Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Yeah, but it’s still different,” I refute, letting his words settle, “you did it by yourself.”
“No one does anything by themselves, Elizabeth,” he says my name and finishes breakfast. “At least not if they don’t have to. My parents, my grandparents, your parents, they all helped.” I look at him and I’m about to say something to him when the front door opens.
“You really need to start locking the front door after you come inside,” I remind him as we both look to the side to see who is going to be coming in.
“I smell food,” Joshua says and I put my head back and groan.
“For thirty-six hours,” I say, looking at him, “I forgot all about you and this wedding of yours.”
“Well, happy to break it to you, but there are only a couple days left.” He pulls out the stool and sits down. “There is the rehearsal dinner tomorrow and then the wedding.”
“Put a finger down if you are counting down the hours until I never have to hear about this fucking wedding again?” I deadpan and hold up my middle finger. “It’s me.”
He laughs. “I have to say the snowstorm was a blessing in disguise.” He looks at us. “Don’t say anything to Macy but I’m so done with all of this, I just want to be married already.”
I slap the counter. “I’m telling everyone,” I tell him. “I’m getting a billboard in Times Square. I’m getting one of those planes that fly overhead with a long whatever it’s called. I’m putting an article in the newspaper.” The two of them laugh at me.
“Anyway, I’m here to talk about Christmas.” The minute the words leave his mouth, Nate and I groan. “Relax, it’s nothing big.”
“I just changed my flight,” I tell them. “I’m leaving Christmas morning at six a.m.” I try not to smile but the look on both their faces, I can’t help myself. “Kidding, I’m kidding,” I say. When I look back at Nate, a new look fills his face, and it’s not a look I’ve ever seen before. I hate it.
CHAPTER 26
Nate
SILVER BELLS
“I just changed my flight.” I hear her say the words and everything inside me stills, everything. “I’m leaving Christmas morning at six a.m.” I stare at her, the sound of my heart pounding in my chest, echoing into my ears, as she tries to hide her smile. “Kidding, I’m kidding.” It’s like all the air inside of me is sucked out and all I can do is look at her. My heart studders as if someone is sitting on my chest.
I turn around to make the scrambled eggs. “Mom and Dad would kill you if you left on Christmas Day,” Joshua informs her and I close my eyes, trying to get a hold of myself.
“You think they are going to do anything Christmas Day after your wedding is the night before?”
“I think they mentioned they would be doing Christmas dinner at the house. But from what I gather, most of the family will be taking off that day.”
“Well, yeah, they only have a couple days off,” Elizabeth says. “I think I heard some of them have to travel on the twenty-sixth.”
“For whoever is left here”—Joshua moves to the coffee machine to make his own coffee—“they are doing a dinner.” He pours a mug and leans against the counter. “So I’ll count you two in.”
“Negative,” Elizabeth denies before me. “I’ll be nursing the biggest hangover I’ve ever had in my whole life.” I look over my shoulder at her. “I plan on drinking as much as humanly possible.” She looks at me and the smile on her face settles me. “Don’t worry, I plan to sleep on the bathroom floor anyway.”
“Well, I’m not telling them that,” he scoffs. “You can tell them that. They might take away the Christmas presents they got for you.”
“Fuck.” She slaps the counter. “I didn’t buy anyone anything,” she hisses. “This is all your fault.” She points to Joshua. “I was so distracted by all the wedding stuff, I forgot presents.”
“If you want,” I offer as I pour the eggs in the pan and start to stir them, “we can hit up the mall, and then there is the Christmas market.”
“Yes,” she agrees. “We can go to the market and get everyone Christmas stuff”—she looks at Joshua—“so they can maybe hate Christmas as much as I do.”
I snort. “You are going to waste money, so they hate Christmas?”
“I didn’t say it was a good plan. I just said it was a plan.”
“Well, we love Christmas stuff,” Joshua reminds.
“Who said I’m getting you anything?” She fights back and he finishes his coffee before putting the mug in the sink, rolling his eyes.
“Okay, I’m out, I will see you guys tonight.”
Elizabeth groans, “Do I really have to practice walking down the aisle if I’m not the one getting married?”