My Forever Home: christmas rom com sweet (Santa Paws Pet Rescue Book 1) by Clara Bliss

Author:Clara Bliss [Bliss, Clara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-11-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight: Noel

I hold up the matching knitted red sweaters I brought for us and wave them in the window. My stomach bubbles with excitement. Jack opens the door to his truck, but he doesn’t move to get out.

“Hi! I’m so excited you’re here. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. Do you like the sweaters? I was torn because they had so many to choose from. But in the end, these won the day because first off, the adorable little dog, and second, the fact that he’s drinking from a tiny teacup. I mean, come on! It’s so cute…” My eyes drift to Jack’s face and I stop talking.

His mouth is pinched into a tight line and it even turns down at the corners. He’s not in the holiday spirit at all, in fact, the man is downright stoic.

“Sorry, the sweaters are too much aren’t they? That’s okay, I’m just happy you’re here. Come on, let’s go. My friends are already inside and the band is about to start. I want to make sure we have time to try every dessert they have. Have you ever had the strawberry cheesecake? It’s amazing!” I ramble on excitedly and give his hand a gentle tug, but for some reason, Jack doesn’t budge.

He remains firmly planted in the front seat of his truck. Hands clenching the steering wheel.

I take a step back and my stomach ties itself into knots. “Is everything ok?”

Jack still isn’t meeting my eyes, and his skin takes on a new, deep red tone. He inhales one slow, deep breath through his nose. “I don’t know if I’m feeling up for this tonight.”

“Oh, what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?” I blink at him in surprise.

We just talked and everything seemed fine. Jack’s eyes focus on something over my head but when I turn, all I see are the masses of excited locals in their Christmas best.

“Jack, talk to me.” I chew my bottom lip.

He hesitates and for a moment, I think we might be able to clear up whatever this is. But when he opens his mouth to speak, his tone makes me decidedly less confident.

“Listen I don’t want to get into it, I can’t. Not right now. I’m just not feeling well and I can’t be here. You should go with your friends, watch the tree light up and have the best time.” His words are clipped short, and his tone isn’t unkind, but it’s heartbreaking nonetheless.

“Did I do something to upset you?” I feel a numbness settle in around me and tuck my hair back behind my ears. “You’ve been… off. Short. Not overly chatty. Are you upset with me?” I know from past experience that I should let him go right now. Immediately turn around. Go on about my day. But it isn’t in me. So instead I lean into my old habit of caring too much. Sticking around for too long. Being too much.

“No. Stop it. It’s not you, I need to head home.

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