Under the Mistle-Foe (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

REMY

“They say unlimited PTO, but you know how companies are. I’m sorry to spring this on you right around the holidays too,” my team manager apologized. He was a good guy, and I’d worked under his team ever since joining the company.

I’d heard horror stories of team managers micromanaging or sucking their team dry for the company, but he’d always had our back.

“It’s not your fault. Thanks for the heads up. I’ll see you when I’m back. And good luck with the deadline,” I said before hanging up.

My poor team had overtime this weekend for an important project they needed to finish before the holidays. I felt bad for not being there and pushing my work to my teammates, but I’d made my choice.

Jett was in the shower when I returned to the room. I’d tried wiping him down the best I could last night after he fell asleep, but nothing could beat a shower. It was a bit early, though.

There were still a few more hours before I needed to head home and check on Dad before heading to the diner, so I joined Jett in the shower. He was so fucking sexy, with hot water dripping down his toned body.

And fuck, I was hard again.

It seemed that was my default state around my man, which honestly shocked me. My sex drive had never been this high in the past.

I took off my glasses and slipped into the shower behind him. Jett leaned into my embrace, his head leaning back against my shoulder.

“Good morning,” I whispered, kissing his exposed neck. My hands roamed down his body, pleasantly surprised to find Jett was half-hard too. He turned in my arms and gave me the sweetest kiss.

“Good morning.” He broke our kiss while I chased after his lips for more. He didn’t give me a chance and dropped to his knees. “Good morning to you too,” he said to my erection before swallowing me down his throat.

I didn’t complain and enjoyed his attention, but something about this blowjob felt different from usual. He seemed more desperate and greedy for me as he drove me to my orgasm. Afterward, he shot to his feet, sharing my taste as I jerked him off.

We dried off after the shower, dressed, and went about the rest of our day. I went to check on Dad. Uncle Rob had spent the night again, and they were having breakfast when I got back. They had smirks on their faces when I entered the kitchen, teasing me about having a morning glow.

I waved them off and got ready to head into the diner. Jett came by as usual, but something about him was off.

Jett had acted weird for the rest of the weekend, but every time I asked him about it, he said he was fine. I knew he wasn’t. In the time we’d spent together, I’d like to think I was able to read him well enough to gauge his emotions, but since he was so insistent on keeping it from me, I didn’t push. He’d tell me when he was ready.

Monday afternoon, I received a call from my company’s HR department as my team manager had warned me they would. Honestly, I was surprised my company waited this long to check in on me in the first place. It had been six weeks since I took extended leave.

I exited the diner and took the call at the back of the building. HR expressed their apologies for calling around the holidays, but they needed to know when I would return. I didn’t hold it against them. HR protected the company, and most companies would have fired me for taking such a long leave ages ago, so for that I was grateful for the time they had given me.

Back in New York, my life revolved around work. I probably worked just as much here at the diner, and running the place fulfilled me in a way my desk job never had, but it wasn’t everything. I had my family, my quirky fellow townsmen and their obsessive love for the holidays, and someone who held a special place in my heart.

I put my hand in my coat pocket and smiled when I felt the familiar lollipop hidden there. I unwrapped it and let the taste of cherry fill my senses. It had slowly become my favorite flavor as well, because it reminded me of my favorite person.

In the past, I would have been craving a smoke as I told the HR person I was resigning, but now the only craving I had was to see my man.

The person on the other line took my news a lot better than I expected and said they would process my resignation after the holidays when I returned to get my things. After a few minutes of small talk, we wished each other happy holidays and hung up.

A familiar coat peeked out from the corner of the building. Smiling to myself, I quietly walked over and caught the little eavesdropper in my arms. “Are you reviving your bad boy image by sneaking around?” I teased.

Jett didn’t reply to my joke and looked at me with shining eyes. “You’re not leaving?” he asked with a hopeful tone.

He didn’t clarify what he was asking about, but I already knew. I laughed and confirmed that I wasn’t. “But I heard you say the other day you’ll see your coworker when you return to your office.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Been snooping often, huh?”

The shocked expression when he realized he’d revealed his peeping tendencies had me chuckling and pressing a kiss to his wrinkled brows. “Yeah, I did say that. I need to head back to get my stuff and move everything back here.”

“So…you’re really staying?”

My heart warmed at seeing how excited he was. “Yeah, I am.”

He pounced into my arms and smashed our lips together, not even caring about the white lollipop stick poking out from the corner of my lips.

“Oh, thank god. I was prepared to follow you to New York since I can work from anywhere, but New York isn’t the same as Christmas Falls. This is home,” he said.

“If I moved back to New York, you would’ve gone with me?” It took a second for me to process his words before the shock registered for me.

He shifted on his feet. “I know we never talked about the future of our relationship, but you’re it for me. I’ve liked you for so long, and I’m not going to let a little move be the reason we don’t work out.”

“But you love Christmas Falls,” was all I could say in my daze. Even if I didn’t plan on staying here, I had no intentions of breaking up with Jett. Worst case, we’d do long distance. But I never expected he’d be willing to move for me.

Christmas Falls was his home, and he thrived here. Being the social butterfly he was, there was always someone coming up to chat with him or just to say hi, and I could tell Jett loved it. He loved the fact he knew his neighbors and was part of our small community here. And to know he was willing to give that all up for me…

“I do, but to me, you’re more important,” Jett replied, his eyes clear and only reflecting me.Maybe I’d been too busy running away to realize it before, but the way he looked at me, the way he’d acted all these years, it was hard not to see his love for me.

I was done running from the people I loved. I was done repressing my emotions because I was scared of being hurt.

That was something I’d learned these past few weeks with Dad too. Because I’d been so afraid of telling him how I really felt, the misunderstandings kept piling up. I never wanted that for me and Jett.

“I love you,” I stated, putting my heart out there. I knew he wouldn’t let harm come to me because that was the kind of person he was.

Jett beamed; a full angel beam that had my heart almost stopping in my chest. He pressed closer to me and plopped a soft kiss on my lips, white stick poking out and all. “Yeah,” he breathed, all soft and warm. “I love you too.”

All the giddy feeling bloomed inside me, making me laugh as I pulled the lollipop out of my mouth and smothered his face with kisses. Jett laughed too, as my mouth attacked every inch of skin I could reach.

“Should we close the diner up now? You’ll be busy with groomsman duties for your friend’s wedding tomorrow, and with the farewell party later tonight, I feel like I’m not getting enough alone time with you,” I said when we’d calmed down. The lollipop had somehow ended up in Jett’s mouth now as he rolled it around his tongue.

“Your dad won’t mind?” he asked, though he was obviously very on board with the idea.

I shrugged. “This place is gonna be mine soon anyway, so I get to make the rules. Besides, everyone’s out doing last-minute Christmas shopping.”

Dad had hinted about me taking over the entire time I was here. I secretly think he liked living the retirement life, considering he wasn’t at the diner all day anymore like he used to be.

With that settled, I had Atlas and the other staff members leave even earlier than planned. We’d see them again later for Atlas’ going away party since he was moving to Kither Springs right after Christmas.

Jett and I were the last people in the diner. He chatted with me, telling me how excited he was to see me in a suit for the wedding tomorrow and how he still couldn’t believe his friend was getting married. I smiled and hummed in agreement while I double checked all the stoves were turned off and we were set to leave for the night.

“My parents are arriving in town tomorrow night too,” Jett said, taking my hand as I turned off the lights in the diner. He stood under the mistletoe arch while I locked the front door. “Mom’s ecstatic they were able to finish the contract and make it home in time for Christmas. They say they’re excited to spend it at your place and get to know you.”

I turned to him to find him looking nervous, but his eyes were still shining as I joined him under the arch. My hands automatically wrapped around him, like it was impossible not to touch him. He stepped closer until our hearts were pressed together and plopped a cherry-flavored kiss on my lips, all while wrapped up in each other’s arms and witnessed by the mistletoe above our heads.

“I can’t wait,” I whispered against his lips.

“For what? The wedding or Christmas with my parents?” Jett asked softly.

“For everything with you,” I replied, and Jett smiled, stars lighting up in his eyes. He was so damn beautiful, I had to kiss him again. Jett laughed, music to my ears.

“Let’s head home,” he said, tugging on my hand.

Home .

I lived in New York for the past five years, but that place was just a city I hid inside of. It had been so long since I knew where my home was, but now that I’d found it again, I wasn’t letting go.

“Yeah, let’s head home.”