Page 9 of The Holiday Makeover

But they pushed that boy too hard. Especially Dominic. I know their intentions were good, but it’s made him believe he’s never enough.

She wasn’t wrong. Tate always carried that weight. He was always pushing himself toward something bigger and better.

But the thing was: He was enough for me. Always.

In fact, I loved him best when he wasn’t in the spotlight. When it was just the two of us driving through the rolling hills of Tennessee on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I loved the way he’d hold my hand and glance over at me with that smile of his—the one that said a thousand things without a single word. All those quiet secrets we shared humming between us.

It made you believe you weren’t enough, but that was the biggest lie of all.

Was it really a lie? There were plenty of people who didn’t think Tate and I belonged together. That he could do better than me. Heck, even I’d thought that occasionally.

If you put me in a lineup with all the women Tate had dated, I would be the one people said didn’t belong. Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure some guy had actually made a post similar to that. It hadn’t done much for my insecurities.

Insecurities that eventually made it impossible for me to say yes to the thing he wanted most. Newsflash: It wasn’t me.

I hope you two will discover the truth this holiday season. And don’t be mad at me for telling him he can stay at the house with you.

What?!

Uh, that was absolutely not happening.

For one, he’d already left. And for two through one hundred, there was no universe—none—where Tate Ryder and I were going to be roommates for the holidays.

Not in this house. Not with our history. Not with this heart that still didn’t beat right without him.

I let out a breath, telling myself to calm down. Tate was gone. I was safe from his charm, his chocolate chip pancakes that were good any time of the day, his abs—which honestly could be classified as the eighth wonder of the world—and, most importantly, the way he’d brush past me out of nowhere and whisper in my ear, “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Once upon a time, I’d believed him. Or at least tried to.

I read on, afraid of what else Coco had meddled with.

I know you think it’s a bad idea for him to stay with you, but honestly, it’s one of my better ones, and that’s saying something. And come on, think of those abs. You have to be excited about seeing those in person again.

See? Even Coco knew about the abs.

But in all seriousness, this will be good for you and him. And maybe even the entire Ryder family. I hope there will be healing for all of you.

I wanted that too. For two years it had eluded me.

I love you, my girl. Take good care of the house, and have so much fun with my money.

A laugh escaped me, even though all I wanted to do was bawl. I didn’t want or need her money. It was her I needed.

I do hope you two will consider settling back in Aspen Lake. The house misses you both. I miss you. But I’ll be watching over you.

I would love nothing more than to come back for good. I needed home—my home. But without Tate, I wasn’t sure if it would feel that way anymore.

Remember, I will haunt you if you don’t fulfill my wishes.

If only she knew I would welcome a haunting from her. And considering Tate and I were absolutely not giving her what she wanted, I half expected her to pop up any second. I glanced around, waiting.

“Bring it on, Coco,” I whispered.

The doorbell rang, reverberating through the house, and I jumped as if heaven had sent my grandmother back to take me up on the offer.

George leapt off the chair and sprinted toward the door, barking as if he were a trained guard dog instead of a fluffy marshmallow with separation anxiety.

I followed him—part trepidation, part praying Coco had actually found a way to haunt the heck out of me.