Christmas Ever After (Puffin Island 3)

“Show me your painting.”

Sky had never felt more awkward or uncomfortable about anything in her life.

“Alec—” Emily’s voice was strangled but he gave her a brief smile.

“It’s fine, Emily. You were looking out for your friend, and it’s a legitimate concern.” His tone was neutral and he followed Lizzy to the side of the room where she’d been painting.

Emily mouthed I’m so sorry to Sky, who gave a helpless shrug.

She didn’t know which was worse—the fact Alec knew they’d been talking about him, love and happy-ever-after or the fact that he’d witnessed her emotional meltdown.

If she could have picked a moment for Puffin Island to sink back into the sea, it would have been now.

Alec studied the little girl’s work closely, offering plenty of praise and some helpful observations.

Emily’s expression softened and she glanced across at Sky again, this time with her hand pressed to her heart.

Sky rolled her eyes and went to wash the brushes and do what she could to remove the splashes of blue from her hair.

Emily might think everything was fine, but she now had to explain her way out of an embarrassing situation.

By the time she’d cleaned up, Alec was by the door.

“See you later.” Sky bent to kiss Lizzy, postponing the moment of departure for as long as possible. Then she picked up her bag and followed Alec to the car.

The freezing air engulfed her and she snuggled deeper into the warmth of Alec’s jacket, dreading the inevitable conversation.

“Maybe I’ll just walk home.”

“Get in the car, Sky.”

If it hadn’t been for the air temperature, she would have argued.

“All right, but for the record I don’t see us dancing into the sunset together holding hands, so you really don’t have to worry about me.”

Alec opened the car door for her, his expression inscrutable. “Get in. We’ll have this conversation somewhere there is less chance of developing frostbite.”

Her heart sank. She didn’t want a conversation. She wanted to forget the whole thing. “That sounds like something my mother might say. ‘We need to talk, Skylar.’ And we really don’t. Emily worries, that’s all.”

“She’s right to worry. Get in.”

Sky glanced at his face, at the rigid set of his jaw, and slid into the car without argument. “You’re not going to hurt me, Alec. I’m having fun, that’s all.”

“This morning I was grumpy and rude. How was that fun?”

“You had deadline panic. I get that. And I had a lovely, dreamy day. So dreamy I forgot to switch my phone on. I’ve already apologized for that oversight.”

“And you shouldn’t.” His voice was soft but firm. “Don’t ever apologize for being who you are.”

Without giving her time to reply, he closed her door and moments later slid into the driver’s seat.

Sky sat there, stunned.

Don’t ever apologize for being who you are.

When had anyone other than her friends ever said that to her?

The answer was never.