Christmas Ever After (Puffin Island 3)

“PREGNANT! WOW. Can you believe that?” Brittany drove carefully in the snowy conditions. “Talk about a steep learning curve. Em’s has been more like a vertical cliff.”

“But she has Ryan.”

“Yeah.” Brittany’s voice was husky. “Those two are so cute together. And I take full responsibility. If I hadn’t sent him to keep an eye on her—”

“I love seeing her so happy. And you with Zach.”

“You’ll be next. Now that you’ve finally dumped Richard the Rat you can find someone insanely hot who will appreciate you.”

She’d found someone.

And he didn’t want her. At least, not in that way.

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Hey, I know you’re feeling bruised right now, but give it some time. I’m so glad you’re having rebound sex with Alec. That’s exactly what you need.” Brittany slowed down as she approached a bend in the road. “All the fun, with no risk of emotion. Crap, these roads are slick.”

There was plenty of emotion on her side. More emotion than she’d ever felt in her life. Her heart was full with it and she had no idea what she was going to do.

It was the cruelest irony that she’d found the one thing she’d always wanted with the one man who couldn’t give it to her.

To Alec, a relationship was a cage. Something to trap him and prevent him from living the life he wanted.

It was no good telling herself that she wasn’t like that, because in the end the only thing that mattered was the way he felt.

Emotion clogged her throat. “Brit—”

“I know you two don’t have much in common outside the bedroom but it isn’t as if you’ll see much of each other once the holidays are over. He’s off to Antarctica or something, isn’t he?”

“Yes.” And she was excited for him, but also sad and a little bit envious. She pushed that aside. “Do you think Em is all right about being pregnant?”

“You mean because she never wanted this? Yes, I do. It wasn’t that she didn’t want it exactly, but she was scared.”

“We ought to find a time to talk to her. Give her a chance to talk about how she’s really feeling.” And maybe that would give her a chance to talk, too. “We haven’t got together for ages.”

“She has Ryan. Did you see him with her? It was adorable. She didn’t notice us. Nothing makes me more mushy than a big strong guy being kind and gentle.”

“A lot has changed since the beginning of the summer.” Sky stared at her hands. “Have you noticed?”

“Yeah. Our friend has had a lifestyle and personality transplant. I’m living with my ex-husband and you’re having crazy sex with a man you wanted to kill. No one can say we don’t keep life interesting.”

Sky turned her head and looked out of the window.

The island looked different, snow-covered, familiar and yet unfamiliar.

Like their friendship.

Everything had changed, except her. She’d stayed the same, hoping for something that was never going to happen. Trying to live her dream while also doing her best to please her parents.

Except she wasn’t the same, was she?

She’d finally found the big love she’d wanted all her life.

Brittany pulled up at the end of the lane. “Can you walk from here? If I drive down there, I’ll get stuck.”

“Do you want to come in for a while?” The words rushed out of her mouth. “It would be great to catch up and talk.” Did she sound desperate? Oh, God, she hoped not.

“