Page 40 of The Humbug Holiday

“Yeah, I’ve just been running. I wanted to see you and tell you…”

“Tell me what?”

Uh…

I blinked like a deer in headlights and just like that I knew exactly what to say.

“I love you.”

“You love me?”

“Yeah, I fuckin’ love you.” I licked my lips and continued in a rush. “I know that’s a lot to lay on you. And I know those are three strong words coming from a guy you haven’t known all that long. And I know you’re leaving, and I know there’s a chance you might not return for a while. There’s also a chance you don’t feel the same way.”

“Joe…”

“Let me finish.” I held up my hand. “I-I’ve been playing it safe for too long. I don’t want to do that with you. So I thought you might want to know that when you do come back, whenever that may be…next week, next month, next year—I’ll be here. Waiting for you.”

Cam raked his teeth over his bottom lip and smiled sweetly. “And will you be wearing that?”

I glanced down at the sad state of my Santa costume and made a funny face. “Maybe? I mean, summertime, definitely not. But I could work something out for you for Valentine’s Day or St. Patrick’s—”

He dropped his bag on the ground and crashed his mouth over mine, wrapping his arms around my waist.

His eyes were wet when he pulled away. “I love you, too. I’m not going anywhere.”

“There’s a helicopter behind you.”

Cam peered over his shoulder and chuckled. “Check your phone. I texted you, goofball. I’m going to New York for the night to sign a contract and take a photo. It’s closer than LA, and I’d already decided I couldn’t leave you on Christmas. They say you should spend it with someone you love and that’s you. Besides, it’s your favorite holiday.”

“You know, I think it is now,” I whispered.

His nostrils flared with barely checked emotion as he caressed my jaw. “Mine too, my love. Mine too.”

I held on tight as snow fell and the helicopter buzzed loudly above us. I was vaguely aware of someone yelling for us to get on board. In the midst of the chaos, a beautiful stillness settled between us.

Peace. Goodwill. Kindness. Love. Hope.

I wanted those things in my life. No more humbug holidays. It was time to make room for happiness. And with Cam, I believed anything was possible.

EPILOGUE

“It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags!” —Dr. Suess,The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Cameron

“Are we spiking the eggnog with rum or brandy?”

“Brandy. Was that a real question?” I glanced at my boyfriend, shaking a carton of eggnog on his side of the kitchen island.

Joe snickered. “Some people prefer rum.”

“In eggnog? Gross.”

“Babe,eggnogis gross. As in completely disgusting. Why are we serving this at all? No one will drink it.”

“It’s tradition. Or so my aunts say…and your mother. Speaking of which—” I unwrapped the foil on the hors d’oeuvres the caterer had prepared and inclined my chin toward the microwave clock. “They’ll be here in fifteen minutes. I’ll put these in the living room and leave some in the kitchen since everyone seems to congregate here anyway.”

“Can you blame them? It’s damn nice,” Joe cast an appreciative look around the newly renovated, open-style space as he stirred the eggnog-and-brandy concoction.