The Broody Brit for Christmas (Holiday Springs #1) - M.J. Fields Page 0,10

could break the thing. Blowing into my hands to warm them, I have to consciously stop myself from reaching back into my purse and grabbing it again.

Scrolling on Instagram is my very own personal torture, and as much as I want to, I can’t seem to put it on pause. Turns out that days after I left the life I thought would be mine forever, Townes, the man I thought would be my prince, has done nothing but live his best bachelor life. This week, he’s on a trip with his friends to Miami. The One Hotel, to be exact. And while Townes himself barely posts on social media, the friends in his social circle are all about the ‘sharing life.’ And by sharing, I mean telling the world how their lives are better than everyone else’s. By default, and in comparison, my life looks like shit, which makes moving on so much harder.

That jet they took to Miami? Private.

The flights I will be taking from here on out? Commercial, if I can even afford to travel again.

Lodgings? King-sized beds in the presidential suite, complete with balconies facing the ocean.

The room I’ll be sleeping in? My old bedroom in my aunt’s home, last painted cotton candy pink circa 1995.

The food they’re eating? Crisp and cold Caesar salads with roasted shrimp.

The food I’m eating? Homemade chicken sandwich on Wonder bread with mayo and caramels coated in dark chocolate with a hint of the season, pumpkin.

What are they drinking? Ice cold rose wine.

And me? Tap water, no ice.

They’re at the hottest clubs in Miami and New York, and I’m freezing my ass off standing in front of the old haunt of Holiday Springs, Blizzards Bar.

God, I don’t want to walk in.

I exhale, knowing I have to. I promised Jenny, who stopped into the store today while I was stretching taffy in the back of the shop, silently raging. I’m annoyed at myself for missing Townes. And I hate myself for acting like a scared mouse every time the cute little boy and hot AF daddy come into the shop. Scurrying into the kitchen while listening to Nellie shamelessly flirt with BOTH the rich hot British daddy and the angelic little thief/boy ruffles my feathers. It’s not just her flirting, but my fear of this man. Why am I scared? I’m not sure. Oh, who am I kidding? I hate the fact that he’s rich, gorgeous, and clearly a great father. I’m also still embarrassed at the way I acted in front of the shop two weeks ago after my incident with his son.

Once I start pitying myself, it all comes rushing back. Even coming home feels like a failure. I left here years ago without a backward glance, looking toward the bright lights and the big city, with nothing but a couple of thousand dollars I’d saved since I was old enough to work, and a dream of getting the hell out of here. Dreamed of finding a place where I truly belonged, with people who love me—not pity me for everything I had gone through.

I worked my way through Cornell University and met Townes my senior year while waiting tables at the Lupfer Steakhouse. He was the handsome man in a suit, and I had stars in my eyes. It didn’t take long for him to convince me to date him. He was in graduate school, finishing up his master’s in business. We graduated at the same time, and he immediately offered me a job where I would use my degree in economics as his administrative assistant. Then we fell in love, or so I thought.

New York City was always my dream, and up until a few months ago, I thought I had made it… until I realized that the comfortable bed I was sleeping on was filled with nothing more than vapor and lies.

I pull up my big girl panties and open the door to the bar. Stepping inside, I expect maybe a bit of change. Instead, it’s like I’ve taken a time machine back to 2003. It even smells the same, like stale beer, cigarettes, and worn oiled leather.

I scan the ‘ladies’ night’ crowd and see Jenny talking to a man who clearly has had too much to drink. She’s trying to be polite. I hurry toward her knowing she can’t continue to do so; it’s not in her to hold back for long.

She sees me and jumps into my arms, her relief at finally having me here apparent.