All I Want for Christmas: A Contemporary Romance Holiday Collection

by S. L. Sterling

  "Any more talk on a date yet?" I asked, looking out the window. The farther north we had driven, the more snow had accumulated on the roads, making them rather slippery.

  "We agreed to set one after Christmas. She wanted to wait and get all the holiday stuff out of the way first."

  "That's awesome. Hey, it looks like we may just be in luck for some good skiing weather," I said, digging my hand back into the bag of chips and shoving a couple into my mouth.

  "Yeah, I'm pretty excited about it! Lots of snow in the forecast. Should be the best skiing season we've had in a while up here." He glanced over at me. "So, man, how are you really doing?"

  I dropped my head in defeat and let out a loud sigh. "My God, not you too."

  "What? You're my best friend. Am I not allowed to care?"

  "You're allowed to care, but Lord, everyone around me has been acting as if I am some tiny fragile human being, and I am not. I got left at the alter. It’s not like she died."

  "I know, man." Zach got quiet, and I suddenly felt bad for snapping at him. I knew his concern was genuine.

  "Look, I'm sorry. I'm doing all right. I'm just getting tired of the pity, you know what I mean?"

  Zach looked over to me, another question forming in his mind.

  "Go ahead, ask away."

  "Did you sense something was wrong between the two of you?"

  I rolled my eyes. Here we go. "I don’t know. I just remember watching you and Ann Marie last spring. Laura and I never had the type of relationship you guys have. Truth be told I was a little jealous of that. After that weekend I spent with you guys, I felt something was off between us but couldn’t put my finger on it. We were both busy with wedding plans and figured we were just burned out from everything. However, she gave me no indication that she was unhappy. Hell, we were still having Sunday dinners with her parents up to a week before the wedding."

  "What happened then?"

  "If I knew, I would tell you," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

  "You do know she's engaged already, right?"

  I let out a sigh. "Yeah, I went to pick up a few of my things from her place a month or so ago. Her parents were there and they told me. I won't lie, it caught me a little off guard."

  "How do you feel about her being engaged so soon?"

  "Honestly?"

  "Yes," he said, taking a sip of his pop.

  "The only feeling I can describe is one of relief. It's like I told you the morning of the wedding, I should have been happy and excited to start my life with her, but I wasn't. Everyone told me it was just cold feet. Perhaps I wasn't the only one with cold feet."

  "Maybe you are merely numb to it all. Maybe that is why you aren't upset about it."

  I let out a laugh. "Nah, I don't think so. Maybe I’m still processing it, but to be honest, the only logical explanation I have is that I am my mother's child. That's it." I shrugged.

  "Drew, you are nothing like her. Just because she walked out on your dad and you when you were younger and didn't act like she cared doesn't mean that you are the same."

  "Sure it does. You explain it then." I shrugged.

  "Okay, I don't think it's that at all. Perhaps you just haven't found the right woman yet."

  "Zach, I had been with Laura for fifteen years. Fifteen years, man. We never fought, we liked all the same things, and we did everything together."

  Zach held up his hand for me to stop. "Perhaps that is just it. Couples should argue, man. You should have an all-out fight occasionally, clear the air. It's not natural for people to get along one hundred percent of the time."

  "True. Now can we please talk about something else?"

  Zach put the blinker on and turned onto the familiar road. "You got it. You ready for my mom’s apple raisin pie?"

  I had spent many years with Zach and his family up here after my mom had left, my father having gone down a very bad road with alcohol addiction. They had become a second family to me, and it was to them that I owed for what I had today. If it hadn't been for their influence on me, I would probably be just like my dad, drunk on some street corner somewhere in the city.

  * * *

  "Honestly, I can't wait," I said, looking out the window as Zach drove into the main part of town.

  Everything looked the same as it always did. We drove past all the same little stores in the town center, most of them the ones that we used to visit during the summer holidays.

  "How's Lex?" I asked.

  "She's good, off freelancing around the world. She is such a flighty spirit. I have no idea how she does what she does. The girl has no guarantee of income, but somehow she manages to land on her feet every single time."

  "That's great. We all should be more like her."

  Zach looked over at me as if I had lost my mind. "You sure you're feeling all right?" He chuckled.

  "Yeah, I'm good. I just figure she probably has a lot less stress than we do. We have responsibility." I laughed.

  Zach pulled onto the familiar street and into the driveway of the family’s home. The chalet looked the same as it always had, a mix of stone and wood front, the large picture window in the front overlooking the mountain behind us.

  "Home sweet home," Zach whispered.

  I looked up at the front of the house. The only decorations they had out were the wreath on the front door and the garland sprays on the railings. Two wreaths also hung off the outside lights. The rest, as usual, would be for us to put up. Zach and I would do the outdoor lights and the tree as always. As I looked up at the front door, a funny feeling sunk into the pit of my stomach, and I suddenly felt very out of place.

  I hadn't even undone my seatbelt when Zach turned toward me, already standing outside of the vehicle. "Are you coming or are you spending the holidays out here in the driveway?"

  "Man, perhaps I should just stay at a hotel," I mumbled.

  Zach was just about to pull out a couple bags from the back seat but stopped what he was doing and looked at me. "You'd better be kidding. You know you are welcome here always. Hell, my mother would chase you all the way back to the city with a rolling pin if she heard you say that."

  We both let out a laugh. "Yeah, hell, you're probably right."

  "We should get inside. I know when I spoke to her the other day she said she was planning on baking up a storm yesterday and today. I also know for a fact that she has our favorite cookies in there right now, probably just cool enough to sneak in a few bites before dinner."

  I remembered the cinnamon swirl cookies he was referring to and my stomach let out a growl. "Sounds great." I hopped out of the car and grabbed my bag from the back seat, giving Zach a hand with his bag as he grabbed his ski boots and helmet. We raced up the stairs just like we had when we were kids, Zach pushing me out of the way to get inside first, both of us laughing as I slipped on the icy step and dropped our bags, putting my hands out to brace myself from falling. I bent down to pick up the bags and Drew went to reach for the door handle.

  "That's it, fuck face, the cookies are–"

  Zach stopped mid-sentence. "Fuck you, they are," I said, laughing as I picked up the bags I had dropped and continued the climb up the stairs, running straight into Zach's back.

  "What the hell are you two doing making all this noise. You both sound like a herd of elephants coming up those front stairs. You scared Mom and me half to death."

  "What the hell are you doing here?" I heard Zach mutter as I came to a stop.

  I didn't need to look around him to know who it was. I'd recognize that voice anywhere, and Zach had spoken the exact words that were running through my mind.

  I stepped up beside Zach and looked at the brunette who stood before us. She wore a form-fitting white angora sweater and black leggings, her curves filling out both pieces of clothing perfectly. She had grown into quite a beautiful woman, and I couldn't help but allow my eyes to run over her a couple more times before her blue eyes sought mine.

  What the hell was Lexi doing here?
r />   7

  Alexa

  * * *

  "Alexa, what the hell are you doing here?"

  I was just about to answer when I saw Drew come up behind my brother. Drew, the boy I'd had a crush on ever since he pushed my brother for acting like a total boy.

  I was eight and we had all been playing on the playground one afternoon. Zach had decided that it would be fun to surprise me with a present. He had come over with his hands behind his back, Drew trailing behind shaking his head. He had told me to close my eyes and hold out my hand, claiming he’d found a special caterpillar he wanted to share with me. Being the naive younger sister who trusted her brother, I did as he asked. Only when he dropped the item into my hand and told me to open my eyes, I was faced with a huge, slimy earthworm that slid and twisted in my hand.

  I started screaming and crying, Zach started hysterically laughing, but Drew? Drew got angry. He shoved Zach hard onto the ground and told him to stop picking on me. From that day on, I had crushed on Drew something fierce, all through high school, college, and until the day I left home, but it didn't matter because to him I would always be Zach's little sister.

  Stepping off to the side, I let the boys in. Zach stepped inside and placed his boots and helmet off to the side. He then grabbed me, wrapped me in his arms, and pulled me in for a big bear hug. Then he let me go, removed his jacket and boots, and stepped off to the side to allow Drew to come in.

  "Hey, Drew." I waved awkwardly, looking into his blue eyes.

  "Hey, Lexi." He held his arms open for a hug.

  At first, we awkwardly bobbed and weaved, and then I stepped into his arms and he wrapped them around me, pulling me in close. I expected a quick hug, but instead he surprised me by holding me tight for a little longer. I couldn't help but inhale his scent as I buried my face into the crook of his neck.

  "Welcome home, boys!" Mom called out from behind us. Drew instantly let me go to greet my mother and father.

  As I watched my mother and then my father greet both of the boys, a sense of peace came over me. Something about being home at this time of year warmed my heart. I was glad that I had decided to come home for two weeks and spend Christmas with everyone.

  "You boys are just in time for dinner! Roast beef, potatoes, vegetables, how does all that sound?" Mom asked, taking Drew's coat from him and fixing the collar of his shirt, something she had always done when he was growing up. Then she placed her arm around Drew and walked with him upstairs and into the dining room.

  I stepped out onto the front porch as the boys followed my parents to the kitchen and pulled their bags inside. Then I leaned against the door and locked it. I closed my eyes for a second and inhaled deeply, looking up into the dining room. I watched as Drew sat down, smiling at my mother as she handed him the bowl of mashed potatoes. He really had it all: looks, body, brain, and a kind heart.

  "Lexi, are you coming?" my mother called out, looking rather impatient. "We would like to eat."

  "Yes, Mom, I'm coming." I walked up the stairs and over to the table while staring at Drew. However, there was no use in wanting what I couldn't have. It was a dead-end road with him, I already knew that.

  I flopped down in my usual seat, which happened to be beside Drew, and waited until Zach passed me a bowl of vegetables.

  All through dinner, Dad basically grilled Zach and Drew on some of the legal happenings that were going on in the world. I was pretty much oblivious to all of them. That’s what happens when you live in another part of the world—you become disconnected from everything—but I listened intently and practically hung onto every word Drew said.

  8

  Drew

  * * *

  I sipped on a cup of coffee and took a bite of the huge slice of apple pie that sat in front of me. I had really missed having home-cooked meals and family to eat them with. Normally for me it was whatever I could whip up quickly after a long day and generally involved a microwave while looking over legal documents. However, I knew that these two weeks would be filled with amazing homemade meals, wonderful desserts, and feeling like I once again belonged somewhere.

  I was thankful that during dinner tonight no one asked about Laura. Even though I knew they would have my best interest at heart, I really didn't care to talk about her. Plus, it had been nice to be able to forget about her and not be coddled by family, even though I would have preferred if anyone were to do it, it be them. I relaxed back against my seat, taking another bite.

  "Anyone want any more coffee?" Barbara asked, coming over with a fresh pot.

  "I'd love to, but I can't. I have to meet Ann Marie tonight," Zach announced and glanced at his watch. "And it’s already close to seven, which means I'll be late if I don't get ready and leave in fifteen." Zach drank down the remainder of the coffee in his mug and got up from the table, taking his bag to the basement, to his old room to get ready.

  "Well, I have nowhere I need to be, so I'll have another one please," I said, placing my mug near the edge of the table and smiling.

  "Sure thing, dear," Barbara said, filling my mug along with Lexi's and returning the pot to the coffee maker.

  "Okay, kids, same rules apply. Lexi, you and Drew are on dish duty tonight. Tomorrow it will be Zach's turn. I think we are going to retire for the evening. We’ll be in the basement watching TV if you need us," Barbara said, leaning against the back of her chair and smiling over at her husband. "Good night," she said, leaning down and giving Lexi a kiss on the top of her head, doing the same to me as she walked by.

  "Night," we both said in unison, watching after them as they left.

  I glanced across the table at Lexi. She sat there, her hands wrapped around her mug, sipping away on her coffee, swirling her fork through the leftover apple pie on her plate, when her eyes met mine. She smiled softly and cleared her throat, looking back down to the cup in front of her.

  Almost instantly, she got up and began clearing the plates, scraping each of them into the garbage and setting the silverware in the sink. I was just about to start helping when I felt her hand on my shoulder.

  "It's fine. Relax, drink your coffee. I'm just going to get some things soaking."

  I watched as she cleared the entire table, putting leftover food away into containers and neatly piling the dirty plates on top of one another.

  After I had finished the last of my coffee, I wandered into the kitchen with my mug in hand. She was standing by the sink, hot water steaming in front of her. I couldn't help but check out her perfect figure. She was placing more silverware and cups into the hot water.

  "You wash, I'll dry?" I suggested, leaning up against the counter, studying her face as I held out my mug for her to take.

  "Sure, Drew, sounds good." The smile that danced on her lips as her eyes met mine made me smile inside.

  I reached around her and grabbed the towel that she had gotten out for me and waited until the first few glasses and mugs were ready to dry. We worked in silence beside one another just like we always had. Occasionally, I would catch her sneaking a glance at me, her full pouty lips turned up into a half-smile as her eyes meant mine, but she continued to wash the dishes, placing them down for me to dry.

  "Would you mind turning on the radio?" she asked, swallowing hard, almost as if the silence between us was too uncomfortable for her. "I feel like listening to some Christmas music."

  "Sure thing," I answered and leaned over, flipping the power on the little radio, Christmas music instantly filling the room. "That was easy. Didn’t even need to find the station." We both laughed.

  We had washed every dish in silence, and once she had put the roasting pan in to soak, she removed her gloves, turned toward me, and stood leaning up against the sink, her arms crossed beneath her breasts. I couldn't help but check her out a little bit more than I had when I first arrived. She had grown up since the last time I had seen her. She had filled out and had become a woman—a rather attractive woman.

  I looked down as she placed her hand on my
forearm, a strange tingle running through me.

  "Drew, I wanted to say that I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your wedding. I really wanted to be there," she said, making eye contact with me again.

  "It's okay. You didn't miss very much." I shrugged, laying the towel down on the counter. "Just ask your brother."

  "He told me what happened. I'm so sorry."

  I shrugged. I didn't want her sympathy. I didn't want people, especially Lexi, looking at me like...like they all had been for months. "So, Zach told me that you had a project in Paris over that time. That's must have been exciting," I said, changing the subject.

  "Yes, I was doing a fun shoot for a lingerie campaign."

  "That’s awesome. Did it go well?"

  "It paid the bills for a couple of months. That’s all I really wanted." She shrugged and put the rubber gloves back on to wash the last of the dishes.

  "Where are you living now?" I asked, while I dried the last dish. She pulled out a bottle of cleaner and wiped down the counters.

  "I was renting a little place over in Italy. A cute one-bedroom. It was near this amazing pastry shop."

  "Nice. It’s beautiful over there," I said, sitting down at the island and watching her make her way around the kitchen, finally finishing and hanging up the wet towels to dry.

  "I didn't know that you've been to Italy." She poured us each another cup of coffee and sat down beside me.

  "Yeah, well, it was with Laura, so...I tend not to talk too much about that part of my life." I smiled. "Perhaps one day I will go back."

  She grew quiet. I hadn't meant to make her feel bad. It was just a fact of life. It was a better part of my life that right now I didn't want to revisit in any capacity, especially if I was going to have a good Christmas.