The Wish by Francis Ray

Author:Francis Ray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Published: 2002-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Andrea couldn’t get her heart to settle down. Every time Nicholas looked at her it would go crazy. She tried to tell herself he was just playing a part, but her body wasn’t listening. This morning he’d been ready to fight Travis to protect her. He’d cut down the Christmas tree for her. He’d chosen her first for his team when they played tag football. It had been her idea to download the digital pictures John took to Nicholas’s parents, but he had asked that a picture of her be sent to his computer.

It was too romantic. Even if it was pretend, she felt giddy with delight. He was the perfect prince.

“Since Mrs. Augusta has gone to bed, are you going to jump Nick on the couch or by the Christmas tree?” Elaine asked, a wide grin on her beautiful face.

Andrea laughed, but her heart went crazy again. She’d walked her friends to the door. Nicholas waited in the living room where they’d put the Christmas tree. “Ladies do not jump men.”

Elaine sent Travis a speculative look. “There’s always an exception to the rule.”

Travis grinned. “A man would count himself lucky if he were that exception.”

Andrea didn’t know if Travis and Elaine were finally going to act upon the attraction that had always been between them or keep on dancing around it. She loved them both and wanted the best for them.

“Maybe it’ll be me,” John chimed up.

“Or me,” Clint said.

“Or none of you,” Elaine said with her usual style. She hugged Andrea. “My plane leaves tomorrow afternoon. I’ll call when I get back.”

“I thought you’d stay over the weekend,” Travis said with a frown.

“Work,” she said succinctly. “Good night, Andrea. Get back in there, and for what it’s worth, I think you hit pay dirt.”

“Thank you.” She trusted her friends, but she’d decided not to tell them she and Nicholas were just pretending. She didn’t want them to think ill of him.

“I think Nick’s a little stiff,” John said, then clicked the camera around his neck when Andrea’s expression turned mutinous.

She laughed. “If you show that picture to anyone, I’ll have your head.”

“It would rattle, because nothing is in it.” Clint laughed.

“Come on, children,” Elaine said, grabbing both men and going down the steps to her parents’ car.

Travis stared longingly after her before turning to Andrea. “Be happy, Andrea, and if you ever need a big brother, you know you have three.”

Andrea hugged him. “If you ever need someone to talk to about you-know-what, call.” She now knew what it was like to care for someone and not be sure how he felt.

“Maybe one day.” After another brief hug, he went to his car parked on the other side of Nicholas’s and drove off.

Going inside, Andrea cut off the porch lights, took a deep breath, and slowly walked to the living room. At first she didn’t see him. The only light came from the hundreds of twinkling star-shaped lights decorating the tree. Her mother had bought them the year before Andrea was born.

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