Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I run my fingers over the Angel’s wings, “Send me a miracle Mom, tell me what to do.”
Dylan
I slowly pack up my things and make my way toward the door. I’ve lingered as long as I can in the office, it’s time to go home. Well, I’m not going straight home, I’m going to the gym, I’ll run for a few hours on the treadmill. The plan is to be too exhausted to notice that I’m having takeout for Christmas dinner. It worked last year; no doubt it will work this year too.
“Merry Christmas,” I smile to Rowena on the desk as I walk past her.
“Merry Christmas, Dylan.” She smiles warmly, “Big family celebration tonight for you, I guess.”
“Aha,” I lie, “and you?”
“Me too,” she says with a smile, “big family dinner planned.” But her smile doesn’t touch her eyes, and I get the feeling that she’s lying too.
“Have fun.”
“You too.”
I walk down the front steps and through the parking lot to my car and as I get closer, I see someone sitting on the hood of my car.
Zoe.
My step falters, she is the last person I want to see today.
Fuck.
She sits up when she sees me coming, and I drop my head, I don’t even want to look at her.
I can’t.
I unlock my car and throw my bag onto the backseat.
“Hi, Dill.”
“Hi.” I twist my lips annoyed. “What are you doing here?”
Her face falls and she jumps down from the hood, “I came to wish you a Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” I snap. “You needn’t have bothered.”
Her eyes search mine. “Can we talk?”
“Nope.” I go to open my car door and she pushes it closed. “Dylan I just went to finish it with him, that’s all. I mean…. we were already broken up, but he wanted to get back together, and I had said that I would go with him for months.”
“So why lie to me?” I yell as I lose control.
Her eyes well with tears. “I was trying to protect your feelings.”
“By lying?”
She angrily wipes a tear as it escapes from her eyes. “I know, this doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t.” I push past her to get into my car, and she steps in front to block me.
“Goodbye, Zoe.”
“Will you listen to me for a moment, you stubborn fuck.” She cries. “The truth is, I was getting back with Rodney and then I met you and everything I thought I wanted wasn’t true anymore.”
I stare at her.
“Because even though I’ve known you for two fucking minutes, I fell in love with you.”
“Don’t.”
“And I know you don’t love me because you wouldn’t have blocked my number if you did. But what if it’s me Dylan?” She hits her chest. “What if it came true? I asked my mom for a sign last night and it came to me. It’s been there in front of us all along.”
I frown in question.
“What if I’m her?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“What if I’m the Christmas Angel that you prayed for to bring you a family of your own.”
I take a step back from her, shocked by her declarations.
“We could have it all, Dill, love, marriage, a future so bright. A family of your own….. just like you prayed for.” She smiles hopefully.
My nostrils flare as I try to keep it together.
Her teary eyes search mine, “Tell me that you love me too….. please. I’m begging for forgiveness.”
Her silhouette blurs.
“Dylan?”
“I can’t,” I whisper.
Her face falls. “Can’t or won’t.”
I can’t do this.
I push past her and get into my truck, “Goodbye, Zoe.” I start the engine and pull out of the parking lot.
I keep my eyes on the road, I can’t look into the rearview mirror.
I won’t.
Zoe
I carve the turkey; my father and brothers are at my house for dinner. I wanted to have it here this year because I thought Dylan would be coming.
I was wrong.
It’s hard to love someone who’s damaged, it’s even worse to lie to them.
I brought this on myself.
After Dylan left me in the parking lot today, I cried a river and then an ocean.
I really thought………
Knock, knock sounds at the door.
“That will be Rodney,” my father says as he steals a piece of Turkey from my platter. “I knew he’d turn up,” he teases.
I roll my eyes, “He’d better not.” I flick him with the tea towel, “Don’t even say such a thing.”
Turns out, Rodney is a douche, the truth is, he has been sampling every single girl in town. Even my cousin….. just what the hell?
I dodged a bullet with that one, I’m going to push that fucker down the steps. I march to the door and open it in a rush.
“Dylan,” I gasp in surprise.
His eyes search mine, “Hi.” He holds out a bunch of tacky flowers that he’s obviously bought at a gas station.
Hope fills me, “Hi.”