Page 52 of 27 Kisses

Losing Emily is my punishment for loving you.

I press my hand to my chest, but it doesn’t ease the pressure.

“What do you think, Da?”

“Sorry?” I blink away the memories and focus on my daughter. I ignore the smirk Jane’s giving me.

“The best Christmas movie. National Lampoon’s Christmas VacationorElf?”

I sip my drink, pretending to think about it. “Die Hard.”

She slaps the table. Unlike our wobbly one, this table doesn’t move. “Da! That wasn’t one of the choices.”

“Well, it should have been.” I laugh at the outrage on her face. “I haven’t seen the others.”

“Movie night!”

Jane laughs as I shake my head. “You just had a movie night. And watched those movies.”

“But it’s not Christmas until you’ve watchedNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

“Good to know. Should I return your present? Or save it for next year?”

“Ugh, Da. You’re the worst.”

She sounds so much like Garrett that emotion clogs my throat.

Lanie’s phone goes off and her face lights up. “It’s Riley.”

I nod. “Go on then. But don’t be on the phone all day. We’ve got a lot to do before tomorrow.”

She rushes out of the room, already talking and laughing. I try to push my worry away. She’s earning my trust. I have to let her do that.

“Did you and Garrett get a lot done?”

Jane. Right. Now I’m stuck alone with her. But I’m not ready to deal with this. She wants forgiveness. To return to where we were before. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for that.

“A fair amount.”

She snorts at that. And it reminds me of twenty-year-old Jane popping into the diner to give me crap. But the scars on her face remind me this isn’t the same girl. She’s been through a lot.

I shake off any lingering sympathy. She made her choices.

But I owe her for giving us the night together. “Thanks for…” My mind goes blank. Well, not exactly, I’m remembering Garrett’s face as he rides my cock. I clear my throat. “Just thanks.”

She grins like she’s enjoying my discomfort. “You’re welcome. What happened to Garrett? He’s not still sleeping?”

“Work emergency.”

We’re both quiet after that. Is she judging him for going in? Am I? I told him to go. But still…I down the rest of my hot chocolate. It’s now barely warm. The prep work is done. Is there anything else I can do to get out of this conversation and this room?

“Are you ready for tomorrow?” Jane takes her cup and Lanie’s to the sink. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

My immediate reaction is to tell her no thanks. But this is her Christmas too. And she’s been helpful.

“How do you feel about wrapping presents?”

We pile everything into the dining room. The table is bigger than the one in the kitchen, giving both Jane and me room to work. I have Lanie’s gifts under a blanket in case she comes in. I text her to let her know to warn me first.