11. Close Your Eyes
1490 Words
Molly
I step outside the café, putting a little distance between myself and Charles and Lily. The cold air bites at my cheeks, but it’s nothing compared to the panic hammering in my chest. I inhale deeply, then tap my mom’s name.
It barely rings once.
“I thought you’ve finally lost your mind,” she snaps immediately.
Great. As warm as ever.
“Where are you now?”
“Me and Josh aren’t at…”
“What are you two up to now?” she cuts in, sharper than the winter air. “Why weren’t you picking up?”
“Josh and I decided to not allow any disturbance,” I say, hating how rehearsed the lie sounds. “We’re… busy.”
“Mm.” She doesn’t buy it. She doesn’t care enough to buy it. “Well, you know why I’m calling.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’m working on it.”
“Then hurry. Why is it so hard for you? You’re literally dating a lawyer from a top law firm. Get to work, Molly.”
My jaw tightens. I clench my fist, nails digging into my palm as I try to breathe. When I open my eyes, Charles is watching me from a distance, brows drawn, curiosity and something like concern flickering in his gaze.
Mom isn’t done.
“Or do you want me to go ahead and do it? Paul is very much interested in…”
“Stop it, Mom.” The words rip out of me before I can filter them. “I already said I’ll take care of it.”
“Then get to it,” she says, and the line goes dead.
I stand there, breath trembling in my chest. I try to pull myself together, but the frustration burns hot under my skin. Of course she hung up. Of course she didn’t say goodbye.
I inhale again, slower this time, trying to steady the pounding in my ears.
When I lift my head, Charles is already walking toward me.
“Are you alright?” Charles asks as he approaches.
“I’m fine.”
A lie. Delivered horribly.
He just watches me, patient and unconvinced.
I let out a weak laugh. “Family drama. Nothing thrilling. Very… ordinary.”
He doesn’t press, which somehow makes it worse. His eyes stay on me a moment longer than necessary, and my pulse reacts like it has no self-control.
“So,” I rush out, “what next? Anything fun? And hold up…who’s Lily talking to?”
Charles turns, and follows my line of sight. Lily is near the railing with a man handing her a paper or something.
We walk over, closer than I intend, our arms brushing once. My body notices it like an i***t.
“Who are you?” Charles asks, polite but firm.
The man brightens. “You must be her parents!”
Heat floods my face instantly. I glance at Charles, expecting him to correct it, but he stays perfectly calm as if this is totally normal.
Lily looks between us with hopeful eyes, which does not help my heart rate.
“Yes,” Charles says.
My brain flatlines for a full second.
The man beams. “I was just showing her this.” He hands us the pamphlet.
Charles leans closer to see the pamphlet. I try not to notice the warmth of him beside me, but my body is not cooperating.
I breathe out. “So what’s all this?”
“Holiday activities,” the man says before wandering off.
I flip it open. Charles tilts his head so he can read over my shoulder, and I swear my spine warms.
“Oh wow,” I mutter. “This tiny town is doing the absolute most.”
Charles smirks. “Anything good?”
“Well,” I read, “there's a moonlit ice skating holiday event.”
“That sounds nice,” he says, and his voice dips in a way that makes me feel things in my core.
I clear my throat. “There’s also a winter carnival. Face painting. Games. A carved-wood carousel. Cute.”
“Lily would love that,” he says, glancing at her.
“She’d love everything actually,” I mumble.
He laughs under his breath, warm and low, and it pulls at my stomach.
“Okay, here’s one,” I say. “A hot cocoa tasting contest. Apparently very serious business.”
Charles raises a brow. “You competitive?”
“Me? No.” Then I shrug. “But I can threaten people with my eyes if needed.”
He smiles. Too slowly. My toes curl in my boots.
I look back at the pamphlet before I combust. “There’s a family woods run with riddles. Snow creature sculpting. Campfire storytelling. A holiday treasure hunt.”
Charles tilts his head. “Treasure hunt sounds fun.”
“It does,” I admit. “Except the last treasure hunt I did ended with me getting poison ivy.”
His lips twitch. “You okay now?”
“Emotionally? No. Physically? Also no.”
He chuckles again, soft but deep enough that my stomach flips.
“And look,” I add, pointing. “There’s a northern lights viewing bridge. That sounds… magical.”
He meets my eyes for a heartbeat. “We should go.”
My breath catches. I pretend it doesn’t. “Sure. Yeah. Why not. Lights. Bridge. Great.”
Lily bounces over. “Can we do everything?”
“Maybe,” Charles says with a smile.
His gaze slides to me again, waiting…inviting….the corner of his mouth lifting just enough to unravel every inch of me.
I nod. “Yeah. We can try.”
And he smiles at me like that was exactly what he wanted to hear.
God help me.
He sighs. “Okay. Let's start with some snow building.”
We walk down the wooden path toward the snow-building field. It stretches across a wide open clearing, packed with families sculpting lopsided snowmen and questionable snow animals. Lily squeals and runs ahead, Snow tumbling after her, already attacking a half-built snow bunny.
Charles and I stand a few steps behind, watching them. He folds his arms over his chest. The movement pulls his t-shirt tight over his torso and I immediately look away because my brain has decided to be hormonal today.
The sky is pale and bright. Kids laugh. Snow crunches. For a moment, everything feels soft.
Then something tugs inside me.
A memory.
Last Christmas, Josh insisted we go on this little date, building a snowman and all. I actually believed he cared, that he loved me.
The breath leaves me in a quiet sigh before I can stop it.
Charles turns instantly. Of course he notices. “Are you alright?”
I nod too fast. “Yeah. It’s just… I remembered last Christmas. I came out with Josh for something like this.”
His jaw tightens. His whole posture shifts, solid and alert. “Do you miss him?”
I stare at the snow for a moment.
“I don’t know. But I feel bad. And angry. I can’t help it. I feel stupid. Used.” My voice dips without my permission. “And I hate that.”
Charles steps closer. The air between us changes. Intense. “You don’t need him,” he says quietly. “You’re better without him.”
I breathe out a slow, shaky exhale.
“I wish my brain could understand that. But it’s not easy.”
He moves again. Not much. Just enough that my shoulder brushes his arm. My heart reacts like someone hit a switch.
His voice shifts, deepening, firm enough to send heat in-between my thighs “I don’t like hearing you talk about him. I want you to forget about that bastard.” His eyes lock on mine, gray and intense. “And I’ll make you forget.”
“How?” My voice comes out barely above a whisper. “How will you do that?”
He looks at me with that steady, unblinking focus that makes my lower stomach tighten. “You’ll have to trust me.”
I am absolutely speechless. Something inside me pulses, sharp and hot. I can’t think. I can’t breathe. I can only look at him.
“Close your eyes,” he says.
My heart jumps wildly. I don’t know why I obey. Maybe because his voice wraps around me. Maybe because he is standing so close. Maybe because those full lips look carved to ruin me.
Either way, my eyes shut.
My senses flare instantly.
I feel the soft shift of his breath getting nearer. The cold air fades. Heat replaces it.
And then…his mouth brushes mine.
Light at first, almost questioning, almost testing. But the shock is instant. Every nerve in my body snaps awake. Heat curls low in my stomach, spreading fast.
Wait. Is he kissing me?
- Writer
