A Christmas to Remember

7: Em

"This is a cozy place," Jack observed as he took in my regular coffee spot, located just a few steps from my apartment. "Do you come here often?"

The coffee shop was almost always bustling, or at least halfway full. You could always count on people being here, whether you walked in five minutes after they opened or ten minutes before they closed. That was the reason I preferred studying here over the library. It was why I knew the names of all the baristas and even recognized some of the other regulars who came by daily.

"I guess you could say that," I replied with a smile, looking up at him—Jack was tall, a few inches taller than me, even in my heeled boots. Standing next to him made me feel a sense of safety and security, like he could protect me. But that was just a feeling; I didn’t actually know that about him. All I knew was the vibe he exuded.

As we moved closer to the register, I let Jack take in the place. Why should I force him into conversation? Why should I be the one to start every discussion? Why should I make sure he was comfortable when he hadn’t offered me the courtesy of doing the same?

Talking with him in Mrs. Smith’s office had been pleasant, but once we left the building, he’d become quiet and broody. It was as if he closed himself off, keeping anyone from seeing what was happening inside him. I wasn’t about to put myself out there for someone who wouldn’t extend me the courtesy of sharing what was on his mind.

"Good afternoon, Em," Noah greeted from behind the counter. Noah was one of the regular baristas who also wanted to study law but couldn’t afford to. Many of his breaks had been spent at my table, flipping through my books and discussing case studies. "I was starting to get nervous."

A small chuckle escaped my lips as I smiled at Noah, appreciating his easy charm. He’d tried to ask me out before, but I’d told him no—not with the kind of work I was involved in with Disclosure. Instead, we’d become friends, and I loved that. I loved having someone to talk to about my dreams and ambitions, someone who truly understood what that felt like.

"No worries, I just had to go to a meeting," I said, smiling, "but I’m here now, and I actually brought company today." I gestured toward Jack with a playful grin. "So, no loner talk today," I teased, winking.

Noah laughed and shook his head as he placed my hot chocolate in the order holder by the register. "And your friend—does he drink hot chocolate, too?" Noah asked, looking directly at Jack. I didn’t miss the slight tightening of Noah's jaw or the way his eyes narrowed just a little in response.

"Is the hot chocolate good?" Jack asked, placing his hand on the small of my back.

Oh, I’d read about this before.

"Yes, it’s very good—rich and delicious. I always get whipped cream on mine, but you can have vanilla ice cream, too," I explained, meeting those intense amber-colored eyes.

"I'll have a hot chocolate with whipped cream, then," Jack said, turning back to Noah with a smug smile, as if he thought he had just won some kind of contest. He pulled a fancy leather wallet from his pocket, took out a twenty, and tossed it on the counter with a grin. "Keep the change," he added.

That was when I got mad. My blood boiled as I realized Jackson Hudson was indeed a prick. He thought he was superior to Noah, as if he mattered more just because he had more money, or because Noah was just a barista. His arrogance was palpable; he was patronizing, a condescending jerk.

Clenching my fists, I gave Noah the warmest smile I could muster while fuming inside. "I’m so sorry, Noah," I said, apologizing as sincerely as I could. "I never would have brought him if I knew he was like that." I glanced up at Jack, hoping he could see the fire in my eyes.

"That’s okay, Em," Noah shrugged. "He can’t help being a jerk. He probably knows that when he’s gone, I’ll still be here taking your order," he added, shooting a look at Jack with narrowed eyes.

My brows furrowed in confusion. Why was Noah reacting this way? I knew he’d wanted to go out with me, but that was months ago. Could he still be hung up on it? If so, maybe bringing Jack here was a mistake.

"Don’t worry, Noah," Jack said, pulling me closer. "I’m not going anywhere."

"Okay," I interrupted, hoping to defuse the tension. "We’re going to sit over there," I clarified, pointing to an empty table. Grabbing Jack's hand, I nearly pulled him toward the table, just wanting to get away from Noah.

Once we were seated in the booth, I scooted in, positioning myself comfortably between the wall and the rest of the bustling café. Jack sat across from me, unbuttoning both his winter coat and his suit jacket. I took off my scarf and unbuttoned my own coat, enjoying the café's warmth.

"So, how long has that been going on?" Jack asked, c*****g an eyebrow as he scrutinized me, trying to read my expression.

I wanted to be honest with him; I didn’t want to be the one to lie. He needed to know every aspect of my life so he wouldn’t be blindsided by anything. So, of course, I told him the truth. "Noah and I are just friends. He tried to ask me out a few months ago, but since I don’t date, I turned him down," I answered. "I honestly thought we were past that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought you here. But just because he’s acting like a jealous toddler doesn’t mean you have to join in."

"I’m not behaving like a jealous toddler," he huffed, looking away from me toward the counter. His hands clasped together as he rested his elbows on the table, displaying just how large his hands were.

"Well, I felt like the last action figure left in the store, and a man wouldn’t make me feel like that."

"I apologize," he conceded, looking down at his hands. "I forgot how that felt."

"Forgot how what felt?" I asked, mimicking his posture so that we were huddled closer together.

A small puff of air left his lungs, sounding almost exasperated, as he slowly shook his head. "What it feels like to have a beautiful woman on my arm who definitely isn’t short on options."

I looked down at my hands, my brows furrowed as I watched my fingers play with each other. "I can understand that," I acknowledged. "And I guess it would seem strange if you didn’t have any qualms about other men looking at me like that. However, I’m not an object, Jack. I have friends, and some of them are male, but make no mistake—for the next year, my loyalty lies only with you."

His amber-colored eyes met mine, almost swirling with awe as he took in my expression. "How do you talk like that?" A small chuckle left his lips. "You seem so prim and proper, and I don’t know what to do with it."

I let a giggle escape as I felt my cheeks warm slightly. "Well, I am prim and proper," I reasoned, which only made his grin wider. "I can seem a little stiff at first, but I like mirroring people, giving them the same energy they give me. I’m still trying to figure out what kind of energy you want me to have."

Anne came over, placing our hot chocolates on the table with a soft smile and a nod towards Jack. On her way back, she turned halfway and winked at me, as if to say, good job.

"What do you mean by that?" Jack asked.

"By energy?" I repeated, wanting to answer him accurately. He gave a short nod, picking up his spoon to stir the chocolate. "Often, when I spend time with people, they become easier to read. Some want me to be more of a listener, quieter, more observant, while others want me to be lively, to create a party atmosphere, to ensure everyone is having fun. I’m not quite sure what your energy is yet or how I can match or adjust it to give you what you need."

Slowly, he lifted his cup, parting his full lips slightly before taking a small sip of the hot chocolate. Lowering the cup, he let his tongue sweep over his upper lip, clearing away the foam from the whipped cream—a gesture that was almost, but not quite, sensual.

"I don’t need you to give off any specific energy, Em. You just need to be who you are and who you want to be," he shrugged, tilting his head a little, as if I were the most confusing person in the world.

I cleared my throat, shifting in my seat. I had never been allowed to just be myself. In my childhood home, I was Emmeline Julie Slater, the daughter of tobacco king Jeffry Slater and housewife Julianne Kirsten Slater. I was the only daughter, always dressed properly, never allowed to get dirty and definitely never to be loud. My father always told me that young women should never be noticed, never heard—only seen. That upbringing made me sit still at dinners, eat in small bites, and take care never to spill. It made me so observant that I noticed more than most people. In high school, I had been the popular girl, the cheerleader, the straight-A student—everything my father wanted me to be. I dated whoever he wanted, was friends with whoever he approved of, and helped or ignored people based on his preferences. I thought that when I went to college, I’d finally find myself and feel comfortable in my own skin, away from my family and their pressures. But instead, I just kept trying to fit in everywhere, rather than being who I really was.

My eyes darted up again, finding Jack watching me, probably noticing just how uncomfortable I had become. It felt as if he had unraveled me in a way no one ever had, tearing down all my defenses and leaving me completely exposed.

"I think we should talk about ground rules," I said, deciding to change the subject.