Page 67 of A Love Like Christmas Time
Kieran’s eyes dart between Henry and me. Henry only shrugs, and I don’t feel the need to elaborate.
“Don’t overwhelm me with the details.” He rolls his eyes. “Oh, I am going to get every detail from Lauren when she’s back.”
My face stretches into a grimace.
“Obviously not all of them. There are things even I don’t want to know.” He leans forward and clasps my shoulder. “In all seriousness, congrats, man. It was about time you stopped staring after her longingly and went for it.”
“Yeah, congratulations, man,” Henry says, playfully boxing my upper arm. “Now Nic will get her back here safely. Relax. Those two are going to be back in no time.”
“They better be,” Kieran throws in. “The Christmas market is this weekend, after all.”
“Right,” I say with a nod and give Jensen one last pet before I get up. “Now if you’ll excuse me. Some of us have work to do.”
Chapter 26
Lauren
The sound of my steps echoes against the bare walls of my old apartment as I carry an empty box to what used to be my bedroom. For a moment, I stop in the middle of the almost empty bedroom.
It’s bittersweet to be back here. After finding a place as warm and welcoming as Wayward Hollow, being back in L.A. feels wrong. Like stepping out of a hug into a snowstorm.
Yet, there are many amazing memories tied to this place. The first movie I got cast in. My first award show. Many movie premieres.
But I don’t miss them. Reminiscing about the past has a way of happening through rose-colored glasses. Yes, movie premieres were fun. The months of ten-hour workdays? Not that much.
It’s such a stark contrast. In Wayward Hollow, my neighbors are my best friends. But here? I don’t think I’ve ever even met the people who live next door to me.
I can’t wait to get back.
“This is such a nice view,” Nic says, suddenly appearing beside me and walking over to the ceiling-high windows. “I bet the sunsets here were amazing.” She’s right. My bedroom has an amazing view of Los Angeles. At night, skyscrapers glow in the distance, and watching cars drive on the busy streets was my version of counting sheep for years.
“Not as good as at home though.” I set down the box and walk over to her. “I prefer the mountain view to skyscrapers.”
We stay there for a while. Watching as people walk by, cars inch their way down busy streets and planes land in the distance.
“You should have asked me to come along,” Nic whispers and nudges me with her elbow. “Instead of making me chase after you and catching you and Caleb making out. Then again, that wouldn’t have been as entertaining though, so I forgive you this time.”
I know that. Logically, I know that. But after all these years of dealing with tough shit on my own, it’s hard to break through those patterns. Our friendship used to be long distance for about ninety percent of the time. Both of us were busy with our schedules and often on opposite ends of the world. Having her in my life and close is wonderful, but something I have yet to get used to.
When I don’t answer, Nic narrows her eyes at me.
“Seriously, Lauren. You saved my ass when all the drama with Jay popped up. You can ask me for support too, you know. God forbid I get to help out my friend, who packed up her whole life to help me fix mine at the drop of a hat.”
“But that would derail my plan.”
“What plan?” She looks at me, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“The plan where I make you indebted to me forever and strike at the most opportune time to make you, I don’t know, help me bury a body or something.” I tap the tips of my fingers together, pretending to be a Bond villain revealing my grand plan for world domination.
“I don’t need to be indebted to you to help you hide a body.” She rolls her eyes. “That’s what best friends are for.” She picks up a pillow from the ground and throws it my way. “Now, when is your dad picking you up again?”
I grimace. Right. My dad. I successfully forgot about him for about three minutes.
“In about half an hour,” I tell her, checking my watch. “Listen, talking about hiding bodies and all that, can we enforce the first-date code?”
“I’m sure we can. If you tell me what that is.”
I chuckle and fold one of my million blankets to place it in my cardboard box.
