Page 157 of Take My Name

“Well, I do, so you can plug your ears.” Maisie grins, focusing her attention on Silas. “Start at the beginnin’.”

After an exhausting thirty minutes of Silas sharing the story and Maisie interrupting to ask him follow-up questions, I’m torn between kicking his ass for keeping secrets from me or feeling bad he’s really shit out of luck on getting back on her good side.

“You need to apologize,” Maisie tells him. “Make amends. Not ’cause you need a place to stay, but because it’s overdue and you owe her one. And you never know…” She smirks at me. “Sometimes apologies can lead to somethin’ more.”

chapter thirty

Maisie

Spendingour first Christmas together since getting back together is all I’ve been able to think about for the past couple months. I couldn’t wait to start decorating the cabin, so I started after Halloween weekend.

Garland and lights wrapped around the deck, wreaths on the doors, white lights hung across the roof, and an inflated Santa in his sleigh with the reindeer on the lawn. Warren and his brothers put up colored lights around each tree in the front yard.

The chickens hated it at first, but they’ve come around now.

And the inside looks like a true Christmas cabin explosion—red bows, two themed trees, more garland and lights, singing Santas, and stuffed reindeer.

It’s the first time as an adult I’ve been able to decorate a house that’s truly felt like a home.

I’ve already told Warren we’re not taking it down until Valentine’s Day.

Maybe St. Patrick’s Day if he lets me.

It’s also the first time I’ve taken off work completely for the second half of December. Even set up an away message on my email that I’d return after the New Year.

Nothing is more important than spending this time with Warren and his family.

Warren has to work during the day, as usual, so I’ve been baking and cooking with his mom and Aunt JoJo. I even surprised him by making dinner a few days ago and it was actually decent.

Not fancy like the meals he makes, but I’m working on it.

I always find time to read but being able to binge a whole book in one sitting while rotting on the couch is my new profound love.

“May I interrupt your book for a moment of your attention?” Warren drawls overly dramatic as he walks into the living room. I’m sprawled out in my oversized sweatshirt, fireplace heating my legs and bare feet, and a half-filled mug of hot chocolate on the coffee table.

He’s lucky he’s so damn sexy or I’d tell him to go away.

“I suppose so…” I mock.

“I wanted to give you an early Christmas gift since the next few days are gonna be chaotic with family events.”

“I thought we were exchangin’ gifts on Christmas mornin’?”

“We are, but this one is extra special and deserves its own moment.”

Curious, I sit upright and make room for him next to me.

He reveals a wrapped book-shaped item from behind his back.

I reach for it, but he quickly pulls it away before I can grab it. “Hold on, grabby hands.”

Pretending to pout, I wait impatiently.

“I had to dig into a couple of your contacts to make this happen, so please don’t be mad about that. I think it’ll be worth it once you see what it is.”

“My contacts? Like who?”

“Your agent friend, Jessica, and she got me into contact with someone else, who gave my email to the author.”