AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I rolled away, hoping he’d think I was sound asleep and just…leave me be to wallow for a while longer.
The door opened with a quiet click, the stream of light hitting the opposite wall. I bit my bottom lip, hoping he’d get the silent message and go away, to finish his wine or go play pool. Maybe…maybe if I felt better, I’d reappear later, and if not, well, I’d leave a nice goodbye note in the morning. I was still debating whether or not to put my contact info. I mean, he could find me if he wanted, right? Maybe not. Maybe that would be for the best.
Serves a girl right for falling for a rock star.
The footsteps neared the bed, and a moment later, the mattress went down as he joined me. He laid there for a moment, before he spooned me gently.
I let out a deep breath, running my fingers through my hair, wishing I had a hair elastic on my wrist to pull it back completely. I caught Dean watching me, that little look in his eyes that made me blush.
I had to go, I knew that. Had to…but leaving, walking away from Dean, was going to prove a feat in and of itself. When I was actually able to. When my vehicle decided to cooperate.
“I thought you should know. This has been my best Christmas in forever.” His voice was soft, his gaze searching mine.
“How is that even possible? It’s the house, isn’t it? I can see that.”
“It was the company.”
“How? I mean, you must have family and friends who love you and want to spend the holidays with you since you don’t get a lot of time together. That makes for a fun Christmas, doesn’t it?”
He broke our gaze, his hand falling away. Had I just opened my mouth and said something I shouldn’t—I didn’t want to ruin our last few hours together…and I’d probably just done that once again. Chasing him away last night had been Strike One…and now was two. One more and I’d be out.
“Dean,” I said finally, the hesitation obvious in my voice.
“No. It’s just…since the music took off and stayed there, it’s different at home. At my parents’ place. It’s awkward. People are anxious around me, acting strange. There’s friends and neighbors and others stopping by unannounced, wanting to just say hello and take a pic or get something signed for so and so. And for the most part, I don’t mind, but I like time to just be…just be Dean, you know? I don’t want to be ‘on’ all the damn time. And when I have to be on around family or supposed loved ones…that’s when I decided to take a step back. They can have the nice, relaxing Christmas they deserve.”
“While you what?” My heart was breaking for him. How could he enjoy the holidays at all like that?
“Frank was sending me to Miami to some five star something or other. Clearly afraid I couldn’t handle being on my own at my place, or my LA place, which likely would have amounted to me not answering the buzzing at the gate for the holidays while binging my way through Netflix and a couple drinks.”
I caught the unspoken message. The ex likely would’ve been the one buzzing at the gate.
I frowned, not liking the picture he painted. It sounded…lonely. Depressing. For a guy who came alive on stage or with a guitar in hand, the way he was relegated to Christmas alone, which he would have been if the snowstorm hadn’t hit…
He cleared his throat, and I wondered if my thoughts weren’t written across my face.
“But I did. I do play Santa…but like you said, I just didn’t have the bag full of presents on me.”
“What did you do?”
“Bunch of assorted gift cards. And my mom got a new car.”
He rolled on his back and pulled me closer to him. I rested my head on his chest. I could smell the wine and chocolate on his breath, and the scent that was purely him, an intoxicating one I was still trying to figure out.
I sighed softly, leaning against him, letting his warmth seep into me and make me relax a little more.
“Tell me about your Christmas.” He shifted slightly, his hold tightening, pulling me right against his side.
I traced the cross tattoo on his finger. “Typically, it’s loud and fun and chaotic. Sometimes, my parents have an open house with friends and family coming in and out all day, we have lunch and then snack ’til we have a late dinner. Christmas Eve is full of music and movies. We usually decorate one tree on Christmas eve.”
“You have more than one tree?” He sounded amused.
“Three. We used to have two, one for us kids with cute stuffed ornaments, but then Mom got a new tree of her own a few years ago, so that’s the one we do on Christmas Eve, usually just the two of us.”
“And you’re missing it,” he said softly. “I get it, you know…as great as I am…” He grinned as I laughed. “I knew I could make you smile…but I mean it, I get that you’re missing something major.”
“You had a good idea, though. I’ll text Noah tonight before bed and see if he can get Charlie or someone to stream it for me or at the very least, record it. I may not be there, but at least I can see it.”
He kissed my forehead, pulling me closer in his embrace. “I just want to spend the rest of my Christmas here with you, relaxing and enjoying ourselves…whenever you feel up to it. However you feel up to it.”
