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I laugh, reaching into the drawer at my side to grab the plastic wrap. “If we’re going to do this, let’s do it right. I’ll wrap up the cheeseball while you pack the rest of the snacks. Let’s show up with our whole Christmas Eve celebration.”
“I’m on it!”
Cam starts gathering our supplies, and I pull out my cell phone, calling Ryder. As the head of security on set, he has all the contact information for the entire cast and crew. He doesn’t ask questions, just gives me her phone number and address.
I could try calling her, but I’m pretty sure she’d just hang up on me. She was less likely to turn me away if I showed up at her apartment. At least, that was my hopeful theory.
“I’m ready,” Cam announces, and I notice the spark of excitement in her eyes. But I’m hesitant.
“Are you sure you want to spend Christmas Eve doing this?” I ask.
“Of course. Why? Are you scared?” There’s a hint of challenge in her voice.
“What? No.”Yes.Okay, maybescaredisn’t the right word. But I don’t like the idea of showing up, only to be rejected.
Talk about a bad Christmas.
Then, I think about Hailey coming to see me and leaving with the wrong impression of our past relationship. I owe it to her to try to set things right.
“Let’s go, Dad,” Cam urges, walking towards the front door with our snacks in a plastic bag.
Decision made, I follow her. I’m going to put myself out there once and for all. If Hailey has real feelings for me, I’ll have my answer today. And I’m not leaving until she gives it to me straight.
Seven
HAILEY
This isn’t my first holiday alone, and it probably won’t be the last. But this year, it hits a little harder, and I don’t have to guess why. After seeing Jackson again and meeting Cam, I’ve started realizing how much I want a family of my own. I’ve accomplished my career goals, and now I’m ready to take that next step in my personal life.
I want to spend my Christmases spoiling my own child, snuggling on the couch with my husband as we stare at the tree, thinking about how lucky we are—and feeling a hell of a lot less lonely than I do right now.
Of course, that means I have to make an effort to connect with someone. If I want to get married and have kids, I can’t keep comparing everyone to Jackson, which is precisely what I’ve done for years. And they all fall short of my dream man, but that’s not fair to them or me. Clearly, things aren’t going to work out like the fantasy playing out in my head, and I have to stop carrying a torch for him and move on.
All these thoughts crowd my mind as I run through my usual Christmas Eve traditions. I go home alone, unsuccessfully trying to embrace the Christmas spirit. I video chatted with my parents and siblings earlier, but it didn’t make me feel better. Ifanything, hanging up so they could all eat dinner together only highlighted my solitude.
Yeah, fuck this holiday already.
Suddenly, I hear a knock at the door.Who could possibly be here on Christmas Eve?All my family is back in Tennessee, and I refused the kind offers to spend time with friends, not wanting to intrude on anyone’s time with their loved ones. I don’t need pity.
Dismissing the idea that someone could possibly be out to murder me on Christmas Eve, I open the door with no idea who could be on the other side. Shock stuns my senses when I see Jackson standing at my threshold.
“You’re wrong,” he blurts out, looking somewhat distraught.
My brow furrows. “Excuse me?”
“I know why you’re mad at me, and you have it all wrong.” He’s serious and intense, and I don’t know what to say.
Then Cam’s face peeks out from behind him; her big brown eyes are warm and sweet as she looks up at me. “Hello,” she greets me as her cute face brightens so innocently.
“Uh, hi.” I smile back at her before returning my attention to Jackson. “What are you doing here?” I don’t mean to sound rude, but they’ve caught me by surprise.
“I had to talk to you. I understand why you’re so upset with me now, but I wasn’t seeing anyone else when we were together.” His voice is urgent, pleading with me to believe him.
I glance at Cam again, and she continues to peer up at me with a big toothy grin. The door across the hall opens, and I see my neighbors walking out with their two kids, each eyeing us curiously before they head to the elevators.
“Why don’t you come in so we can talk?” I step back and open the door wider to let them into my apartment.
They pause just inside the living room, taking in their surroundings. It’s a large two-bedroom apartment with a guestbedroom, high ceilings, and hardwood floors. The living room, kitchen, and breakfast nook are one big open space, and I have my Christmas tree set up in front of the large window that overlooks the city.
