There were three days between Remi’s bomb of a holiday party and Christmas. I spent most of that time picking up the phone to dial her number, then stopping myself. She’d let me off the hook, said everything I should have been happy to hear. Except that I let fear get in my way—and a stupid fear at that, since Jeremy was cool as long as I didn’t break her heart.
I’d been ready to tell her on Friday—until she’d said the word rebound. That changed everything. What if she didn’t feel the same way about me? Doubt swirled in my head until I was dizzy.
Last minute Christmas shopping left me with one gift to buy—for Remi. I stared into the front display of a jewelry shop. Diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and sparkles like glittering lights were nearly enough to blind me. This was what Sara would have wanted—what Mark had bought Remi.
I moved on, walking until another shop window caught my eye. Finally, I knew what I had to do and stepped through the door.
As I walked through the door to Nate and Nancy’s house, the smell of breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls, and spiced cider mixed to make a scent that was distinctly Christmas in my memories. It was the same every year and joy pushed out a bit of the anxiety filling my mind.
“Merry Christmas,” I called as I closed the front door behind me. Gunner bounded to me, his recovery well underway. “Hey, big man.” I set a stack of wrapped packages to one side of the tree. Gunner nosed the boxes, sniffing in earnest. “Leave it.”
He huffed one more time, but obeyed.
I found everyone in the kitchen, gathered around the island where steaming dishes were cooling on the countertop. Chris pulled the strata, his spectacular breakfast specialty, out of the oven. How I’d dreamed about that casserole.
“Chris, I hope you made two of those. I could eat one all by myself,” I said as my mouth watered in anticipation.
He laughed. “I’ll be sure to send you home with leftovers.”
Jeremy clapped my shoulder and handed me a glass of cider. “You made it.”
I sipped the cider and tried to keep my attention off Remi as she rushed around to help set the table.
Jeremy’s gaze assessed me, but I refused to flinch.
After a beat, he nodded. “Glad you’re here this year.”
“Me too.”
I waited, returning Remi’s wave when she came back into the kitchen but keeping up the conversation with Jeremy and their parents. She was doing an Oscar-worthy job of acting like nothing had changed, like we were old friends and nothing more.
What if it isn’t an act? What if I really was her rebound? The rebound guy was easy to get over.
The twenty minutes it took to finish the table and get the food out seemed to take years. Anticipation increased to nervous jitters, which amplified to near full-blown terror.
The heavenly strata might as well have been sand for all I tasted it, but I put on what I hoped passed for a normal expression. Remi handed me the plate of cinnamon rolls and our fingers touched. Her gaze met mine and held.
My mouth went dry. Was it only my hope or was there more than friendship behind her eyes?
She blinked and let go of the plate.
I busied myself with taking an icing-covered bun and made a production of taking a bite, then wiping my mouth.
“I took your advice and pawned the jewelry,” Remi said with a grin. “Well, all except the engagement ring.”
I frowned. The word rebound ricocheting around my head like a dodge ball fired from a cannon. Trying to keep my voice level, I asked, “Why would you keep that piece?”
“Turns out cubic zirconia isn’t worth much, even at two-point-five carats.” She shook her head.
“Wait,” Chris cut in. “He got you a fake for your engagement ring?”
Remi nodded while the rest of the table stared. “The gold setting is the only part that is worth anything.” She didn’t seem upset. She seemed solid, not that she’d ever been fragile, but now something had changed. Gunner lifted his nose to the table’s edge and sniffed at the bacon on her plate. “Gunner, down.” Her voice was strong. He obeyed without a thought. “Good down.”
“He’s listening to you,” I said. “When did that start?”
“Saturday.” She patted his head. “I don’t know why, but it just clicked.”
I knew why. It was written all over her, in the lift of her chin, the tone of her voice, the strength of her laugh. She was Remi again. Not the broken version Mark had left. But the real Remi.
My smile hurt my cheeks. “He knows you’re the boss.”
She sent me a wink that warmed my entire body.
There’s still hope for us. There has to be.
“Good thing you got some money from the jewelry,” Nate said. “Since you quit your job without having another one lined up.”
“Stop,” Nancy shushed him. “My girl will always land on her feet.”
Nate grumbled something about responsible adults but kept the rest of his thoughts to himself.
As tradition dictated, presents were next after we cleaned up breakfast. I couldn’t wait any longer. I stood up after everyone had gathered in the living room. Gunner sat next to Remi. All eyes settled on me. Clearing my throat, I fought to remember the eloquent speech I’d rehearsed. Nothing. “I need to say something.” Wow, that was deep. “I hope that you’ll all humor me.”
“Everything okay, Cade?” Nate asked.
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Nate shot a look to Nancy, then both Remi’s parents eyed me. “Must be serious,” Nate said and waved between Jeremy, Chris, and me. “You haven’t called me sir since you three totaled my Mustang doing doughnuts.”
Jeremy settled back on the couch and got comfy like he was about to watch his favorite sitcom. I ignored his smirk.
“I…” Words failing me, I grabbed a flat box and handed it to Remi. “This is for you.”
Her gaze was wary, unsure, but she ripped the paper and opened the box while her parents and brothers watched. She lifted out the embroidered dog collar with Gunner across the back. “Wow, it’s great,” she said and held it up to her neck. “Is it my look? I think maybe leather and studs would be better.”
Heat rushed to my face. “There’s more inside.”
She dug around in the box. Gunner helped by tugging tissue paper out and mouthing it. Remi pulled out a small black velvet box. Her wide eyes shot to me while Nancy grabbed Nate’s hand. Remi tilted her head to the side.
“I told you we couldn’t be together. But the truth is, I was scared.” I wondered where all the air in the room had gone because I was about to pass out. I rushed on. “I used Jeremy as an excuse, and your family.”
“Cade—”
“No,” I cut her off. “I have to say this before I pass out. I love you, Remi. I hope that I’m not your rebound guy. Because I fell in love with you, every beautiful, funny, genius part of you. I don’t even know when. But I had to say this for everyone to hear because I hurt you, and I swear to all of you that if Remi gives me a second chance, I’ll never hurt her again.” I motioned for her to open the box.
She tilted the lid and closed her eyes, then opened them and took out a silver dog tag engraved with Gunner on the front. With a hand covering her mouth, she turned the disk over and read both our names and numbers on the back. Shaking her head, she set the box aside and got to her feet.
I couldn’t breathe. She rushed to my arms and flung herself where she belonged—with me.
“I love you, too,” she gasped, then kissed me full on the lips for all to see.
“Oh, gross,” Jeremy protested. “We’re going to have to set some ground rules.”
“I knew it!” Nancy exclaimed and smacked Nate on the arm. “I told you.”
Remi pulled away and looked into my eyes. “I have a confession. You were never my rebound. You’re my everything.”