I ran upstairs, grabbed my keys, and took off. I just stared driving everywhere. Down the main drag, around the neighborhood, and then further out from there. I made calls to our one cab company to see if anyone picked her up from the house. She couldn’t have gone far—she was on foot and it was freezing.
But there was no sign of Sydney anywhere.
I didn’t think she’d leave town, but there were enough bed and breakfasts and motels in the area that it would take me all day to try and track her down. And that was assuming anyone would even talk to me.
Pulling out my cell phone, I sent her a quick text, hoping she’d respond.
Aaron: Syd, where are you? Let me come get you, bring you back home.
I waited near town square for ten minutes, hoping for a response that never came.
Next, I called my mom. Maybe she just went home. Maybe she just needed a little time alone, and she was right now helping Mom in the kitchen.
“Mom, is Sydney there?”
“No. Honey, what’s going on?”
“I’ll explain when I get home. Just, if she shows up, will you call me? Let me know she’s okay?”
“Of course.”
I hung up and headed back home, driving as slowly as I could, hoping to catch sight of a short, curvy Korean with a beat-up duffle bag. I should’ve never let her out of my sight. Amanda could’ve waited until I reassured Sydney it would be Amanda leaving.
But she wasn’t anywhere to be found. By the time I got home, I was hardly in the holiday mood.
Even if I did get home in time to see Andi and my mom cooking together, like Andi was another daughter in the family. Like she belonged.
I told my family the truth. My mom was appalled and couldn’t believe she’d been so crazy. She apologized to me and to Sonia and Andi.
“Aaron, I never meant to put so much pressure one you. If it’s any consolation, I really like Sydney, and I like you with her.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Thanksgiving dinner came and went, and there was still no sign of Sydney.
“Let’s go back to the Festival. Everyone in town’s going to be there. Maybe Sydney will show up too.” Sonia rest her hand on my upper arm, giving me a half-hearted smile. “And if she’s not, you can drown your sorrows in all the Jubilee Punch you can drink.”
I shrugged, not really wanting to be around people. But Sonia was right. It was probably my best bet to find Sydney, to hopefully convince her that we were worth more than just a one-night fling.
I wasn’t ready to lose her. As my best friend, or as the woman I was pretty sure I was in love with.
6
SYDNEY
“Come on, dear. You don’t want to be cooped up in your room all night. Everyone will be at the Festival.”
“Thanks, Tammy, but I’m feeling a little down.”
“Then a trip to the Festival is exactly what you need. A warm drink, more dessert, maybe a ride or two? It’ll take your mind off whatever’s troubling you.”
It might have. If it weren’t for the fact that Aaron might be there.
“I’m not going to let you go back to your room until you say yes.”
“Fine. I’ll go for a little while.” It was better than arguing with the overly excited innkeeper.
I grabbed my coat and scarf, and headed out into the chilly night air, flanked on either side with Tammy and Kirk.
The voices coming from the stage in the main tent seemed to go non-stop, and as we got closer to the front flap, I froze.
Aaron was speaking, his voice amplified by a microphone.
“I’m thankful for a lot of things this year. I didn’t think I’d get up here and speak, but I’m not sure how else to express what I’m feeling. Firstly, I’m thankful for my mom and dad, who love me even though I’m apparently an incredible idiot.” There were a few sprinkled chuckles before he spoke again. “And I’m thankful for my sister Sonia, and her exceptional taste in women, without whom, I might have had to pick up my ex and throw her out of my parents’ house. But mostly, I’m thankful for my best friend. I know Sydney probably can’t hear this. Hell, she’s probably halfway back to Omaha by now. But if she’s still here, I just want her to know that she is the most important person in my life, the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I was such an idiot to not say something sooner. If anyone sees her, I would be eternally grateful if you’d let her know that I’ll be waiting by the Ferris wheel, all night, just in case.”
I didn’t know what to say.
But I did know what I had to do. I had to meet Aaron King by the Ferris wheel.
Before that, though, I needed a minute to catch my breath.
He’d just professed his feelings for me. In front of his entire town.
“You’re the one he was talking about, aren’t you?” Tammy smiled as she handed me a cup of something warm.
“Yeah, I guess I am.” I sipped the cider, glad that this one didn’t taste like it had half the liquor cabinet in it and smiled softly. “I think I’ll be checking out tomorrow, Tammy.”
She chuckled. “What are you waiting around here for? Go get your man.”
I shook my head. “I need to figure out how I’m going to follow up something like that.”
“I’ve found that I love you usually works best in these situations,” Kirk said. “Simple, and to the point.”
Did I love Aaron King? I’d never been in love before.
I smiled. “Okay, wish me luck.”
Aaron was standing there, just like he said he would be, with a flannel blanket draped over his arm and a worried look on his face.
I took a deep, calming breath and strolled up to him. “Is that for me?”
His eyes widened. “Sydney. You’re still here.”
I walked over slowly, nervously. “I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you, huh?”
“You heard that?”
I nodded. “King, I…” I bit my lip, trying to dislodge the overflow of words stuck in my throat. “I can’t be your best friend anymore.”
His face fell.
“I can’t be your best friend, because I really, really want to be your girlfriend.”
Aaron grabbed my hand and pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me as his lips crushed against mine. He took his time kissing me like he was trying to convey what he was feeling through our kiss. Finally, he pulled back and I let out a shaky breath.
“I think I’m in love with you, Sydney Park.”
My heart raced, and I found myself clinging to him, wanting us to somehow be closer. “Then it’s a good thing I love you too, isn’t it?” I grinned and leaned into him, letting my eyes close as he held me. “I think you owe me a Ferris wheel ride.”
“And then, can I take you back to my room?”
I chuckled. “I think it would be better if we made use of my room. At least then, we won’t be sharing a wall with your sister.”
He tugged me toward the ride with a smirk on his face. “Good. I want to hear you scream my name.”
“Maybe I want to hear you scream mine too,” I teased.
He stopped and turned to me, keeping his arms around me. “I am so grateful for you, Syd. I wish I would’ve been brave enough to say something sooner and not wasted so much time. But I’m glad we’re here now. And I’m sorry I made you doubt us.”
I reached up and cupped his face. “I’m grateful for you too, King. Maybe I’ll subject you to Christmas with my family next.”
He laughed. “Anything as long as I get to be with you.”
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Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Thankful for Her as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Syd and Aaron had a couple of false starts before I found the right fit for them, but I was really happy with how they turned out. I’m a sucker for Friends to lovers romances, and I had a lot of fun making Sydney into a geeky gamer girl who finds love.
One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is really getting to be reflective and think about the things that are good and positive, and finding ways to share those feelings out into the world. Some of my best Thanksgivings were actually the ones furthest from home, while I was in the Peace Corps. Hearing the stories that other volunteers told, and finding ways that we could support and help each other do good work, while getting a little taste of home (and some not so familiar foods too) made this time of year extra special, and I wanted to bring a little bit of that warmth and good feeling into this story as well.
If you want more of Aaron and Sydney’s romance, click here to download an exclusive bonus epilogue!
I, for one, am grateful for you, our readers, and I hope that your holiday season kicks off right with lots of love, joy, and all the turkey you can handle!
Until next time, happy reading!
XOXO
McKenna Rogue
Also by McKenna Rogue
Love Demands a Holiday Series
For Love and Donuts
Sparks of Love
Lip-Locked in the Library
Billionaire Barista
Unmasked Love
Unmasked Desire
Thankful For Her
Scrooged by a Biker
Gift Wrapped Fiancé
Snowed In
Defying Expectations Series (Wright Family Romances)
Silver Screen Seduction (Prequel)
Renovating the Heart
Moonshot Desire
Christmas Crush (December)
Backstage Baby (2020)
Coming Soon…
Kismet and Curves (Curvy Girl Paranormal Romance)
Fated & Found
Fated & Furious
Fated & Flummoxed
Fated & Feral
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
Thankful For Her
First Edition, November 26, 2019
Copyright © 2019 Anubis Press GP, All rights reserved.
Cover by EmCat Designs
Editing by Anubis Press GP
Thankful for Her: A Friends to Lovers Romance (Love Demands a Holiday Book 7) Page 4