Page 6 of 27 Kisses

“Have you talked to her?”

“Not lately. I think she’s avoiding me.”

He snorts. “More like she’s avoiding Christy. And you two are always together.”

I try not to react as my heart skips a few beats. But Isaac doesn’t seem to realize what he said.

“Daddy?” Simon runs up with half a picture in his hand and tears in his eyes. “Justine ate my picture.”

“Do you want to draw another one?”

He sniffs a few times and nods.

I stand and ruffle Simon’s hair. “Thanks, Isaac. Tell Zye to call me.”

Two

AIDYN

Twenty-Four Days until Christmas

It’sMonday and the diner is closed. My cook, Ramon, is helping me prep for the week ahead. Although callingthishelping is being generous.

“It’s not difficult, lad. Stir the soup so it doesn’t burn.”

“Sorry, Christy.”

He keeps staring off. According to Lanie, he’s been mooning over some girl.

But my lovesick cook isn’t the problem. That honor goes to my boyfriend. The one no one else knows about.

Garrett has been ignoring my texts. Maybe that’s why my next text is unnecessarily harsh. And without punctuation. Just to get under his skin.

Stop ignoring me, jackass.

I chop onions with a little too much force instead of staring at my phone like a teenage girl. And I should know since I watch my daughter do that very thing most nights. Until she got herself grounded last week.

My phone pings with an incoming text, but I don’t grab it straight away. I finish my chopping and add the onions to the soup.

“Christ, Ramon. Stir.”

He jumps guiltily.

After washing my hands, I check my messages.

Garrett

Sorry, sweetheart. I’ll call you later.

I’m still too angry to text him back, but at least I can breathe again.

My anxiety never used to be this bad. Sure, I struggled after Emily died. But for years, Garrett lived in New York, and I didn’t need constant contact from him.

Lately, I’ve been imagining the worst when he doesn’t respond.

Twisted metal. Blood. My sweet love grabbing my hand, her eyes filled with pain. “It’ll be okay, Aidyn.”

Swiping at my eyes, I shake off the memory. It’s been almost ten years.