“Alex and Finley!” Mallory sobs.
“No,” Valerie gasps, hurrying into the room, her face ashen.
“Alex isn’t leaving,” I say quickly, wiping my tears. “But I am. I think it’s for the best. The last thing I want is to cause more trouble between all y’all.”
“If you think you’re leaving without me, you’re crazy,” Alex grinds out, his teeth clenched.
I stare up at him, stunned. I’m not his girlfriend. I’m not anything to him. So why is he acting like this is upsetting him enough to make him leave with me? Unless… maybe he just wants an excuse to leave too.
The thought makes me feel even worse.
“No one’s leaving,” Dr. Bob cuts in, voice like steel, then he stalks out of the room.
Valerie steps close, her hands trembling, eyes shining with tears. “Alex, I know you’re upset—and you have every right to be—but please, don’t go. I just got you here. And Finley—” her voice breaks. “Finley’s such a delight.”
The hardness on Alex’s face flickers, but only for a second. “I can’t let him talk about her like that.” He gestures toward me, his fury rising again. “I promised her a sweet family Christmas, and she’s crying. On Christmas!” His fists clench, every muscle in his body wound tight, his hands fisted at his side. “He can say what he wants about me, but not her.”
Valerie lifts her hands, pleading. “I know, I know. We’ll fix this. Just… don’t make any decisions yet. Please.”
He gives a stiff nod, then wraps an arm around my back, tugging me close.
I glance up at him and lower my voice. “Alex, can I speak with you alone?”
He stares down at me, and the worry in his eyes steals my breath. How can he look at me like that? How can he be so worried about me?
Because he’s not a monster, Finley. Besides, he’s your friend.
He nods, then leads me into his parents’ office, shutting the door behind us.
“God, Finley—” he starts, his voice raw.
“Let’s just take a deep breath.” I do it first, holding his gaze. Inhale. Exhale. I draw another breath, and this time he follows, and a little tension drains from his shoulders.
“Okay,” I say, forcing calm, even if it’s a struggle to reach it. “I know you don’t know me very well, but despite the fact I came on this trip with you, I’m usually very practical.”
“I already know that,” he says, his forehead creasing. “You can’t live the life you’ve lived without being practical.”
My heart gives a ridiculous flutter that he knows that about me, but I shove it aside. “We need to look at this logically. Grant’s acting out because he’s hurt over his breakup, and I’m the easy scapegoat. I think the most logical—and kindest—solution is for me to go.”
He starts to protest, but I close the space between us and press my finger to his mouth. “Alex. You know I’m right.”
His eyes flare slightly, and it’s like a jolt of electricity sparks from his lips into my fingertip. Does he feel it too—the pull for something more? Does he want me to replace the finger with my lips?
What would it be like to kiss him? Just once. I’ve never believed in Christmas wishes, but if my Hollybrook Christmas is unraveling, would it be so bad to steal one? This is already ending badly. How much worse could it get?
But before I can act on my impulse, he gently tugs my hand down and lets go. “You leaving isn’t being kind to you. I promised you a Hollybrook Christmas.”
Disappointment washes through me at the lost chance to kiss him, but the truth is, things could be worse. I’d rather live in the fantasy of possibility than the reality of rejection. “And I got a Hollybrook Christmas.” I manage a crooked, self-deprecating smile. “It just wasn’t the Christmas either of us expected.”
“No.” Fury fills his eyes. “If you go, then I go too.”
“And you’ll break your mother’s heart.”
Something wavers in his expression. He knows I’m right.
A knock interrupts us, followed by his father’s voice. “When you two finish up here, will you meet us in the living room?”
I stare up at Alex, my chest tight. For a heartbeat, I let myself imagine this is real—someone fighting this hard to keep me. Someone whose arms could be home.
