Christmas at Holiday House - RaeAnne Thayne Page 0,34
would be red as a beet right now.
Two weeks. She would see him in two weeks. She was so torn. She missed him terribly but had no idea if they could pick up any remnants of their friendship after what had happened that last night in Thailand.
“How nice.”
“Rodrigo can’t wait for you to come home. He told me to be sure you’re home in time for the gingerbread competition.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it,” she said. “I love that guy.”
She meant Rodrigo, of course. Who else?
“It’s hard not to love him, isn’t it?”
“He was the best prom date I could ever ask for. We had a great time that night.”
After Rodrigo asked her to his senior prom, some of the girls at school had made fun of her. A few had even told her she should say no. Why would she want to go with someone from the special education classrooms to what many considered the most important dance of a girl’s high school career?
Lucy refused and dropped those girls as friends. She would never regret it. Rodrigo had been sweet and kind to her and so very excited to go to the dance with their peers.
“He has a new job at Lancaster Silver Bells. Did you know? He was excited to tell me all about it. He’s been busing tables at the restaurant at the resort but is starting a new job working with the bell desk, delivering luggage to guests and working in bag storage.”
“That’s terrific. I bet he’s wonderful at it. You can’t have a bad day when you are around Rodrigo.”
“That’s what I always say. And he has a girlfriend. Another girl who goes to the same job-training program he does. Cindy. She’s very sweet. He told me she lets him hold her hand.”
“Oh, that makes my heart happy.”
“Right? They’re a sweet couple.”
On the video call, Winnie’s expression was suddenly nonchalant. “Sofia tells me he and Cindy double-dated with José and the woman he is dating.”
Her insides seemed to freeze. “Wait. What? José is dating someone?”
Winnie shrugged. “It’s not serious, from what I understand, but they have dated a few times and Sofia has high hopes. A mother can only dream. Just like a grandmother, right?”
He was dating? That was impossible! Just a few months ago he had claimed to be in love with her, and now he was dating someone else?
Okay, she had been pretty clear that they were looking for different things from a relationship and that she wouldn’t change her mind.
But she had never expected him to start dating someone else the minute he returned to Silver Bells.
Her stomach felt twisted into knots, as if she had eaten something bad at the Chiang Mai night market.
“Is it...someone I know?”
“Oh, I doubt it,” Winnie said blithely. “Quinn Bellamy has only been in town six months or so. She works in public relations for Lancaster corporate and she’s very pretty. And nice, too. Originally, I was thinking she might be good for Ethan, but I guess José made a move first.”
“Did he?”
Her stomach again twisted. Maybe she did eat something that didn’t agree with her.
She certainly wasn’t jealous. That would imply she had feelings for him, which was impossible.
“No matter,” Winnie said cheerfully. “I think Abby makes a much better fit for your brother than Quinn ever would.”
She pressed a hand to her stomach, trying to force her attention back to the present instead of that last night between them when José had kissed her with such aching tenderness.
Obviously, he hadn’t been in love with her. She had been right to push him away. Look how quickly he turned to another woman.
“You know I adore you, Winnie, but I have to strongly advise you not to get any ideas about Abby and Ethan. Seriously. Just don’t. She was devastated after her husband was killed. The last thing she needs right now as she’s about to start a new life is to be tangled up with something that will only lead to heartbreak.”
“Who’s to say your brother will break her heart?” Winnie countered. “Maybe he’ll find she’s the perfect woman for him. And vice versa.”
She adored Abby and couldn’t think of another woman who would be better for her brother. But she also knew Ethan. He was raised amid the same chaos she was. They shared many of the same scars.
She considered it proof that he had never had a relationship that lasted longer than a few months, except for Brooke.