“Yes, Carla is staying at the lodge,” Sofia said after a long pause. “There were no flights back, and I couldn’t just throwher out. But I didn’t know what else to do, so I left. And…” She squeezed Nat’s hand. “I was hoping you’d let me stay here tonight.”
Nat’s pulse quickened, her mind reeling. She struggled to make sense of the emotions rushing through her—relief, confusion, and the lingering hurt from that afternoon. She met Sofia’s gaze, searching for any hint of insincerity, but found none. “You want to stay here?”
“If that’s okay with you,” Sofia whispered. “If not, I’ll figure something out. I’d rather not be anywhere near Carla.”
Nat sighed. “Of course, you can stay here.”
“Thank you. I’m so sorry I ruined Christmas Eve.”
“You didn’t,” Nat lied. She didn’t want to make Sofia any worse and it wasn’t her fault. Besides, who was she fooling? She wanted nothing more than one more night with Sofia. “So… you’re… really done with her?”
“Yes. Completely done. I didn’t leave the lodge to come here tonight because I had to. I came because I wanted to see you. I didn’t want to end this night without telling you how I feel.”
Nat’s lips parted as the weight of Sofia’s words sank in. “And howdoyou feel?”
“I feel… like I’ve been given a second chance, and I’d be a fool to waste it. Being with you, Nat… it made me realize that maybe I can trust again.” She paused. “I barely heard a word of Carla’s apology. It didn’t mean anything to me. All I could think about, while she talked, was that I wanted to be with you tonight. I realized, standing there, that I’m over her, Nat. Carla is a thing of the past. She can’t hurt me anymore.” Her gaze hardened slightly. “Honestly, I think she only showed up because things didn’t work out with her new flame… my best friend.”
Hearing Sofia’s words, Nat felt a rush of emotions crash over her—surprise, relief, and something warmer, more tender, blossoming quietly inside her chest. She’d kept her expectationslow, forcing herself not to hope for anything more than a fleeting holiday romance. But here was Sofia, confessing feelings Nat hadn’t dared to acknowledge in herself, and that glimmer of hope she’d tried so hard to suppress was suddenly alight, undeniable. Sofia wanted more; and despite all her fears, Nat wanted that, too.
As if sensing her hesitation, Sofia’s voice softened, her gaze searching. “I understand if this was just… a bit of fun to you. But I want you to know that I’d love to see you again. After all of this.” She took a shaky breath, her vulnerability laid bare. “If you don’t, that’s okay… but?—”
“I do,” Nat interrupted, her heart racing. She tightened her grip on Sofia’s hand, leaning forward until their faces were close enough to feel Sofia’s warmth against her skin. “I do want to see you again. I thought I could keep this simple, but… I’d be lying to myself if I said that’s all this was.”
“Really?” Sofia whispered, her eyes brightening with hope. She let out a quiet laugh, a trace of disbelief in her expression. “Well, then… I guess we’re not done yet.”
Nat smiled. “I hope not.” She glanced around her apartment, unable to keep the goofy grin off her face. “So… since you’re staying, we should probably have a drink to celebrate. I’ll be honest, though—I don’t have much on offer, and my bed is nothing like the ones at the lodge. It’s small.”
Sofia laughed as she leaned in. “I’ll take my chances with whatever you have to drink.” Her hand found Nat’s once more, and she laced their fingers together. “And as far as the bed goes… sleeping in a small bed with you sounds rather exciting…”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Turning slowly as she awoke, Nat's gaze fell on Sofia. Her heart leaped, a wild, exhilarating pulse as she took in Sofia’s relaxed form next to her, her face peaceful, a stray lock of hair covering one eye. Sofia was here – in her apartment, in her bed, naked and more beautiful than ever.
The thrill of the night before flooded back in a rush, and Nat smiled as she ran a hand over Sofia’s waist, breathing in her scent.
Sofia stirred, her dark lashes fluttering against her cheeks before her eyes opened, soft with sleep. “Morning,” she murmured, her voice husky, a hint of surprise in her expression as she took in Nat’s face and then her bedroom.
Nat stifled a giggle. “Hey,” she whispered back. She followed Sofia’s gaze, still a little self-conscious about the mess. The apartment was small and simple, but she’d made it hers. On the walls on either side of the bed were prints of the mountains, a couple of photos with her family, and in the corner stood an armchair and a woven basket brimming with blankets. She liked things organized and uncluttered, with only the essentials around her: the heavy ceramic mug she always used for coffee, the knitted throw her grandmother had made, and her favoritecookbooks stacked neatly on her nightstand. But lately, she’d been busy and hadn’t had much time to do her laundry or tidy up and now it felt cluttered, with clothes piled over her chair, not to mention the dishes that were still in her sink in the kitchen.
“I love it here,” Sofia said, her eyes lingering on the details that made the place feel so clearly like Nat. “It’s… cozy. Very you.”
Nat smiled. “Thanks. It’s nothing fancy and a little messy at the moment, but… it’s home.”
They shared a look, and Sofia’s hand slipped over to Nat’s, their fingers entwining naturally. A comfortable silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint sounds of the city waking outside.
Nat reached up to brush a strand of hair from Sofia’s cheek, marveling at how easily they fit together, how natural it felt to have Sofia here, sharing her morning in this quiet, ordinary way. “Would you like a coffee?” she asked.
“Mmm, yes please," Sofia replied, stretching languidly. But before either of them could move, Nat's phone buzzed on the nightstand. She grabbed it, her eyes widening as she saw the time.
"Oh no," she gasped. "It's already ten! Mom's texted three times asking if we're coming for breakfast." She sat up, scrolling through the messages. "'Nat, are you awake? Do you still have company?' 'Nat, the cinnamon rolls are almost ready. Does Sofia like cinnamon rolls?' 'Natalie Bergman, don't tell me you're still sleeping on Christmas morning!'"
Sofia chuckled at Nat's impression of her mother's increasingly urgent texts. "I should probably let you go spend time with your family," she said, sitting up. "It's Christmas morning, after all. I don't want to intrude."
"Don't be silly," Nat said, pulling her in for a kiss. "You were invited, remember? And besides, I want them to meet youproperly this time - not just as the mysterious guest who showed up on our doorstep last night." She paused, a humorous glint in her eye. "Though I have to ask - can you face people before your first coffee of the day? Because my sister can be pretty intense."
Sofia laughed, running a hand through her tousled hair. "I’m fine, I’m a morning person. Besides, I’m sure your mom will have plenty of coffee on hand."
"Oh, she definitely does. And her coffee is way better than mine." Nat stood up, stretched, and walked to the window. The snow was falling even harder now, creating a peaceful curtain of white. "We can just throw on yesterday's clothes for now and figure out the rest later. Unless you want to go back to the lodge?"
