What? It’s freezing.”

“She said she needed some time to think, so I suggested she take a walk on the beach. It always helps me clear my head.”

I narrowed my eyes at my mother. “She told you, didn’t she?”

“We talked, yes.”

“Oh god,” I said, shoving my hand in my pocket. “I’m sorry, Mom, I never meant to lie to you. I just didn’t know how to tell you we broke up. I know how much you love Sydney. Don’t be mad at her—she didn’t want to go along with it, I talked her into the plan.”

My mom blinked at me, frowning. “What are talking about, Nick?”

“What? Oh, uh, nothing.” I quickly backpedaled, but it was too late.

“Nicholas Milton, you come clean right this second.” Her tone was stern, brooking no argument from me. I sat down hard on a barstool, facing my mother.

“And start from the beginning,” she warned.

“Fine.” I scrubbed a hand across the back of my neck and told my mom the story from the very beginning.

“Let me get this straight—you aren’t actually together? You were only pretending for our sake?”

I nodded. “Yes. Except I still want to be together. And I think Sydney feels the same way, but she also loves her job and I don’t want to make her choose between me and her career.”

“I see.” My mom took a seat next to me. “You could go to HR and tell them what you just told me—minus the still wanting to date part—and save her job.”

“Yes. And that’s what I need to tell Sydney before she does anything that could cost her the job. I have a two-year contract, but I’m willing to wait for her if that’s what she wants.”

“That’s a lovely gesture, Nicholas, and I’m sure she’ll appreciate it. Something tells me she won’t want to wait, though.”

“Really?” My face fell, imagining Sydney moving on with someone else.

“No. I’m fairly certain she feels the same way about you and two years can seem like a very long time when you’re waiting to be with someone you love. You have a lot to work through.” My mom patted my knee. “You better run up to the beach and find her before she calls HR and quits her job.”

“What? You think she’ll do that?”

“Strong possibility, I’d say. Go.” My mom swatted my arm, shooing me out of the kitchen. “And don’t forget her coffee!” She pressed it into my hand and then I rushed out to find Sydney before she did something I couldn’t undo.

T he beach was cold, windy, and empty. I spotted my bike leaning up against the wooden steps leading to the beach. I peered down the swath of white sand and saw one lone person about fifty yards away.

“Sydney!” I called out, but the howling wind swallowed up my voice.

Jogging down the steps, I was happy all that running in football training would finally pay off. Within two minutes, I’d caught up with her.

“Syd!”

She swiveled, her ponytail swishing behind her, her dark eyes wide with surprise.

“Nick! How’d you know where to find me?”

“I talked to my mom.”

“Oh.” She blinked, brushed a stray piece of hair out of her eyes.

“I told her the whole story, Syd. She knows the truth now.”

“I’m sorry, Nick. I didn’t mean for this all to come crashing down, on Christmas Eve no less.”

Her eyes filled with tears and she swiped at her face. I stepped forward, brushing them away, then taking her hands and locking eyes with her. “It’s not your fault, Syd. I got you into this mess. And my mom’s not mad at all. And even if she were, it wouldn’t be at you, so don’t worry about that for a second.”

She nodded. “I appreciate that, Nick, but it wasn’t all you. I went along with the plan, even though I knew better. And I’m going to accept whatever HR decides to do. Even if I get fired.”

“What?” I asked, frowning. “Why? Your job means everything to you, you can’t just give it up like that.”

Sydney shook her head. “No, it doesn’t.” She kicked at the sand with her shoe, then met my gaze. “You mean more to me than this job. I’m going to resign on Monday and look for another job. So we can be together. I mean—if that’s what you still want.”

I swallowed hard over the giant lump in my throat. “Sydney. I don’t want you to give up your career for me.”

“Well, it’s not my career, exactly. It’s a job. There are more out there, but there’s only one you.” She smiled up at me, her cheeks flushing a soft pink.

“I mean, that part is true. There is only one me. But I can’t let you do that. If HR won’t relax the co-worker clause, we can hold off on us for now. I only signed a two-year contract. Sure, it seems like forever right at this moment, but I’ll wait for you. You’re worth it.”

Sydney smiled again, and this time it reached all the way to her glittering eyes.

“Thanks, Nick. But after being apart while you were in Arizona, there is absolutely no way I’m making it two more years. The last few months were some of the loneliest, worst months of my life and I don’t want to be without you again. Even if it means losing my job.”

I bent down, taking Sydney’s face in my hands, and pressed my lips to hers in a soft, slow kiss. “I love you,” I murmured against her lips.

“I love you, too.”

We kissed on the beach until both of us were shivering. “I have your coffee in the car,” I said, wrapping my arms around her petite frame, trying to keep her warm. “It might still be lukewarm.”

She laughed. “Okay. What about the bike?”

“I can fit it in the back. C’mon, let’s get home and see if we can work something out with HR. Then let’s celebrate Christmas.”

“Sounds good.” Sydney stood on her tiptoes, placing a kiss on my lips, and I knew I’d just received the best Christmas gift ever.