Second Chances Under the Tree

AST

ing the tears threatening to spill from h

rame it this way, there was no way she'd

back to face me. Her voice wavered, though she

keep your job," I began, "but y

, and she crossed

atching her expression carefully. "You'll have to pretend to be my girlfriend. After tha

pped. "You'

hing down my neck, insisting I bring someone ho

me get this straight," she said slowly. "You want me to pretend to be

ou keep your job, and we pretend

s. Her eyes shifted to the floor, then back

ouldn't come up with any other way to navi

he spoke. "Will

lowly. "My whole family will be there. And from w

ed up. "What?

off guard, but I kept my reaction o

e.' Then, raising her voice, she said, 'Do you even know tha

said casually. "Ethan mentioned you once or twice. He said

d I don't remember having

. We're not that close... we hardly talk. T

a moment, I thought she'd say no. Then sh

t with a nod. "Good. I'll have everything ar

ent to make sure Callie wasn't coming back, then

an idiot. For a second, I glanced around my offic

he'd agreed. Against

g a bit to burn off the unexpected

e fiery eyes, the way she always stood her g

way of getting under my skin

******

LL

's office, I wiped the corners of my

ers of my lips. I hadn't agreed to this ridiculous charad

a silver platter. A chance to face Ethan. A chance to se

iday was goi

**

leaning casually against his car. His arms were crosse

astian cleared his throat and uncrossed his arm

yebrow but di

pletely absurd manner since that night. I shouldn't have used

ght off guard

wanted you to come with me for Christmas. I was desperate, and I handled it all wro

met two nights ago... the one who oozed confidence and sarcasm li

ve apologized, and I'm good with t

s lips. He extended his hand toward me. "Alright then. Let's start over." His grin w

"Callie," I replied, shaking it firmly. "Your

s his smile widened, and for a moment, his

the car. "Alright.

f the estate. The house... or rather, the palace, looked like something out of a fairytale

as he parked the car a

me park?" I muttered, sti

f the car. Before I could open my door, he was there

st my skin, and Sebastian's hand was suddenly o

nds, then back up at hi

ed at his phone, and his expression changed. "Just got a message in th

new girlfriend a

kly masked it with a smile. "How lovely," I sai

. "Well, my girlfriend...

ldn't stop the blush creeping up my cheeks. "Yes, bo

und of footsteps approached from the oth

stood

eyes widened in shock as sighted me, his mouth ope

naged to say. "What...