Lydia's Pine Harbor Christmas, стр. 22
He started to stand, but Lydia caught him by the sleeve.
“No! He’s the only thing good in my life!”
Marco’s jaw dropped. “Really? You hide it so well.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He looked away with a cynical smile. “Let’s just say you’re both very formal.”
“Formal?”
“Distant? Cold?”
If his last remark had left her feeling defensive, that one finished the job. “We’re not distant or cold. We’re just different. Just because we don’t paw each other in public doesn’t mean that we’re formal.”
“Oh, so you paw each other in private.”
“No! You’re twisting my words.”
Marco folded his arms. “Well then, explain it in your words.”
She didn’t like where the conversation was going, but she needed to set the record straight. “Real life is not like the movies. They make it seem like it’s all fireworks and…”
“Romance?” His gaze bored through her facade.
Unable to bear his knowing look, Lydia protested. “We don’t need romance because we have something… real!”
Marco lifted his eyebrows and acted impressed, but she saw the sarcasm beneath it. “I see.”
“Good.” Her temper was not helping her case, so she tried to calm down.
“And I’m sorry.” That time, he was being sincere, but the pity in his eyes stung far worse than his sarcasm.
“Why would you say that?”
His eyes had a faraway look. “I am the last one to give advice about love, but I think there’s a lot to be said for a good fireworks display. I want more than that.” He added, “For you… with Bryce.”
Sometimes we don’t have a choice. “What makes you think you can counsel me about love when you’ve never had a relationship that lasted more than a week?”
“That’s not true! I’ve had a couple that lasted a month.”
“I stand corrected. You’re a love expert—as well as a commitment-phobe.”
A hard look came into his eyes. “Love hurts, so I’m cautious. But it’s not that I don’t want to love or be loved. I just have to be sure.”
“No one’s ever sure.”
“Maybe it’s a matter of trust. Whatever it is, you’re wrong. I’ve always wanted to feel that kind of love, but I’ve just never found it.” His searching eyes were so penetrating that Lydia feared he might find something she wasn’t ready to share. She looked away.
Marco said, “You were about to tell me that something was wrong.”
“Was I?” I don’t think so.
“Is it your father?”
Lydia shook her head.
“Your mom? Dylan?”
“Marco, I’m fine. It’s okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!” She smiled and thought it had been fairly convincing.
“But?”
Lydia shook her head again. “But what? Maybe you’re the one with the problem. In which case, don’t look at me. I can’t figure you out.”
“I’m a pretty simple guy.”
Lydia laughed. “You are anything but that. You are the most complicated person I’ve ever met.” She considered her words, not wanting to reveal too much of the truth. “I don’t understand why it’s gotten so hard for us to be friends. It used to be so easy.”
“Maybe we care too much.”
Definitely on my part. “I used to think you couldn’t care too much because caring’s a positive thing.”
He smiled. “That’s what I love about you. You see things so simply.”
“And that’s what I hate about you. You’ve always underestimated me.”
He touched her cheek as he searched her eyes. “Not always. Not now.”
If she didn’t look away, she would drown a sea of emotion. “Bryce will be wondering where I am.”
Marco lifted his eyebrows. It was almost dismissive, but she couldn’t be sure. She needed to go, and if finding Bryce served as her excuse, then so be it. She donned a bright smile. “Hey, it’s Christmas! Look at us. We’re at an amazing party! Let’s not waste it in Caroline’s exercise room.”
“It’s not wasted if I’m with you.”
Oh, you’re good. Really good. You should stop now. If you won’t, I’ll have to. But she didn’t.
Marco’s smile faded, and a look of surprise crossed his face. He gazed so deeply into Lydia’s eyes that she felt a little lightheaded. His lips parted, and she parted hers. Then he touched his lips to hers gently. His were soft, and their mouths fit together. If she had looked down to discover she was floating, she wouldn’t have been surprised.
Slowly, he pulled away and stared at her. She didn’t understand why he looked so confused when, for once, she was not. Everything felt right to her.
“If Bryce is the one, then I wish you the best. Merry Christmas.” He kissed her on the forehead and left, closing the door gently behind him.
A tear trailed down Lydia’s cheek as she whispered, “ Merry Christmas.”
In no hurry to return to the party, Lydia waited until she felt fully composed. She was getting better at it. Getting over Marco’s gestures of friendship had become almost a routine. That kiss was a new addition, though, as cruel as it was tender. She wasn’t sure she would ever understand what had just happened, so she shelved it along with her aching emotions. Though she could pull it off the shelf now and then to relive it. That kiss had enough in it to relive for the rest of her life.
Lydia sighed. She would be sighing a lot when she thought about Marco. But she couldn’t build a life on a knee-buckling kiss from a friend. So Lydia drew in a deep breath, exhaled, and went upstairs to face real life.
“There she is.”
Bryce took Lydia’s hand. He seemed happy to see her, and she felt the same—or maybe she felt relieved. Bryce was fresh air to her lungs after the weight of confusion and heartache of being with Marco.
“I just spoke to your mother.” He grinned at Eve. “And I’ve assured her that my parents will chaperone us.” He leaned toward Eve and Dylan in mock confidence. “I’ve heard rumors that my mother has personally refocused the interior security