Escaping Christmas by Marie Landry

Author:Marie Landry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: one night stand, holiday romance, steamy romance, christmas romance, small town romance, holiday fling, canadian romance, forced proximity, fling to forever
Publisher: Marie Landry

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

With my own family having consisted of only my mom and me, I haven’t been to many big family dinners in my life. When I was on Our Thorny Family, the majority of episodes featured a family meal of some sort and it was always real food. I loved filming those scenes—my TV siblings and I would be chowing down on delicious food, whispering and giggling to each other and kicking each other playfully under the table, all while the adults had their scripted conversations.

Other than those days on Our Thorny Family, I’ve never really felt like a part of something bigger. No matter how gracious the host, I’ve always felt like a guest. An outsider. I didn’t allow myself to think too much about it because I knew it would mean examining my life more closely. Poking at that dark hole in my chest or acknowledging the whisper of a voice that told me I was lonely, that my life had little meaning outside my career.

Tonight’s dinner at the Murphys’ was the first time in ages I experienced a true sense of belonging. Sure, they had inside jokes and talked about things I didn’t understand, but they didn’t linger on those topics, and every single person at the table made sure I was part of the conversation. I didn’t once feel put on the spot or like the ‘celebrity in the room’.

Despite Mae’s protests, I insist on helping her clean up after dinner. Nathan surprises me by staying with us in the kitchen while Liam and Rex accompany Seamus to the living room. He and Mae do most of the talking while we clean up—Mae washing the dishes, me drying them, and Nathan putting them away—and I simply enjoy listening to them, basking in the glow of their familiarity and affection.

When we’re finished with our task, Nathan tells us he’s going to head home and have an early night for a change. He hugs Mae tightly, murmuring something I can’t hear. While Mae goes to the fridge to get him some leftovers to take home, Nathan turns to me and surprises me yet again by embracing me.

“Glad we could all be together tonight,” he says. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen Murph that animated.”

“You know how he loves an audience,” Mae says fondly, laying a hand on Nathan’s back as she passes him a container of food.

Nathan chuckles. “That he does. I bet he’d like to see more of you, Joss. He hasn’t had anyone new to talk to for a long time. I’m sure he’d enjoy telling some of his stories to someone who hasn’t heard them a million times.”

“I’d love that,” I say. My eyes flick to Mae, and my heart squeezes at the tender look on her face. “I’ll give him my number before I leave so he can call me when he feels up for a visit.”

Nathan leaves to say good night to the others, and I stay in the kitchen with Mae to give the guys a few minutes alone.

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