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

Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Message received

Subject: How many messages have you received?

Thanks again for waiting for me this morning, despite me being late. Looking forward to seeing you this afternoon. Drive carefully.

Lincoln Stokes

M y house is nearly silent as I sit on my couch petting Potato, rereading the message Lincoln sent me a few minutes ago. A strange feeling settles in the pit of my stomach—not quite nerves, but not butterflies either.

Lincoln is sweet, and I’m curious to see what being around his family will be like. I’d be lying if I said the idea of pretending I’m dating a doctor isn’t fun, especially one as handsome as he is.

Going into the kitchen, I refill Potato’s automatic feeder and water and spoon out a can of wet food into his bowl in case I’m home later than anticipated. I’ve been watching the weather app, and it’s been snowing consistently in Julian today.

Walking to my bedroom, I flip on the light in my closet and pull out a pair of dark wash denim jeans, my cream-colored puffer jacket and matching beanie, and my black boots. I’m wearing a thin, hunter green sweater, and Lincoln specifically told me not to dress up, so I’m content with my choice of outfit. It’ll be comfortable to drive in and appropriate enough for a casual dinner.

When it’s time to go, I grab my things, then take a few moments while inside the car to set up my GPS with the Stokes’ address. Gripping the wheel tightly, I give myself a pep talk as I hit the road.

You can do this. This is the last date. It’s going to be fine. I’m just going to enjoy a nice dinner with a family, pretend to be a doctor’s girlfriend, and I’ll be back home with Potato before I know it.

Traffic is light as I head out of town and toward the mountains. The scenery passes by, changing from straight city roads to winding country ones. The further in elevation I climb, the more I start to see the evidence of the winter storm, starting with dirty, black slush, then transforming into vibrant white snow.

Finally, when I enter the town of Julian, my mouth falls. The small town has transformed into something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Light poles are adorned with garland and bows. Every business has their windows painted with holiday spirit, and I can tell as soon as the sun goes down that this main strip will be covered in multicolored lights.

The roads are freshly plowed, with crisp banks of snow hugging the curbs. The town is small, and as I get closer to the Stokes’ home, I start to get nervous.

What if they don’t like me?

Not that it really matters, since I’ll never see them again after today, but still. The thought bothers me, but the potential of letting Lincoln down bothers me more.

Making a left on the street the GPS is directing me to turn on, I smile as I pass by a tree farm, and strain to get a look at it while driving by. Less than a quarter of a mile later, I turn into a small gravel driveway and park alongside the black Range Rover I recognize from earlier.

Killing the engine, I reach into the passenger seat and grab my jacket, putting it on while still sitting in the warmth of my car. By the time I get out, a light snow has started again, and Lincoln comes out of the house with a wide grin on his face. Slamming my car door, I start toward him.

“Holly! You made it! How was the drive?”

“Not bad!” Pulling my jacket tight around me, I look at the quaint home and yard behind him. “It’s beautiful here. Did you grow up in this house?”

“No, we lived in the city when I was a kid, but once I was out on my own and in medical school, my parents decided they wanted a slower lifestyle.”

“Julian is perfect for that.” It’s hard to believe I haven’t been up here since I was a kid. My parents took me and my brother to the pumpkin patch once, but I can’t recall any other adventures up this way.

“Wait until you try the famous pie, too. My mom picked up a couple for tonight.” He extends his arm for me to take, so I do, letting him steer me to the house.

“Sounds delicious, I love pie.”

The screen door creaks as he opens it and turns the knob to the main door, pushing it open. “Mom, Dad, Holly is here,” he calls as we enter, leading me into the living room where his parents are playing a card game together.

His dad sits in a recliner while his mom has her legs crossed, sitting on the floor. Both hold a hand of cards, but when his mom sees me, her face lights up.

“Is this her?” She tosses her cards to the side, getting up from the floor as quickly as possible. “Oh, Linc, she’s a looker!”

With her hand extended, she practically runs in my direction. “Hi! I’m Tina, Lincoln’s mom.”

“Hi, Tina. So nice to meet you. Thank you so much for having me in your beautiful home.” Turning to his father, I close the distance between us and offer my hand. “Hi, I’m Holly.”

He takes my hand in his as he uses the arm of the recliner to push himself to a stand. “Tim,” he says. “Nice to meet you, darlin’.”

“We are so thrilled that you could spend Christmas Eve with us, Holly! Linc is our only son, and I’m not embarrassed to say that I have been hounding him to settle down. It’s so good to see he’s finally putting himself out there.”

“And I’ve been explaining to you for years, Mother, that I will get back in the dating pool, once I’m ready to shift some of my focus from my job.”

“Seems like the dating pool is ready to have you back, son.” His father chuckles.

“Come, come. Sit, sit.” Tina gestures to the couch. “Let's cut right to the cute stuff—tell me how you two met! Linc hasn’t told me anything, and I am dying to hear all about it.”

Panicked, I look over at Lincoln, begging him with my eyes to help. Thankfully, he takes the reins, because I’m certainly not prepared to bald-face lie to his parents within three minutes of entering their home.

“Holly manages a bookstore. I went in on my break one afternoon, and the rest was history.”

“Give an old lady a break!” his mom chastises. “Certainly there’s more to it than that.”

“Not really, Mom. I got into the checkout line, our eyes met, and I couldn’t leave without a date.”

A smile plays on his lips, and I mirror it. “It’s not hard to imagine why I said yes. You have raised a very kind man, Mr. and Mrs. Stokes.”

“Oh, please. Mr. and Mrs. Stokes were my father and mother, please call us Tina and Tim,” Lincoln’s father requests.

“Have you two been dating long?” Tina asks, with a million questions reflected in her chestnut brown eyes.

Lincoln meets my gaze again, but this time I play into the story. “Not too long—what’s it been? A month?”

“Hmm,” he hums. “A little less, but knowing Holly is like knowing an old friend. It’s like we’ve known each other forever.”

Tina scrunches her nose when he calls me a friend, but doesn’t say anything. Instead, she asks, “Are you two hungry? Thirsty? Dinner will be at five.”

“I’d love a drink.”

“Perfect! We have sodas and sparkling waters in the garage fridge. Or I can get you a glass of wine, eggnog, or cider.”

“Eggnog sounds delicious,” I respond excitedly. I love eggnog, but I couldn’t bring myself to buy any this year, knowing Miles wouldn’t be around to help me drink it.

“Linc?” Tina questions.

“I’ll have the same, Mom, thank you. Can I help?”

“No, no! Take over my game with your father, and I’ll be right back.”

Leaning into me, Linc presses his lips against the side of my hair so it looks like he’s giving me a kiss, and whispers, “This is going great, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I whisper back, smiling up at him.

The Stokes family is so welcoming, just like I had a feeling they would be, and I feel grateful to be spending my Christmas Eve with them. If I can’t spend it with my own family, at least being in the presence of another family makes the holiday not feel so empty.

With a small gasp, I turn to Lincoln. “I bought gifts for your family, and left them in the car! I’ll be right back, I’m going to get them.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No! I’ll be fine.”

When I step outside, I am surprised to see the light snowfall has turned into thick flurries, the snow raining down hard and fast. Wrapping my jacket tighter around my torso, I run to the car to grab the presents, nearly tripping over my boots, then hurry back inside.

Snowflakes cling to my jacket and hair, and my teeth chatter from the cold.

“It’s getting pretty ugly out there!” I say to Tina as she emerges from the kitchen.

“The snow has been very unpredictable these last couple days! But I was just looking at the weather app, and it’s supposed to stop shortly, and be clear for the rest of the evening.”

“Good to know.” I shrug off my jacket, and hang it on the coatrack.

“Interested in a round of rummy?” Tina asks with a quirk of her brow, handing me my eggnog.

“Absolutely!”

Looping her arm through mine, she leads me back to the living room and says, “I think we’re gonna get along just fine, dear.”