The Trouble with Christmas by Kaira Rouda Page B

James said with a sly smile.
    “I am, as a matter of fact,” Lily said because she didn’t want to spar with him but wanted a shower. “One of my many talents. See you downstairs later.”
    “Don’t forget we have a family dinner tonight,” James said and surprised her by reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face.
    “Of course,” she said, suddenly feeling uncomfortable around him. The way he stared at her unnerved her. “See you.”
    He reached over and brushed a strand of hair from her face. A gentle gesture and Lily smiled.
    Once inside her room, she kicked off her Converse tennis shoes inside the door and inhaled the fresh salty sea air that streamed inside the room from the open window. Smiling at Cole’s jacket hanging in her closet, she hurried into the luxurious bathroom, turned on the shower and waited for the steam to fill the glass enclosure before undressing and stepping in. She reluctantly glanced at herself in the mirror and her jaw dropped. She looked wild—her hair was as curly as it had ever been, her face was smudged with grease, but as she looked at herself more closely, she noticed she looked happy. Free. Lily smiled and hurried into the shower, the hot, strong current washing the dirt and the day away.
    Showered, dried, lotioned, and dressed, Lily looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror in the corner of her bedroom. Her fitted white corduroy jeans, a chocolate brown turtle neck, cashmere sweater, and ankle boots made her feel warm, happy and comfortable, but she really needed to stop stalling and talk to Avery.
    She texted Avery: “Where are you?”
    Avery instantly answered her text: “Library. Tell me EVERYTHING. Now!”
    Lily hurried downstairs to the library.
    “Avery, you’re not going to believe my day,” she burst out then blushed. “Mark! Great to see you! When did you get in?”
    Thankfully she hadn’t blurted out about Cole.
    “I came over with Richard,” Mark said, smiling kindly like he always did. “So, Avery’s jumping with excitement. Tell us your news.”
    Us . Lily needed to get used to the fact that Avery and Mark were a couple. She was the third wheel.
    “Here, Lils,” Avery said handing her a glass of champagne. “Tell us all about Cole and the amazing date.”
    “It wasn’t a date,” she said automatically while Avery winked.
    “By the way, did he like the candy canes?” She toasted Lily with her glass and the third wheel feeling vanished.
    “Oh my gosh, he had tears in his eyes when he looked around, Aves, it was amazing what you did,” she said, “Cheers and thank you. You really made his Christmas.”
    “I think I had a lot of help with that task,” Avery said.
    “Who helped? Your mom?” Lily asked.
    Avery rolled her eyes and laughed.
    “I mean you, but yes, Mom helped, and we had fun. She said she actually missed her whole candy cane theme and was happy to put it to good use. Nice place he has. You’ll be glad to know, I didn’t find any hidden photos of girlfriends or any other weirdness,” Avery said as Mark came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
    “You broke in to some stranger’s house, and snooped through his belongings?” he shook his head. “Should I be booking us a midnight flight to Mexico to escape the police?”
    “The door was wide open,” Avery said. Mark laughed, but she ignored him. “I needed to be sure the guy Lily met is good enough. His house definitely needs personalization, but you can help with that, Lils.”
    “Goodbye Bob,” he said affectionately toying with his wife’s hair. “You already have our Lily moving in with this man. Does he have a name? Should I go demand what his intentions are?”
    Lily sipped her champagne. She knew Mark was teasing, but it made her feel awkward.
    “I have a good feeling,” Avery said sagely. “So I want to help her out so she can be as happy as I am. God knows, she can’t be left to make these decisions on her own,”
    “Hey, you