All I Want For Christmas Is You, Page 23

  “A draft?” she repeats. “What kind of draft knocks down a Christmas tree?” I just glare at her. “Like a monsoon.”

  “What the fuck was I supposed to say?” I get up to take off my jacket. “Sorry, that was Tiff and me when we snuck in here to steal back a letter that I professed my love to you in.”

  “I mean, I also broke my fucking foot for that stupid plan.” She points at her foot. “All you had to do was tell him that you want to bump uglies with him.”

  I gasp. “I can’t tell him that I want to do that.”

  “Why not?” she shrieks. “He must like you if he saw the letter, and he hasn’t fired you.” I just look at her. “Yet.”

  “He’s probably ignoring the letter because he feels sorry for me,” I say, ripping off my jacket, “and then he’s going to fire me, and I’m going to lose my job and never see him again.”

  “I don’t see that as a good thing,” she says, and I stare at her with my mouth open. “I’m on painkillers, so nothing I say makes sense.”

  I walk back to my bedroom and undress, deciding to take a long, hot bath while I’m at it. I slip on my robe and walk out, looking for Tiff, who is now trying to pack her things. “I think you’re right,” I say, grabbing the clothes she has on her bed and folding them to place in the suitcase. “I’m going to quit.”

  “Before you just quit,” she says, “you only have one more day before you are off for ten days. Just take the ten days to regroup and then see how you feel.”

  “I guess that’s a good idea.” I look over at her. “Maybe I can clear my head and finally let go of the fact I like him.”

  She pffts. “You don’t like him. You love him.” She turns and puts her foot up. “Now, can you please pack the bag for me? My parents are coming to get me first thing in the morning.”

  I smile at her, and I try to forget about how crazy my life has gotten in the past two days.

  I kiss Tiff goodbye the next morning with the promise to text her every single day, and that if I want to get away, I’ll go to her parents’ house.

  After making a pit stop at Starbucks, where I grab myself a coffee, I head into the office, smiling at the receptionist who’s wearing candy cane earrings today. “Happy last day at the office.” She smiles at me, and I make my way to my desk.

  The whole mood in the office is festive. People are standing together, laughing. Christmas music plays just a touch louder, and everyone has dressed down.

  “I guess we didn’t get the memo.” I look over to see Zach standing there with a coffee in his hand. He’s wearing a blue suit.

  “Was there a memo?” I laugh, putting my cup down and then walking over to the closet. My black leather skirt goes to my knees, and I paired it with a deep green shirt. It screams Christmas and also brings out the green in my eyes. “I must have missed it.”

  He just nods, and the wheels in my head start turning. If I leave, I won’t see him every day. “I’m leaving early today,” he says, and I just look back at him. “I’m going to fly out tonight instead of tomorrow morning and hopefully miss the rush.”

  “I’ll make sure everything is ready for you,” I tell him.

  “Oh, you don’t have to do that. I did it myself,” he says, and I look at him weirdly. In the past year, he has never booked his own flights or accommodations. “I had time last night, so I just did it.”

  “Great,” I say, avoiding his eyes by pulling out my chair and sitting down. My mind’s going a million miles a minute. Maybe he changed his plans so I don’t know where he’s going. Maybe the letter freaked him out, and he doesn’t trust me. Oh my god, Tiff was right. I have to quit.

  I listen to him in his office when I open the confirmation email from the hotel. I click on it and see he upgraded from just a regular suite to a villa suite located on the beach with its own private pool. It looks like it’s for newlyweds, and my heart suddenly sinks even more. He’s going there with someone. I blink away the stupid stinging in my eyes and close down the screen.

  For the next three hours, I make sure that everything I need to do is done. “Okay, Chloe.” I hear from behind me and see Zach standing. “I’m heading out. My flight is at four, and I have a couple of things to get before I head to the airport.”

  Grabbing the pen on my desk so he doesn’t see my hands shake, I plaster a smile on my face. “Well then, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.” He just smiles at me. “And a Happy New Year.”

  “To you also,” he says. “I will see you in the new year.” I don’t tell him that he won’t. “Why don’t you finish what you are doing and then take off early?”

  “I think I’ll do that,” I say. “Have a safe flight.” He nods, and I watch him walk away. The minute he is gone, I open my computer and start my resignation letter.

  I print it out, and unlike the last letter I wrote to him, this one I fold and write his name on it. I walk into his office and place it in the middle of his desk. Taking one last look around, I walk out and close his door.

  Zach

  White Christmas

  The elevator door closes, and I let out the breath I was holding. She looked more beautiful today than she ever has. But when I was leaving, I felt she was disconnected. Everything in me wanted to ask her about it, but instead, I took the coward’s way out.

  By walking away from her and not even turning back.

  I get home and ignore the erratic beating of my heart. I pack my bags, and when my phone rings, I see it’s Jax.

  “Hey,” I answer and hear horns in the background.

  “I just landed in New York,” he says, and I laugh.

  “Um, why?” I grab the pile of clothes and pack them.

  “I met this model last night,” he says, “and she had a photo shoot today in Central Park, so I decided to follow her.”

  “You followed a girl you met yesterday?” I repeat, stopping to pack. “Like less than twenty-four hours ago?”

  “Did you not hear what I just said?” he asks. “I met a model.”

  “What is her name?” I ask, and he stops talking now.

  “Maria,” he says, “or Marsha.” I can literally hear the wheels spinning in his head. “Mariska.” He groans. “I know it starts with an M.”

  “But do you?” I ask him again.

  “Doesn’t matter,” he says. “I call her baby anyway.”

  “How old is she?” I ask, and he groans.

  “Old enough to take my cock all the way down her throat.” He laughs. “I’ve never gotten head like that in my life.”

  I roll my eyes now. “This conversation has been fun,” I tell him.

  “Did you do it?” he asks. “Did you fire her?”

  “No,” I huff out and run my fingers through my hair, “I didn’t fire her.”

  “You’re making a big mistake by letting her get away from you,” he says, and I laugh.

  “You just followed a girl to New York, and you don’t even know her name,” I point out. “So forgive me for not taking dating advice from you.” I know I should just hang up the phone, but instead, my mouth just word vomits, “Besides, I have a plan.” I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a pounding headache coming on.

  “You have a plan?” he repeats. “What type of plan?”

  “A plan that I hope works,” I say. “I’ll call you in two days and let you know if it did or not.”

  “Sounds good,” he says. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” And we hang up.

  I’m putting my phone down when a text comes through.

  The envelope has been delivered.

  My stomach suddenly sinks when I think about what I just did. Getting up, I finish packing and wind up at the airport three hours early.

  I check in quickly and go straight to the gate instead of the lounge. I sit in a chair facing the entrance so I can see everything. The airport buzzes with holiday travelers and kids crying all over the place, but I keep my eyes up. I watch people rush by to catch their plane. I watch
people lost and then turning around in circles. The hustle and bustle of of people trying not to run into each other.

  My finger taps my leg as I watch the seats get taken with people waiting to board the flight.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we will start the pre-boarding of flight four ninety-five to St. Johns Virgin Island.” I watch the people walk by, looking all over the place.

  Getting up, I grab my bag and walk over to get on the plane. I get situated in my first class seat, then look out the window.

  I ignore all the people boarding. Instead, I check my phone for emails or text messages but find nothing new. No one has emailed me or sent me anything. My foot starts to bounce from my nerves as I look over at the empty seat next to me.

  The flight attendant comes over and asks me if I want anything to drink. I nod, continuing to look outside as they make their announcements about final boarding.

  My heart beats so fast, and my stomach is burning with nerves when I lean my head back on the seat and close my eyes. All I can see are her eyes and her smile. I can see the way she laughs, and I can smell her like she’s right next to me.

  When I open my eyes and look to the side, everything inside me shifts. “Hi,” she says with a huge smile on her face. “I got your letter.”

  Chloe

  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

  I just look at him, and all my nerves are suddenly gone. “Hi,” I whisper, “I got your letter.”

  The smile on his face is one I will never forget. I also don’t have time to think about it before the attendant comes over and asks me to fasten my seat belt so we can take off.

  I put the bag under the seat in front of me and turn to look at him. The smile on his face hasn’t changed. “You’re here,” he finally says. “I didn’t know if you would show up.” He takes my hand in his, and my whole arm tingles with his touch. “I was hoping, but as time went by, I wasn’t sure.”

  “I got stuck behind an accident, and then the security line was overloaded,” I ramble on nervously.

  “I can’t believe you’re actually here.” He laughs, putting his head back on the seat. “I have your letter,” he says, and I close my eyes.

  “I assumed you did,” I say, putting my own head on the headrest and looking at him. “Did you mean what was in your letter?”

  “Every single word,” he says without skipping a beat.

  I turn my head as tears sting my eyes. “I broke into your office,” I tell him, and he laughs. I look down and see our hands linked together.

  “I figured that out when I found the letter in my truck,” he says softly, and the plane takes off. “I started to write you back.”

  “What?” I ask, shocked, and I can’t ask anything else because the captain comes on.

  “I know there is a lot to say, but I really don’t want to have this conversation here.”

  I nod. “I agree.”

  He holds my hand the whole flight, only letting it go when I have to go to the bathroom. It’s the longest flight of my life, and when we step out and walk down the stairs, I wait for him. He’s wearing black jeans and a white T-shirt, and his arms are perfect. He holds his bag in one hand and grabs my hand with the other.

  We’re able to grab our luggage right away, and the hotel’s chauffeur is there waiting for us. “I upgraded the room,” he says when we get into the car.

  “I know.” Smiling shyly at him, I say, “I kind of snooped.”

  He laughs. “Kinda?”

  “Okay fine, I did snoop, but …” I say, and he shakes his head. “I was curious.”

  We don’t say another word, and when we get to the hotel, we are immediately brought to the private villa on the beach by golf cart. The sound of the crashing waves fills the warm night, and everything feels at a snail’s pace.

  They drop the bags off, and I walk out to the balcony, watching the darkness. “Finally.” Hearing Zach, I turn around and look at him.

  “I’m nervous,” I say, putting a hand to my stomach.

  He walks over to me, and he grabs my face in his hands. “It’s just you and me,” he says, and I put my hand on his hips.

  “Did you mean what you said in your letter?” I ask, looking down and trying to get my breathing to cooperate with me.

  “I meant every single word,” he tells me, rubbing my cheek with his thumbs. “I have loved you since almost the beginning. Pretty sure it started when you walked in and had that interview. I could swear you would have heard the sound of my heart thumping. I kept looking down and then up. Did you mean what you said in your letter?”

  I nod my head and try to swallow down the lump in my throat. “I quit today,” I say, and his eyes widen. “I left a letter on your desk right before I walked out, and Sharon handed me the envelope with your letter and the plane ticket.”

  “But did you mean it?” he asks again. “What you said in your letter.”

  “Every single word,” I tell him. “I’m here, aren’t I? I snuck into your office. My best friend broke her foot.” I close my eyes. “I love you, Zach.”

  “Can I finally kiss you?” he asks, and I laugh, nodding my head. And there, in the middle of his vacation villa, he finally kisses me. His hands go into my hair as his tongue slips into my mouth, and I swear it is so much better than in my dreams. So much better.

  The sound of Christmas bells is heard far away.

  The Letters:

  Dear Zach,

  I know this letter will come out of left field, but I figured this was the only way I could tell you how I felt.

  I’m in love with you.

  Wow, seeing it on paper, I can see how stupid it is. But I can’t go another day without telling you. (I mean, you won’t ever get this letter because as soon as I print it out, it’s going in the shredder.)

  Every single day, I come into work, and my feelings for you just deepen. I love to see your smile. I love to hear you laugh. I love when you’re so focused that you tap your finger on the desk and you don’t even know you’re doing it.

  You are without a doubt the best man I have ever met, and whoever ends up with you is going to be the luckiest girl alive.

  Do you think I can be that girl?

  With love,

  C.

  My Dearest Chloe,

  From the moment I met you, I’ve thought about writing this letter many times. You walked into the room, and my heart just stopped. I couldn’t even take a breath, and I was worried you would hear it and think I was crazy.

  Luckily, you didn’t.

  I get to work before you every single day. I watch you when you sit at your desk. I even moved my desk when you started just so I can see you all the time.

  Your smile makes my heart beat normal. Your laughter fills my heart, and I want nothing more than to kiss you goodbye every single night.

  When I read your letter, I thought I was dreaming. I ran back to the office that night so I could bring it home with me. But I couldn’t find it, and then I did.

  I’ve included a plane ticket, and it’s my Christmas wish or even a Christmas miracle for you to join me.

  If you come, you will make me the happiest man, but if you don’t, know that I will never bring it up again.

  I hope to see you sitting next to me.

  Always Yours,

  Zach.

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