The Fake Fiancé for Christmas Eve by Cecily Rowanell

Author:Cecily Rowanell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fake fiancé Christmas romance, sweet holiday romance books, clean Christmas romance, neighbor to lovers romance, fake dating Christmas, wholesome holiday romance, Christmas Eve romance, contemporary Christmas romance clean
Publisher: Rowanell Books
Published: 2025-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8:

Christmas Morning

Eli woke to the smell of bacon and the sound of someone singing off-key in the kitchen.

He lay on the couch for a moment, orienting himself. The Christmas tree. The blankets twisted around his legs. The gray morning light filtering through the curtains.

Sophie's parents' house. Christmas morning.

He sat up and rubbed his face. His neck ached from the couch cushions and his sleep had been fractured, broken into pieces by thoughts he couldn't quiet. But he was here. That had to count for something.

In the kitchen, Diane was manning the stove while Richard handled coffee duty. The singing was coming from Matt, who was butchering "Jingle Bells" while setting the table.

"He's alive," Matt said when Eli appeared in the doorway. "We were starting to worry."

"What time is it?"

"Almost eight. You slept through the first round of coffee."

Diane turned from the stove. "Sit down, honey. I'll make you a plate. How do you like your eggs?"

"However you're making them is fine."

"Scrambled it is."

Eli took a seat at the kitchen table. Richard poured him coffee without asking. Black. He'd noticed last night that Eli didn't take cream.

Small kindnesses. This family was full of them.

"Sophie's still upstairs," Matt said. He slid into the chair across from Eli. "She's always the last one down on Christmas morning. Drives Mom crazy."

"I heard that," Diane said.

"You were meant to."

The kitchen was warm. Steam rose from the coffee pot and the stove. Through the window, Eli could see the snow from last night, undisturbed on the lawn. A perfect white blanket.

He thought about Sophie. Upstairs, probably awake, probably avoiding coming down. The distance she'd put between them last night hadn't dissolved with sleep. If anything, it had solidified.

We go back to being neighbors.

That's what she wanted. Or what she thought she wanted. Or what she thought she was supposed to want. Eli wasn't sure anymore.

Footsteps on the stairs. Sophie appeared in the kitchen doorway, her hair pulled back, wearing a sweater he recognized from last night. She looked tired. She looked like she hadn't slept either.

Their eyes met. Something flickered in her expression. Then she looked away.

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart." Diane abandoned the stove to hug her daughter. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Mom."

Sophie took the seat next to Eli. Close enough to maintain appearances. Far enough to maintain distance. She accepted coffee from her father and didn't look at Eli again.

Breakfast was loud. Matt's wife came down, then Grandma, then Aunt Linda and her boyfriend arrived from the hotel. The kitchen filled with voices and laughter and the clatter of plates being passed. Eli ate his eggs and watched the chaos unfold around him.

This was what Christmas was supposed to be. Noise and warmth and people who loved each other crowded into a too-small space. He'd forgotten. Or maybe he'd never known.

"Present time," Diane announced when the dishes were cleared. "Everyone to the living room."

The tree was surrounded by wrapped packages. Richard played Santa, reading names off tags and distributing gifts. Eli hadn't expected anything. He was a guest, a last-minute addition, a fake fiancé with no claim to holiday traditions.

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