I Really Can’t Stay (A.R.’s Holiday Standalones #1)

Chapter 6

Chapter Six

“ M row,” Potato vocalizes as he slaps his paw against my face. My eyes crack open, and I recognize the heaviness from where he sits on my chest. “Mrow.”

“Ugh, Potato. Too early.” Turning onto my side, I pull my comforter up to my chin as I push the feline form of a chicken nugget off me in one quick motion. Rather than flee, he simply slides off with a plop onto the mattress. Feeling his beady little eyes watching me, I growl obnoxiously at my cat. “Why must you be so demanding?”

Pushing my blankets off, I get out of bed and walk into the kitchen with my eyes barely open. A giant yawn pulls from my body as I open a can of wet food for him and spoon it into his bowl. The automatic feeder next to it is still full, but apparently the sky will fall if Potato doesn’t get his wet food by the crack of dawn.

Glancing at the clock, I see that it’s actually past nine in the morning, but regardless. It’s Christmas Eve. I’m allowed to sleep in on Christmas Eve.

For a moment I contemplate getting back in bed, and think about my comforter, so cozy and inviting. My bedding is probably still warm.

Instead of opting to fall back into my warm cocoon of blankets, I make a stop by the thermostat to crank up the heater, before heading to the coffeemaker. Flipping it on, I know I really should get a jumpstart on my day. I’m set to meet Lincoln at a nearby coffee shop in an effort to get to know him a little before traveling an hour away to spend the evening with his family. I’m a little nervous about the road conditions—it’s been raining in San Diego for the last three days straight, and I know Julian has gotten a lot of snow.

I’m also nervous about meeting Lincoln. It may be a little presumptuous to assume that I’m going to like him, based on his profession and the way he has written to me in his messages, but something about him gives me a good feeling, and I’m curious to see what he’s like in person.

Turning on another Christmas movie, I sit on the couch and let my mind go numb as I watch the beautiful redhead heroine in the movie wander through the snow. It’s insane how much my life feels like a Christmas movie right now, with all of these crazy dates I have been on.

When the coffee maker indicates that it is ready, I pour a cup in my favorite holiday mug, and give myself time to sip it before I need to go get ready.

Potato watches me from the bathroom door, judging me silently as I put on bright red lipstick, and pull my blonde hair up into a ponytail.

“Mrow,” he complains again, and I turn to look at him with my foundation brush in hand, pointing it in his direction.

“You stop that,” I scold, even though it’s really not scolding at all when speaking to a cat. “I just filled your bowl. Go eat your dry food.”

He doesn’t, though. Instead, he continues to sit in the doorway and watch as I finish getting ready. By the time I put on my jeans and holiday sweater—this one much cuter than the one I wore last weekend with Axel—Potato has curled up in a ball on the bathroom rug and is fast asleep.

Must be nice , I think to myself.

With one final check in the mirror, I grab my purse and I’m out the door, hopping into my car as quickly as I can so I don’t get drenched by the rain. Letting the car warm up, I flip through the radio stations to find the one playing popular Christmas music, and turn it up, trying to get myself in the holiday spirit.

This week has been hard mentally. The closer it’s crept to Christmas, the heavier my heart has felt. With no family to buy gifts for this year, I decided to pick up a few small trinkets to bring to Lincoln’s, not only so I don’t show up empty-handed, but so I’d have a sense of normalcy.

Pulling into the coffee shop parking lot, I’m not surprised to find that it’s nearly empty, and when I enter the building, there’s only one other person there, an older gentleman, working on his laptop.

With Lincoln nowhere in sight, I go ahead and order my drink.

The barista greets me with a lovely smile. “Merry Christmas Eve! What can I get for you?”

“I’ll have a caramel br?lée latte, please.”

“What size?”

“16 ounces is fine, thank you.”

As she rings me up, I turn around to see if anyone has pulled into the parking lot, but there’s still no sign of Lincoln.

Heading to a table in the corner, I take the seat that faces the window so I can keep an eye out for him. A few minutes later, the barista brings me my coffee, setting it, and a lid, down on the table in front of me.

Wrapping my hands around the steaming to-go cup, I smile down at it. The barista created a beautiful Christmas tree in the foam, and I almost feel guilty drinking it.

As I sip my coffee, the minutes tick by, and with each one that passes I start to feel a sense of dread, wondering if I’m being stood up. I’ve only been here for 15 minutes, but I haven’t heard from Lincoln since we decided on a time and place for this initial meeting.

When my coffee is nearly finished, I decide to go order another, even though I also had a cup at home.

It’s Christmas after all, and I have a long day ahead.

Once I’m standing, I see an all black Range Rover fly into the parking lot, coming to a stop in a spot right in front. A man gets out and rushes inside.

The moment the doors open, our eyes meet, and I know instantly that it’s Lincoln. Still wearing his navy blue scrubs, his hair is disheveled, and he looks absolutely exhausted. Despite that, he’s extremely handsome, with dirty blond hair and green eyes.

He doesn’t hesitate to approach me, already talking before he’s even crossed the room.

“Holly! I am so sorry I’m late. I ended up pulling a double and performing an emergency surgery that took all night. I just left the hospital.”

“Why didn’t you just cancel on me?” I ask, completely surprised that he’s standing in front of me right now after working, if I had to guess, close to twenty hours.

“I wouldn’t cancel on you.” He flashes me a lopsided grin, and extends his hand. “Hi. I’m Lincoln, by the way.”

Shaking it, I can’t help but notice how warm his palm is in contrast with mine. I’m always freezing. “I figured as much. But you must be exhausted…”

“I am, but this is important.”

I blush at his words and the heavy eye contact he’s giving me right now, like he’s peering directly into my soul. It makes me a little uncomfortable, but at the same time, my curiosity is piqued.

“Have you been here long?” he asks.

“Not long. I got here early,” I lie. “I’m not a fan of driving in the rain, so I gave myself a little too much time to get here.”

“That was smart. The roads are a mess. What can I get you to drink?”

“Another caramel br?lée latte would be great, just a small one, though. I’ve already had enough for the day.”

“Coming right up.” As Lincoln heads to the counter to order our drinks, I go back to the table and sit, finishing the one I had from earlier while I wait for him to join me.

When he walks over with both of our beverages a couple minutes later, I take mine gratefully, and smile when I see another Christmas tree in the foam.

“The designs are cute,” he comments, holding his cup out for me to look at. “Mine’s a snowman.”

“I didn’t know they did designs like this! I feel a little guilty. Usually, when I come here, I take it to go, and the lid is already on.”

“I don’t think they do this all the time. I’ve been here a few times too, and I’ve never noticed anything like this.”

“Hmm, maybe it’s because it’s Christmas Eve.”

He takes a sip of his coffee, then connects his gaze with mine. “Thank you for coming. I feel bad taking you away from your family on Christmas Eve, but mine is relentless in their pursuit of finding me a wife.”

“Not interested?”

“Not at this time. I’m focused on my career, and even though I would love to have a family someday, that day hasn’t come yet. No matter how much I explain that to my parents, they still keep asking me for a daughter-in-law and grandchildren.” He takes another sip of his drink.

“That must be frustrating,” I say, validating his feelings. I don’t touch on the topic of him taking me away from my family on Christmas Eve. No sense in ruining the mood when I just met him.

“So what do you do, Holly North? Tell me everything I need to know about my stand-in girlfriend. Or what did you say in your bio? Holidate?”

We share a smile at my play on words.

“Well, there’s not much to tell. I am the manager at a bookstore. My best friend, and roommate, is an overweight cat named Potato. He’s brown, so the name is quite fitting.”

“That’s it?”

“For now.”

“That’s fair.”

We both wear coy smiles as we stop to take sips of our drinks, and I shyly avert his gaze, looking around the quiet coffee shop instead.

“So, you’re sure you’re comfortable with today? I know Julian isn’t exactly close, and the roads are a bit messy,” Lincoln asks considerately before taking another gulp.

“I’ll be fine. I don’t love it, but I’ll just take my time while on the road.”

“I’m so sorry I can’t drive you. I wish I hadn’t promised my parents I’d stay over, but it also means I would have had to drive into the mountains two days in a row.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t make any sense!” I exclaim a little too enthusiastically. I set my cup on the table, but to my dismay, I accidently place the edge of it on a piece of the wood that’s slightly higher than the rest, and before I know what’s happening, my latte spills everywhere.

I gasp, pushing to my feet as the liquid rolls from the table into my lap. “Oh, my gosh!”

Lincoln springs into action, tossing napkins all around the table to absorb the mess.

“Are you okay? Did it burn you?”

Shaking my head, I start to dab at the coffee on my pants. “No, it cooled off, thank God.”

“Good. Here, let me go grab more napkins.”

As Lincoln walks to the counter, I look down at my soaked jeans and inwardly groan.

Of course, this happened.

“I’m so sorry,” I tell him, taking the napkins from his hand when he returns. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be! It happens to the best of us. Honestly, I’m surprised it wasn’t me who did it.” He tries to stifle a yawn at the end of his sentence, but is unsuccessful. “I’m sorry, that was incredibly rude.”

“Don’t be sorry, you’re exhausted. Look, I’m covered in coffee, you’re about three seconds away from falling asleep at this table. Why don’t we go our separate ways and I’ll see you up at your parents’ house in a few hours? Three o’clock, right?”

“Yes. Thank you, Holly. I’m so sorry I’m lousy company right now. I wasn’t planning on working a double last night.”

“Saving lives is more important than a coffee date, Lincoln. Trust me, I’m not offended in the least.”

“So, I’ll see you later, then?” he asks, and it’s as though he’s feeling a little…shy? Maybe out of his element is the better phrase.

I can tell he’s the type of man who usually oozes confidence, but right now, it’s almost like the boyish side has come out and he’s unsure of this whole situation.

Same, buddy, same.

Nodding my head, I smile. “Of course.”

I grab my purse at the same time he says, “Let me walk you out.”

With his hand on the middle of my back, Lincoln guides me out of the coffee shop and to my car. The rain has picked up again, so our exchange is short, with more promises of seeing each other later.

I stay in the parking lot until he drives away, then I turn my car on and head back to my apartment to hang out with Potato until it’s time for me to leave again.