AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m doing the same. I work as often as I can and considered looking into a second job—not for financial reasons, but to keep my mind off my problems as well. Melanie has made it her mission to be my sidekick at all times, and even though I act like it’s driving me crazy, I appreciate her company.
Then, there’s Kyle. I feel terrible for not thanking him for talking to his mother. It’s a bitch move on my part, but I’m terrified. He hasn’t reached out since the night he consoled me and then disappeared, which I don’t blame him for.
I sigh. Tomorrow, I’m going to his house and apologizing for my outburst, for kicking him out of my house, for not telling him everything about his father, and for not giving him a hug for saving me from the heartache of losing Trey.
I uncross my legs and stand up from the floor. “Aw, that’s nice of them.”
He pulls on his boots. “Can you give me a hand? They’re old and it’s snowing, so we should probably help them.”
“Of course.”
I put my shoes on and throw on a coat. “Are they not here yet?” I ask, shivering when we walk outside.
Trey is typing on his phone. “Hold on. They’re texting me now.”
I raise a brow in confusion. “The Garfields know how to text?”
He doesn’t answer me, and seconds later, the abrupt sound of his voice cuts through the morning air. The deep voice brims with an overflow of emotions.
“Merry Christmas to the girl I love!”
My attention sweeps over to Kyle’s porch to find him standing there, shirtless, wearing only his gray sweatpants, looking the same as he did every day before we started our relationship. A Santa hat is on his head, and I can’t hold back my burst of laughter—my first loud, belly-aching laughter I’ve had in months.
“You’re going to get hypothermia!” I yell back in exchange for,Fuck off.
He hops down the stairs, and Trey is beaming from the sidelines. Their setup is playing out smoothly.
“If I get hypothermia,” he says when he reaches me, “I’m blaming you, babe.”
I press my hand against my chest. “On me? It’s not my fault you enjoy flaunting your naked self around in the freezing cold.”
I can see his breath releasing into the cold. “Please be honest with me, Chloe. That’s all I want for Christmas, and your honesty will provide me the energy to make my way back inside. Otherwise, I’ll probably freeze outside and die.”
I shake my head, still laughing. “I can’t believe I’m even entertaining this.”
He grabs me by my waist, and his chest is freezing. “Tell me how you feel about me, Chloe. No bullshit. Look at me and tell me you don’t care about me the way I care about you.”
I gulp, and my heart races so hard that I’m waiting for it to fall out of my chest. “I … I don’t care about you, Kyle.”
His face falls.
“I mean … I do … but Imorethan care about you.”
A smile takes over his face. “Say it.”
I cover my face with my hands. “Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m about to declare my love to a half-naked man sporting a Santa hat, who looks like he should be featured in an X-rated Christmas calendar.”
He takes my hand and kisses the top. “I’m more than happy to get you a calendar with my pictures in them.”
A tear falls down my cheek, and his finger is cold when he wipes it away.
“I love you,” I say with no hesitation, regret, or unease.
He stares down at me, his white teeth showing as he grins wildly. “And, damn, do I love you.”
He tilts his head down and kisses me. He pulls away and inspects me, and then his lips hit mine again.
I glance back at Trey while smiling. “I take it, there are no pies?”
