Page 16 of Christmas in Quincy (The Edens 0.50)

“Obviously, I don’t,” I grumbled, reaching for my drink. In this room, the champagne was the only thing on my side. And my slippers.

“What I mean is . . . you’re calm,” Austin explained. “Levelheaded.”

“Predictable.”

“Yes.”

“Boring,” I mumbled before taking a long gulp.

“I didn’t say that.”

He didn’t have to. A lot of people thought that my life should be more exciting. My father was a billionaire. Dad would give me anything in the world if it was at his disposal, no questions asked. I didn’t travel the world. I didn’t spend frivolously. My idea of an exciting Friday night was experimenting with pastry recipes.

“I get it,” I said. “This isn’t the type of thing I normally do and it’s taken everyone off guard. Cleo has a mind of her own. Surprise.”

I swiped the TV remote from the dresser and turned it on. The generic music from the guide channel filled the room as I returned to my side of the bed, taking care to sit as close to the edge as possible.

The Hallmark Channel was my favorite this time of year because cheesy holiday romances made me smile. I found it in the guide, punched in the number and the minute the channel changed, a couple dry humping filled the screen.

Kill me now.

Austin swiped the remote from my hand and didn’t miss a beat as he found a sports show. It was the one and only time I wouldn’t complain about basketball.

“Uh . . . who’s watching the store?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He was also hovering close to his edge of the bed.

“Brynne.”

He hummed, his eyes fixed on the screen.

I did my best to follow the game, but as the ball moved from one end of the court to the other, the champagne soaked into my blood, making me sleepy. Before I could crash, I forced myself off the bed and into the bathroom, where I washed my face and brushed my teeth. Then I braced my hands by the sink and met my reflection in the mirror.

One night.

You can make it one night.

Then I’d sit Austin down, sans champagne, and calmly explain to him that I needed this trip. He’d go home and I’d have two blissful nights alone in my hotel room.

I slathered on my night cream, then took off the sweater I’d pulled on because there was no way I was sleeping in merino wool, then eased out of the bathroom.

Austin’s eyes snapped to me the second the door opened. He’d taken the food cart and my champagne bottles and bucket to the hallway but was back on his side of the bed.

I kept my chin high and walked to the bed, turning down the covers and sliding beneath. Then I stretched an arm to the lamp and turned it off. “Goodnight, Austin.”

“Goodnight, Cleo.” He shifted, kicking off his boots.

My eyes darted to his socks as he lifted his feet onto the bed. “Are those pizza socks?”

&n

bsp; “Yeah,” he muttered, flipping off the light on his side of the room. “My mom bought them for me.”

Heart. Melt.

He wore dorky socks because they were a gift from his mother.

I shifted onto my other side to face him. “I’m sorry you had to come here. That wasn’t my intention.”

He looked down at me and his gaze softened. “I know.”