Page 62 of Christmas Coffee

Nova

As I step into Celyn’s apartment, I can barely keep my hands to myself. I don’t look around too much. My mind is elsewhere. Tinselly talking about that book all day made me crazy. I couldn’t wait to have him alone, doing whatever I want to his beautiful body. Once we’re through the door, I push him back into the wall, pinning his hips with mine. My mouth finds his and I purr, promising him more.

That’s when the lights flick on. I startle and pull away from Celyn as he puts a protective arm around me and steps in front of me, shielding me from whoever is in the apartment.

There’s an older man sitting in the living room with a dog at his heels. It whimpers at Celyn and then cowers behind the armchair. The seated man doesn’t move. He’s dressed in a fine suit, his leg crossed at the ankle. His dark hair has grayed at the temples, giving him a salt and pepper look. He reminds me of Celyn, something about his posture. For a second, I wonder if it’s his father.

“Celyn, Miss Nikolaev.” He taps the pads of his fingers together, leaving a yellow envelope on his lap. “I’ve heard we’ve had quite the day.”

Celyn is across the room and inches from the man before I can blink. “How did you get in here?”

Familiarity jogs at something. I don’t know if it’s his face or his voice, but I know that man. I step into the room, but linger back. If Celyn is this upset, the intruder isn’t welcome here.

The man rises, the dog at his heels. It skulks away from Celyn as he passes by, head lowered like he’s afraid. The older man strides in my direction and stops in front of me. “It’s the holidays, Celyn. Where are your manners. Did you not consider telling me you had a significant other—a plus one? I’m his Uncle Aldrich, dear.” He reaches for my hand, but Celyn steps between us and cuts off the touch.

“You’re not welcome here,” Celyn growls.

“Of course. I thought maybe this year we could let bygones be bygones, but apparently not.” The old man looks at me with silver eyes, sharp and shrewd. “Does she know about your wager?”

I speak up, not liking how this is going. The hairs on my arms stood on end when he first announced himself and they still haven’t relaxed. There’s an icy feeling slithering over my skin, like something bad is about to happen. I look the old man in the eyes and say sternly, “I know everything.”

“And you’re still here, so you’re either a gold digger chasing an empty vault or you’re after power. Either way, it’s unbecoming.” His gaze rakes over me as if I were a piece of trash. “New year, same story, isn’t that so, Celyn? Every Christmas, he’d bring home a bright-eyed hopeful whore that wanted nothing more than a shot at his bank account. Well, after our exchange the other day, I took things a step further.”

Celyn growls again and steps forward, trying to get his uncle to move toward the door, but his uncle doesn’t back down. “Get out or I’ll call the cops and have you removed.”

Uncle Aldrich stands stone cold. “I’m afraid not, my boy. It would seem that your mental state has been called into question. Undue duress, working long hours will do that to you, as well as choosing unbecoming bedfellows. She’s a child, Celyn. Really.”

The vein in Celyn’s neck is throbbing like it may burst. His hands fist at his sides as he hisses, “You have no right—”

Uncle Aldrich cuts him off. “I have every right. It’s the way your father left things to make sure you weren’t taken advantage of or lead around by your—”

I step between them, gripped by a fierce protectiveness that I know too well. I know what type of man this is, I sensed it the moment I saw him. He’s a predator poised as prey. He’s the type of man who will pretend to love and protect you, but the moment your back is turned the knives come out. I know his kind.

“That’s enough.” The strength in my voice shocks me, but he’s dredged up some old shit and I can’t stand there and let someone I love go through this, not if I can help it. “You can walk yourself out right now or I can tase your ass and kick you to the curb myself.” Celyn watches me, shocked as I snarl, “Leave. Now.”

A smile snakes across his old lips. He claps once and then twice, loudly. “Bravo. Did you know she’d round on me like a bitch, Celyn? Is that why you had the background report run? Or is it because you thought you’d have your assets to protect?” His words blindside me and it’s not until that moment that I see the envelope in his hand with the seal ripped open. He pulls out the papers thrusts them toward me. “Well, have a look. See if there’s anything he missed?”

I falter as the papers are shoved into my hands. A background check. He didn’t. If he did, then he knows what happened—what I did. I glance over at him, unable to hide the betrayal spilling across my face. “Is that true? This is a background check?”

Celyn is frozen, his face pale. When I look to him to deny it, he doesn’t. Instead he tries to say, “Let me explain. Nova, it’s not like that.”

“Then what’s it like?” I glance down at the crumpled papers in my hands and see my name, date of birth, and work history. At the bottom of the page is my expunged record with the details typed out in black and white. My hands tremble as my eyes fill with tears making the words blur. This part of my past that was never supposed to resurface is here in black and white, and Celyn is the one who conjured the demons. My heart turns to ice and shatters inside my chest. It’s all I can do to stand and face him. The papers fall from my fingers and flutter to the floor as I turn and rush out the door. I run as fast as I can and when I’m at the curb, I race down the street and turn before the tears catch up. I walk swiftly through the icy streets, making a beeline for Penn Station. My plan is to head back home, back to Tinselly’s house, grab my car and disappear.