Hell no.“There’s nobody like Zoe. She’s amazing and unique and I’ve never met a woman like her. She’s one of a kind.”
Noah shrugged. “But you just assumed one day she’d wake up tired of you, so you didn’t even really hear her explanation. You went into the relationship because she’s one of a kind, but you expected it to end as if she’s like every other woman you’ve dated.”
“Did Carly give you a script?”
Noah snorted. “Carly doesn’t know I’m here, and I’m not sure how she’d feel about it. She likes you, but if there were T-shirts, ours would say Team Zoe. And I’m not even here to try to help you fix things with Zoe, to be honest. You’ve become a friend and I’m worried about you. Everybody is.”
Preston was reminded again that Zoe’s grandfather owned his house. And his office. “And Joe?”
“You don’t have to worry about anything there. He’s the captain of Team Zoe, but he’s a good man and that has nothing to do with business between you. He might not want to sit around and have a beer with you right now, but you’re not being evicted.”
He almost didn’t care. He could walk away from this and go back to Boston. Get a job at another firm. Work. Make money. Eventually forget about Zoe.
That would never happen. He wasn’t ever going to forget her.
“Look, obviously you care about her,” Noah said, and Preston’s feelings about that understatement must have shown on his face because his eyes widened. “Oh shit, are you in love with her?”
“Yeah. But when I read that text message... I should have known from the beginning it couldn’t work.”
“You can’t just shut that off. If you love her, you have to talk it through.” He held up his hand. “I know. I don’t like the talking part too much, either, but trust me. It makes relationships a lot easier.”
“And Zoe? How does she feel?”
Noah shook his head. “I’m not going to give you anything there. You want to know how Zoe feels? You ask her.”
That was fair. “I don’t know how to make this right. Maybe it’s better to just get through this pain and move on rather than risk more pain down the road.”
“Pretty sure that’s the philosophy that got you this pain to begin with.” Noah stood. “Look. I know planning for all eventualities is kind of your thing, but this isn’t something tangible. You have to have faith in her and in love and just make the jump. You think I don’t know how scary that is? I do. But I also know the risk is worth it for the right woman.”
Preston couldn’t imagine a woman more right for him than Zoe.
“I’m going to go,” Noah said. “I’m not the type to wallow in beer and eat bad cookies, but I wanted to make sure you’re doing okay. And you can always reach out to me if you want to have a meal or something.”
“I appreciate it.” And he meant it. He’d been feeling very alone the last few days, even with a couple of phone calls from his parents, and it meant a lot to him that Noah cared enough to stop in.
This wasn’t her best Christmas Eve ever.
Zoe’s favorite Christmas penguin pajamas weren’t helping with her mood, even though she’d put them on as soon as she closed the shop.
It had been a busy day of helping thoseverylast minute, panicked shoppers find the perfect book as a gift in five minutes or less. Because Noah’s parents did a big Christmas Eve thing and Zoe lived upstairs, she’d told Carly not to even bother coming in. She’d been invited to spend the evening with Noah’s family, of course, but she wasn’t up to forcing more holiday cheer today.
There was a gaping hole in her life where Preston had been, and no amount of eggnog and family time was going to fill it. She’d screwed up with that text meant to keep Carly off her back and she didn’t know how to fix it.
She didn’t know how to convince Preston shecouldfix it. He’d warned her she’d get bored with him and that text had convinced him he was right. But he was wrong. She couldn’t imagine ever being bored with him.
When she couldn’t take it anymore, she picked up her phone and went to the last text exchange with Preston. He’d been complimenting her Christmas window display and she’d been pretty damn proud of that.
She typed inI just want to wish you a merry Christmasand hit the button to send it before she could change her mind.
It was almost a minute before the three little dots popped up to show her he was going to respond and she held her breath waiting for it. Luckily, he typed fast.
I’m glad you texted. I have a gift for you.
Tears blurred her vision for a few seconds, until she wiped them away.Can we get together soon?
Hope flickered as she waited for his answer, and despite the risk of having her heart broken all over again, she let herself believe that little flame.
I’m parked across the street. I was trying to work up the courage to ring the bell.
