An Ex for Christmas (Love Unexpectedly 5)

“Come,” he says through gritted teeth. “Damn it, Kelly, come with me—”

I do. I come again, clenching around him at the same moment he releases inside me.

Simultaneous orgasms? If you’d asked me an hour ago, I’d have said they’re not a thing. Wrong. They exist, and they’re…well, there are no words. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be this close to another person, to share the most intimate moment there is to share.

And wonderful as the moment is, it’s also scary as heck, because it feels important. Life-altering, even.

Mark lowers his forehead to my shoulder, and stays there for long moments as we both catch our breath.

I try to think of something to say, but…I’ve got nothing. Him either, apparently, because even after he pulls out, neither of us says a word. Not when he pulls my sofa’s throw blanket over us, and I roll to my side to make room for him beside me. Not when he slides a tentative arm around my waist, or when I lift his hand to my mouth and gently press my lips to his palm. Not when we drift off to sleep, sated and exhausted in front of the glow of the Christmas tree.

And not the next morning when I wake up naked, happy, and…alone.

December 21, Thursday Morning

“And you’re sure you don’t mind picking us up on the twenty-seventh?” my mom asks for the fifth time since I answered her call ten minutes ago.

“Yes, I’m positive,” I say, squinting at my laptop screen to see if the sweater I’m debating buying for my dad is purple or blue. The color’s called royal, which can go either way, you know? And if it was for a woman, I’d simply say, “What a pretty color!” and not stress, but my dad is not the type of guy to embrace a purple shirt.

I told myself I’d go into the city to shop today, but it’s snowing again. Just a light snowfall this time, and the trains are still running, but I can’t get excited about trekking down Fifth Avenue in the cold, so I’ve settled for a morning of online shopping and trying not to think about you-know-who and the naked you-know-what.

“Okay, sweetie,” my mom says, finally deciding to believe me. “Your father and I are so excited to see you, even though we’re having the best time. And you’re having a good time, too?”

I smile at her too-casual tone. I’d bet anything she’s still stressing about my “Christmas alone” but that my dad had made her promise not to fret on the phone.

“I’m not alone, Mom. I was at Cedar and Salt last night, everyone was there. I’ve had coffee with Ivy, lunch with Kate, and I can’t so much as go to the grocery store without someone inviting me over for Christmas dinner.”

“Oh, you’ll accept someone’s invitation, won’t you?”

“Definitely,” I say, just to make her feel better. It’s not that I don’t want to go to anyone’s house for the holiday; it’s just that until yesterday, I’d sort of been holding out hope that the woman in the train station was right and that I’d have my one true love to snuggle with on Christmas morning. And that we’d sip champagne by the tree, not bothering with presents, because each other is the only gift we need…

Yeah, that’s a bit much.

The point is, I haven’t made plans for Christmas, because I’d envisioned this Christmas vacation going very differently. I thought that I’d merrily unite with all of my exes, laughing through happy memories until I found the one that took my breath away. I thought I’d have a topper for my damn tree.

I hadn’t planned on a snowstorm. Or most of my exes being assholes.

Or what happened last night with my best friend.

“Okay, sweetie, your dad’s telling me to hang up now. We’ll chat Christmas Eve, okay? What time are you going to

Mark’s parents?”

I feel my stomach knot. How am I possibly supposed to properly enjoy pot roast with Mr. and Mrs. Blakely after I’ve seen their son naked?

“Not sure!” I say, faking a bright voice. “I’ll let you know when we figure out the schedule.”

And if I’m still invited.

I haven’t texted Mark since I woke up alone, with a stiff neck, on my couch.

Neither has he texted me.

Rigby’s gone, which means the dog followed Mark home, but I haven’t been paying attention to Mark’s back door to see if man or dog has come or gone.

Lies.

I’ve totally been paying attention, and nobody’s gone in or out.