Page 80 of Santa Baby

Mom was smiling, a gentle, loving look in her eyes. “I haven’t seen Mason in a very long time but I’m looking forward to seeing him and seeing the two of you together. Have you warned him?”

“About the family? Yes. I have. Whether he’ll take my advice to keep his mouth shut and just observe is up to him.”

“And you’re still going to see his parents tomorrow night?” Mom asked.

“That’s the plan.” I reached for my phone again. “I haven’t heard from him since this morning though.” I was trying not to panic. It wasn’t like we were sixteen and I had to talk to him all the time. In fact, we’d gone days without talking to each other and nothing changed at all, but for some reason, I had a nagging ache in my chest whenever I scanned my notifications.

“He’s probably grabbing drinks with Colin tonight,” Mom said, shrugging. “Are you sure you want to spend the night tonight? I know I told Colin it was tradition, but you’re right, you’re a grown woman. If you want to see your friends in the city…”

“No, I like being here for Christmas. Plus I’d need to be here first thing in the morning, anyway, to help with the party.”

“Well, we’re not going to even be able to step foot in the kitchen with your uncles in control.” This was the only dinner out of the entire year, other than the occasional summer barbecue, where the men in my family did all the cooking. Mom’s sauce was legendary, so that was her only contribution because no one could do it like she could, and we all knew it.

“I’d like to get any and all interrogations about my relationship out of the way as early as I can.” I was about to lift my hot chocolate to my lips when my phone buzzed. I caught myself sighing with relief, but then saw it was only an email. Probably spam, but I checked it anyway, and the air left my lungs in a whoosh.

“What’s wrong?” Mom asked, leaning in.

“I just got an email from Heather Schuyler’s secretary,” I murmured, meeting her eyes. I’d told her all about Heather and the party I managed. “They offered me a job.”

Mom’s eyes lit up. “That’s wonderful, honey!”

“In Los Angeles.”

A heavy silence settled between us as I held her gaze. Mom tried to look happy, but her eyes creased with worry. I slowly looked down at the email again.

“Dear Ms. Webster,

Mrs. Schuyler was so impressed by your grit and tenacity while planning her gala. As you know, Mrs. Schuyler’s late husband owned a production company in LA, in which Mrs. Schuyler still sits on the board. There’s a position open for Senior Event Manager at the Los Angeles firm. She’s already spoken to the board and the CEO, and everyone is in agreement that you’d be a fantastic fit for the position. We’d love to fly you to LA the first week of January for a formal interview. Please let me know if you’re interested. We’d be honored to have you on our team.”

I read the email out loud and watched Mom’s face go through a myriad of emotions. She could sense the hesitation in my wobbling voice and laid a hand on my knee. “Is that something you’d be interested in? It sounds like it’s yours if you really want it.”

“I don’t know what I want.” It was the first time I had admitted it out loud to her. It didn’t ease the anxiety swirling through my chest, though. “I like taking pictures. I like not working in an office.”

“Maybe this is a remote position?”

I shake my head. “LA is very far away.”

I could imagine myself there, which was the hardest part. I’d loved the rush of planning Heather’s party but it had taken a lot out of me. It was a huge event, and the idea of planning even bigger events for celebrities and award shows made my head spin. I took a deep breath and said, “I thought I knew what my future was going to look like. I’d work in a shiny office and manage some elite foundations’ events throughout the year. I’d have at least a one-bedroom apartment, still on the east side.”

“You can still have all of that.”

“But that was when I was dating Jake. I’ve had a year of just being Fia.” I gripped the blanket. “It sounds crazy but I didn’t mind being broke. I liked being a photographer. I liked having a flexible schedule and being able to get editing done at night. I liked being open for you and Dad. I liked—” I cut myself off before I could say anything I’d regret. “I don’t know what I want anymore. A few weeks ago, I would have jumped at this opportunity. I would have accepted without a second thought, but now?”

“What’s in your way?”

Mason. Mason was the only thing I knew I wanted. He was the only thing that my mind, body, and heart agreed on. But I knew once I told him about this, he’d want me to take the job. This was the whole reason I agreed to be his fake girlfriend, right? To make connections to further my career?

I just needed confirmation. I needed to hear him say this was real, that I was his, and our feelings weren’t just part of our scheme. I needed him to tell me to stay.

The phone in the kitchen rang. Mom squeezed my knee again, kissing me on the forehead before rising. “You don’t have to decide anything now. You have time. Want to go on a walk with me? I need to run to the store.”

I nodded up at her and powered my phone down.

34

MASON

Everyone was in Brooklyn apparently. I trudged through the fresh snow, blinking into the gray-white glare as I crossed another street, another block, another row of houses.