Back Home For Christmas: An Enemies to Lovers Holiday Romance (Cape Shore Romance Book 1) by Amber Reed

Author:Amber Reed [Reed, Amber]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-01T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

“Why not try to, I don’t know, step out of your comfort zone, try something different?” I asked after a heart beat of silence threatened to end the conversation.

“I guess it’s all the things you said about me. I’m arrogant and rigid and judgmental, but mostly I don’t know the first thing about what actually makes me happy. I see other people happy, finding joy in shit like knitting a cozy for their coffee,” he said taking a hand off the wheel to gesture toward my crochet.

“It’s crochet,” I corrected quietly because I physically could not resist an opportunity to correct him.

“But I don’t know what that thing is for me. I don’t know how to find that thing. My whole life was about behaving properly or working hard. My value, according to my parents, came from my contributions. My mom spent my entire childhood traveling. We moved to Cape Shore because my dad thought that would be enough to keep her happy, she loved the beach, but she was always looking for the next big thing. Nothing was ever enough for her, especially me. My dad, threw himself into his work, always physically present but worlds away. He had little tolerance for a child. He only ever paid attention when I got on the honor roll or made captain of the football team. Even then it was to post on social media or try to engage my mother.”

“That sucks. I guess that was why you were such a dick?” I asked. He shrugged. “But why not try to do something different now. You don’t have to be your father.”

“My value was always equated to my productivity, and I don’t know how to untether my self-worth from how much money I make or how successful I am. I don’t know how to relax and have fun. It probably doesn’t make any sense to someone like you,” he said.

“Someone like me?” I asked. “What does that even mean?”

“You have made it your life’s mission to single-mindedly follow your passions, even if your passions are super nerdy.”

“What are you talking about?” I said, despite the voice of self-preservation shouting in my brain to shut up. “I haven’t succeeded in a goddamn thing my whole life. I gave up on my passions with the failed scholarship contest. You have some penthouse apartment, enough money to retire tomorrow, and a swanky job that everyone oohs and ahhs about. I haven’t done shit. I have failed at almost everything I have tried. I gave up on photography for psychology. When no one was footing the bill for school, because of course my parents didn’t see a point in my education unlike Darren’s, I had to bust my ass at a full-time job. Somehow, by sheer luck, I managed to make it to my senior year only to lose my way and hit a roadblock completing my final assignment. Now I am here,” I spread my arms wide indicating nothing and everything all at once.

“Back

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