Page 22

But you don't, you don't know him.

Walking to the door, I opened it slowly, peeking my head out and checking to make sure no one was around. The light from the hall was bright, forcing me to blink several times to adjust.

“It's all clear.”

Turning to face him, I curled my arms around my ribs, just peering up at him. I wasn't sure what to say to him. This had all taken me by surprise. His being here, my feelings out weighing rational thinking, it was too much to process.

None of this was supposed to happen.

His eyes penetrated my body as he took a firm step forward, wrapping his arms around my waist and yanking me in. Pressing his lips to mine, he kissed me one last time.

And as quickly as it all happened, it was over.

Yuri unlatched his arms from my body and took a step back. Running his fingers across his lips, he smiled. “I'm pretty sure an angel just got their wings tonight.”

I tried so hard not to smile, but I couldn't stop it. “I bet you're right.” My lips folded up as the kiss we shared spread down my muscles, making my body warm and tingly.

“See ya around, Toad.”

“Don't call me that,” I said, holding up my finger in protest. The smile still kept spreading, making its way down to my toes. “You know how much I hate it.”

“I thought you loved the little nickname?” he asked, his tone playful.

“You know, I thought if I saw you again that you'd be different. But you haven't changed at all, have you?”

“I've changed a lot, Gwen, but that doesn't mean the person I was is gone.” Yuri kept his eyes on mine as he gave me one last smile. “Tell everyone I said hello.”

Turning around, he walked down the hall, exiting out the patio doors to the backyard.

My heart skipped in my chest as I softly touched my lips. They were tingling, the sensation strong and bold as if I had just eaten a hot pepper.

“Hey,” my brother said, coming around the corner and gripping my shoulders. “I figured you went to hide out in your room.”

Shit.

“Oh, no, I just. . .” Pausing, I wondered if he could see that my cheeks were flushed and my skin was dewy from just being with Yuri. “I was going to, then I changed my mind.”

“Good, we would have missed you.” Joggling my body a little, he stepped around me. “I'm going to hit the can, I'll be right back.” Glancing up, Tyler stopped short and turned back to face me. Giving me a quick kiss on the cheek, he shrugged his shoulder. “Mistletoe,” he said, pointing up. “I don't want you to mistake that kiss as kindness.”

Laughing, I rolled my eyes. “Of course.”

Walking back into the party, my mother came up and stood beside me. “Where did you disappear to?”

“Geese, is everyone keeping tabs on me or something?” Nervously, I raked my fingers through my hair. I felt like a kid again, being interrogated about where I had been and who I had been with.

“Don't be ridiculous, it's just you were gone for almost thirty minutes. I sent Tyler to find you, did you see him?”

It was that long?

Time had stopped for me. Being with Yuri had always done that. I used to get into trouble for being late for curfew because of it. Whenever we were together, it always felt like it was just the two of us.

“I did.”

Laying her head on my shoulder, my mother closed her eyes. “This is the best Christmas in years.”

My smile arched high, filled with a rekindled love that I had never really given up, only lost along the way.

“It really is, Mom.” Laying my head on hers, I watched my father as he sat with my nephews, both of the boys all snuggled up under his arms. “It really is.”