Holiday Hostage

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

“ I 'm really going to miss waking up with you when you're gone,” Eli says as he kisses the back of my neck, holding me close enough to him that I can feel his arousal growing behind me.

I smile and laugh, letting myself linger in the moment. When I'm gone . I know it's got to happen soon, but I don't want it to. I don't want to go back to a sad, lonely life where all I have is a failing business and nothing to look forward to. Being here with them is like an escape from reality. I don't have to worry about anything. I want to stay here forever.

On top of that, ever since Grammy died, I haven't felt this light. It feels like the weight of everything came crashing down on me all at once, crippling me under this unbearable pressure. I miss my grammy, and I don't want to let her down, but I'm struggling. Here, all of that is gone. Even looking at myself in the mirror, I look better than I have in weeks. How the hell is that possible? I am literally being held captive.

Before I realize it, I'm crying just thinking about everything—Grammy, being here with the guys, and having to leave. I blink them away before it becomes too noticeable, not wanting to dampen Eli's spirits this morning.

A knock on the door catches our attention, and Bryce opens it a moment later. He looks at both of us wrapped up in the blankets and flashes a disappointed look at us. Clearly, he was hoping to walk in on another show like he did last time.

“Get dressed. It's time for breakfast,” Bryce says before closing the door and walking away.

Eli and I both reluctantly slide out of the bed, slipping into some clothes and making our way out of the room. He trails me, and in the back of my mind, I think it's because I need to be under constant surveillance, but I know that isn't necessary now. All three of them know I'm not going anywhere. Plus, I feel like I really have earned their trust since being here.

As I'm walking to the table, I turn my attention to the tree to see how beautifully it's lit up and how the ornaments shine under the lights. The others are all sitting in the living room looking at it.

Under the tree are four presents wrapped in candy cane–striped wrapping paper. I don't think anything of it right away. I definitely don't think one of them is for me. But all three of them see how my eyes linger on them, clearly wishing this was something I was a bigger part of.

Bryce walks over to the tree and picks up a small box and walks it over to me. I take it in my hands, looking at him with confusion evident on my face. He smiles at me and I can feel the warmth in my heart spreading. I want to cry seeing that I have a gift here today. I didn't think I would get one at all this year, especially not here with them. I don't even care what it is.

“We do a secret Santa every year, and we thought it would be nice to include you this year. This is from all of us,” he says, squeezing my arm with his hand as I stare down at the box. “Just don't open it yet. We have a specific order, and you're last.”

I nod and laugh, trying to choke back the tears threatening to spill over. I take a seat on the floor across from the couch, watching the three of them as they sit with their gifts in their hands.

Bryce opens his present first, tearing open the wrapping paper and dropping it on the ground recklessly to reveal a box set of burner phones. All of them look used, like they were picked up at some pawn shop, but I suppose they would get the job done. Eli opens his next, surprised to see a brand new laptop in front of him. He looks over the box excitedly, like a kid in a candy store, and I can't help but smile while watching him. Koda opens his last and pulls out a fancy lock-picking kit with his name engraved in the leather.

All three of them turn to me while I carefully undo the wrapping paper, making sure to save as much of it as possible. An old habit that Grammy used to instill into me even though we never ended up reusing the paper. Inside is a cardboard box taped shut. I look at them with anticipation swirling in my stomach and pull the tape to see what's inside.

I nearly drop the box on the ground. My mouth hangs open, and my heart thuds against my ribs. I reach inside and pull out a wad of cash nearly too big for me to even hold with both of my hands.

“What is this?” I ask, turning to stare at them with wide eyes. “This is so much.”

I immediately feel myself choking up, and I try to bite back the tears but they stream down my face before I can do anything about them.

“It's for your bakery.” Bryce smiles at me. “I remembered what you said the first time we met. About how you were denied for that loan and all of us agree that you deserve a real chance. We know how important it is to you to make sure your grammy is not disappointed.”

“I can't accept this,” I immediately say, putting the money back in the box and handing it to Koda beside me. “Thank you, but it's too much. I just can't take something like this.”

He pushes the box back at me and shakes his head. The serious look on his face tells me this isn't something he’ll hear any more about. “You deserve it. You've given up a lot to make sure this bakery stays afloat in her memory, and we want to help you.”

I know better than to argue with Koda.

The tears fall down my face, and my body shakes as I cry. I hold the box to my chest, knowing that this is exactly what I need to fix the bakery. I can set up the online marketing system I want to, I can even potentially hire another baker to work there. It's everything I need to set the business up for success.

Yet there's a bittersweet feeling knowing this is the end of the make-believe life I've created here with the three of them. But I don't want to think about that. At least not now. Not on Christmas.

The rest of the day is like a dream. It feels like I've been transported from my everyday life into one of the Hallmark movies I watch every year around this time. The four of us play board games and talk, sharing memories of our childhoods while the smell of honey ham lingers in the air behind us.

After the sun sets, we light candles around the table and enjoy a feast that all four of us prepare together. For the first time in a long time, I am happy. I feel welcome and cared about in a way I've yearned for ever since Grammy died.

When evening comes and it's time to sleep, I don't want to close my eyes for fear of waking up to find out none of this was real.