Page 116 of Eight Days of Christmas
Leo couldn’t lie to Ricky. They’d practically been best friends since before they could walk. But this decision he’d made, to go to New York, was a big one. And if he was being honest, it was scary as hell. He couldn’t let Ricky’s opinion sway him either way.
He was going.
“She doesn’t even live here but you’re gonna let her dictate whereyoulive?”
“I’m not leaving because of Isabella.” Okay so maybe that was sort of a lie.
“Leave the guy alone,” Kelsey said, giving Leo a knowing look.
Call it female intuition, but he had a feeling Kelsey knew exactly where he was headed.
Ricky stayed quiet for a beat. “I’d really hate to see you go.”
“Like you said, my dad and Landon are here. I’ll be back.” A voice sounded out from the stage, one he recognized. “Sounds like Joey still has it, huh?”
“That guy has the voice of an angel,” Ricky said.
“He really does,” Kelsey agreed. “It gets my hormones all amped up, if you know what I mean?”
Leo stiffened and cleared his throat. He rubbed at the back of his neck nervously and glanced over his shoulder. When he did, he spotted Landon and Norah coming inside O’Henry’s, Norah shaking the snowflakes from her hair. Their skin glistened with a honey tan, and their faces radiated pure bliss, the kind you only get from an island honeymoon. Instead of their joy rubbing off on him, a bit of jealousy snaked through his core. He wasn’t expecting to see them until tomorrow at Dad’s for New Year’s Day brunch.
“I think that’s my cue to leave.” He stood, giving a gentle pat on Kelsey’s back.
“No, man. You can’t go. You didn’t even finish your beer. Don’t let my wife make you uncomfortable.”
“It’s not Kelsey. I just can’t be here right now.” Leo pulled a couple of bills from his wallet and tossed them on the bar top. “I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
He brushed past Vanessa’s greeting and weaved through a crowd by the door, ducking his head as he snuck out without his brother noticing him.
Leo sucked in a deep breath once he was alone in his truck. He pushed his hands through his hair before yanking his phone out of his front pocket and checking his emails. There was a delivery confirmation that the canvases he had sent to Isabella were received two days ago. But he still hadn’t heard from her.
Leo wasn’t ready to talk to his brother or Norah, or prepared to tell them about his decision of leaving town. He planned on telling them and Dad over brunch the next day. But when Norah had told him about Isabella’s New Year’s Eve pajama party, he got an idea.
He was headed to New York tonight, to win back the love of his life.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Isabella
Isabella droppedmini marshmallows into mugs filled with hot cocoa that lined the kitchen counter. The apartment was filling quickly with party guests dressed in a variety of styles of pajamas. Some wore barely-there lingerie and others dressed in onesies. Harry Styles’s music streamed through Todd’s surround sound speakers, bumping through the crowded apartment.
Margo shimmied alongside Isabella, throwing a lazy arm around her waist. “Aww, Izz, everything looks so great. Those mini marshmallows are adorable.” Margo plucked one from a mug and popped it into her mouth before resting her hand on Isabella’s shoulder. “I just love you, girl.”
Tapping her finger to the tip of Margo’s nose, Isabella said, “And I think someone is a little bit buzzed.”
Margo wrinkled her nose and held her finger and thumb an inch apart. “Just a little.” She snorted, straightening. “But seriously, thank you for all of your help. I couldn’t have pulled off this party without you.”
“You’re welcome, it was nothing.” Isabella sprinkled cinnamon to the top of each mug, dusting the marshmallows.
“And what a perfect theme—pajama party—after the holidays everyone is exhausted, so this is minimal effort for everyone.”
Minimal for everyone but Isabella and Todd. While Mago worked pretty much 24/7 the past week on a big case, she and Todd had three days to come up with a New Year’s Eve party theme including food and decorations. But at least the party prep had distracted her from thinking about Leo.
“Is someone still standing downstairs at the door letting guests in?” Isabella asked.
Spinning around, Margo said, “They must be, because look at all these people.”
Todd danced his way into the kitchen dressed in a navy-blue silk pajama set. Blank booming through the speakers. “The party’s a success. Everyone’s having an epic time. We make a great team, Whitley.” He held up his fist.
