Page 33 of Babies for the Christmas Grump

This moment is so different from the ones before it. The tension is sickening, and I’m having a hard time telling whether it’s something I’ve done or if she’s just decided to retreat into herself.

“Sunny,” I try again, calmer now. “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on, but we need to talk about the direction we’re heading in. We’re both juggling a lot, but this place needs us both. I can’t do it without you.”

I can see her jaw tighten, but she doesn’t respond.

I move closer, trying to close the distance between us. “Look, if I said something or did something?—”

Before I can finish, a voice from behind me interrupts, bright and eager.

“Ryder Hale? Is thatyou?”

I turn, and there’s a woman, mid-forties, standing in the doorway with a small suitcase at her side. She’s smiling broadly, and there is a twinkle in her eye as she practically rushes toward me.

I don’t know her, but her enthusiasm is unmistakable. She’s beaming at me with recognition in her eyes.

Uh-oh.

“Ryder, I can’t believe it’s you,” she gushes, utterly oblivious to the tense air hanging between Sunny and me. “You were such a little heartthrob inSnowed in With Santa.” Her tone rises a few decibels, and I immediately feel the flush of heat creeping up my neck. “My daughters loved that movie. They used to watch it every Christmas. You were the sweetest little Christmas prince.”

I can see the shift in Sunny’s posture from the corner of my eye. Her hands, still holding the lights, freeze. Her gaze flicks to me with a mixture of surprise and something I can’t quite read—amusement, maybe, or disbelief.

Her lips part, but she doesn’t say anything.

The woman continues, oblivious to Sunny standing right there, watching. “I’ve said so many times about how you were the perfect prince! We watched that movie on repeat! What are the odds of running into you like this?”

I force a tight smile, hoping the flood of embarrassment doesn’t show.

“Small world,” I manage, but it’s clear I’m floundering a little.

The woman laughs. “I had to double-check when I saw you in the lobby! It’s really you. Anyway, sorry, I’m getting ahead ofmyself—my name’s Lisa. I’m checking in for the weekend. I just had to say hi. I’ve never met a Christmas Prince before!”

Sunny doesn’t say anything. She’s still standing there, eyes locked on me. Her gaze is sharp now, her focus almost unnerving. There’s no trace of the warmth that usually fills her—just a cool, stern expression.

Yep, she’s been caught off guard and doesn’t know what to make of any of this.

I give a slight nod to Lisa. “It’s, uh, nice to meet you, Lisa. I’m glad you enjoyed the movie.”

My smile feels forced, tight. This is not how I wanted today to go.

Lisa grins and waves as she turns to head to the check-in desk.

“Thank you so much! And you were the sweetest little prince. Don’t forget it!” she calls over her shoulder, her voice carrying as she walks away.

The second she’s out of earshot, I turn back to Sunny. Her face is taut, but her eyes are a little wider than usual, her jaw clenched.

I open my mouth to speak, but Sunny beats me to it.

“Seriously?” she says sharply, cutting through the room. She doesn’t look at me as she speaks, her hands grabbing at the lights once again. “You couldn’t tell me about that?”

She gestures vaguely in the direction of the door where Lisa disappeared.

I can feel her words settling over me. I’m not ready to face this right now.

Or ever.

I don’t know why I can’t leaveSnowed in With Santabehind, no matter where I go or what I do.

“I didn’t think it mattered,” I reply, my words not as smooth as I want them to be.