Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
“It feels like make-believe,” I say, the awe in my voice noticeable. Maybe I should be embarrassed by that, but I can’t find it in myself to feel that way. I’m just…happy.
“You really do love this, don’t you?” Briar asks.
“I’m sure it sounds silly. I love the city too, but there’s something so…so wholesome about this place. It reminds me of a dream or a fairy tale. Sorry. I know that’s dumb—”
“It’s not,” he interrupts. “It’s sweet.”
Ugh. Sweet. The kiss of death. Most guys don’t want sweet. Sweet is boring. “Me tough man. Me hate cute small towns,” I joke, earning myself a laugh from Briar. It feels like hitting the jackpot, and I know when I look at him, my grin is ridiculous.
“What?” Briar asks.
“Nothing.” I pay attention to the road again, determined not to make this weird. Briar and I are friends, and I’m doing him a favor. That’s it. I don’t need to sit around thinking about how good it feels to make him laugh. “I’m sure it’s different to you, having grown up here. Some of the magic is probably gone.”
“Well, maybe I’ll find it again. Your excitement is contagious.”
I like the idea of that, of helping him remember the magic of a place like this. Maybe then he’ll feel better next time he comes home and not as if he must have a fake boyfriend to prove himself.
“If anyone can help you with that, it’s me. I’m excellent at magic.” I mentally groan. Excellent at magic? What the fuck was that? Why do I say the dumbest shit around men I like?
“I don’t doubt it.”
Oh…well, that’s nice and helps soothe some of my embarrassment over my terrible flirting…flirting with a man I have no business flirting with because he was just dumped by my twin.
His parents’ place is a two-story, wooden-plank home, with three large windows in front. It sits back away from the road, on who knows how many acres of land. It too looks like a picture, all snowy and tucked away in an army of trees.
“It’s gorgeous. I can’t believe you grew up here.”
“It definitely didn’t feel exciting when I was a kid.”
“I can see that. We always want what we don’t have, right? And I’m sure at times it felt boring or small. I’ve always lived in cities or bigger suburbs, so for me, this is…”
“Magical?” Briar fills in my wording from earlier.
Warmth spreads through my chest at the beaming smile he’s giving me. “Yes.”
I turn off the car, and as soon as I look toward the house again, the front door opens, and an older woman steps out and waves wildly. She’s tall and thin, with dark hair that matches Briar’s. It’s up in a loose bun, whisps of it hanging around her face. She’s got comfortable-looking jeans on and a thick sweater with a Christmas tree on the front. She puts her hand to her mouth, then drops it and rushes down the stairs.
A barrel-chested man comes out behind her, with a thick brown beard and what might be the world’s largest smile. It’s impossible to look at these people and not see how much they love their son, excitement radiating off them and penetrating the car.
Nerves attack my gut, making it twist and turn. This is what a family is supposed to be, and I suddenly feel like an interloper.
“You okay?” Briar asks.
“Yeah, I…” But before I can say anything—not that I’d know how to answer anyway—his mom reaches us, and the passenger door is pulled open, his mom bouncing with joy.
“Oh, Briar! It’s so good to see you.”
He shoots me a concerned glance before his mom is pulling him out of the car and into her arms. I clear my throat, try and stuff down my worries and enjoy this moment for what it is. Yes, I’m here on false pretenses, but it’s for a good cause, and that’s what I try to focus on.
I climb out of the car, making my way around to their side, just as his father reaches me. “You must be Dawson,” he says, and I’m thankful Briar shared some real details about me after we decided on this holiday-exchange idea.
“Yes, sir. Jeffrey, right?” I’d made sure to memorize as much of the info about his family and hometown as I could. A good boyfriend should know these things.
I hold out my hand, but he gives me that wide smile that would remind me of Santa Claus if his beard was white instead of brown. “We’re huggers around here. Is that okay with you?”
“Um…yes, sir,” I stumble over my words.
I love my family. I wish we were closer, but I do love them. This is throwing me for a loop, though, because they’re nothing like this.
Jeffrey pulls me into a tight embrace before I hear, “That’s enough. My turn, Jeffrey. Let me get a look at him.” He pulls away, and then Briar’s mom is there, giving me a hug. “You were right, Briar. He’s so handsome!”