Unexpected Gifts (14 page)

Andi let out a deep sigh and shook her hands free from Blaine's grasp. "Go home, Blaine," she said. "If you really want to talk, we'll do it when I get back to the city."

Blaine's faced twisted with a mixture of shock and anger. Colin crossed his arms in front of his chest and tried to keep the smug look off his face. 

"Home?" Blaine asked incredulously. "It's almost eleven o'clock on Christmas Eve and you want me to go home?" 

"Blaine-" 

"No," he cut her off, his tone changing again. "I'll just get a room and we'll talk in the morning. Christmas in the mountains will be very romantic."

Before either of them could say anything, Eva stepped forward and said, "There are no more rooms. They're overbooked as it is." She looked pointedly at Colin and Andi. 

"What am I supposed to do?" Blaine asked. 

"Maybe you should have thought about that before you came," Eva shot back. 

"Eva." Andi held her hand up. 

Interesting, Colin thought. Her best friend didn't like her ex. It was a telling little piece of information that Colin filed away. 

"Sorry," Eva said. "The best they can do is offer you a couch in staff residence and a voucher for another time. Which they don't really have to do, since you didn't make a reservation," she added. 

"Staff residence?" Blaine's voice raised a level. "You have to be kidding me?" Then he turned to Andi, who was looking more and more exhausted as the exchange went on. "I'll just stay with you," he said. 

"Well, I don't exactly, have a-"

"She's staying with me," Colin interjected. 

"Oh," Blaine said looking between them. "Are you two together then?" 

"No," Andi said. "We just met the other day. Colin was nice enough to offer me the use of his spare room when the Lodge lost my reservation. Because, it's Christmas and all."

"So no," Colin added. "I don't work here." He crossed his arms in front of his chest feeling pleased with himself for shutting him up, even for a minute.

"Great," Blaine said with a smirk. "Since you're such a good Samaritan, you won't mind letting me crash too then. You know, since it's Christmas and all." 

Colin clenched his hands into fists. The smug smile on Blaine's face grated on him and if he were a violent man, he would have punched him long ago. It was taking all of his self control to behave himself. 

"Unfortunately, I'm all out of rooms," he said. "Looks like you're headed to the staff residence, or maybe there's an empty couch in the lobby?" 

"I don't think so," Blaine said. He squared up in front of Colin.

"And what exactly do you think you're going to do about it?" Colin knew he was being a jack ass, but he couldn't help it. Andi's ex was a jerk. 

"Colin." He felt Andi's hand on his arm and he turned to her. "We can't let him sleep in the lobby," she said. 

"Sure we can," Eva said.

"Colin," Andi said, ignoring her friend. "It's Christmas." 

He looked around the small group. Eva shook her head and stuck up her nose. He skimmed over Blaine who was looking pompous and sure of himself. Colin's gaze landed on Andi. She couldn't be happy with the way the evening was turning out either. But then again, who was he to assume anything about her? He could barely remember the closeness they'd shared earlier in the woods, it seemed so long ago. Her kiss still lingered on his lips, but the promise of another was fleeting. 

Colin swallowed hard, knowing he would regret his decision. He didn't take his eyes off Andi when he said, "It is Christmas. I'm sure we can find room." 

Chapter Fifteen

December 25

Andi woke with an elbow to her ribs. Her eyes popped open and stared directly into a mass of blonde hair on the pillow next to her. She'd forgotten how awful sharing a bed with her best friend was. Andi was convinced Eva's wild sleep patterns were the reason her friend was still single. Any man would wake up black and blue after sharing a bed with her. 

She looked at the bedside clock. Seven. Andi groaned and rolled over. Maybe if she slept all day, she wouldn't have to deal with Blaine. Or Colin. She knew it couldn't have been easy for him to offer the extra room to Blaine. Lord knows it wasn't easy for her either, but even she knew it was the right thing to do. Andi flipped to her back and stared at the ceiling. How did everything get so messed up? 

"Are you done?" Eva asked, her voice thick with sleep and annoyance.

"Done what?"

"Tossing and turning," Eva said and flipped over so she was staring at Andi. "I swear, I don't know how anyone can sleep with all your thrashing."

"My thrashing? Right." Andi returned her gaze to the ceiling.

"Merry Christmas?" 

Andi rolled over to her side. "What a mess. I don't suppose you'd get rid of him for me, would you?" 

"Blaine, I presume?" She laughed. "You probably want to keep the other one, right? Or at least you certainly did yesterday."

"I don't know what I want anymore." Andi hugged a pillow to her chest. "It doesn't seem so simple anymore."

"Was it ever? Andi, you don't do simple. I've been trying to convince you for years, but even I know you aren't built for flings. That's okay." She paused. "Heck, it's better than okay. I could probably learn a few things from you."

"Because I've been so successful in love." Andi rolled her eyes. 

"You have." Eva sat up in bed, jerking the covers with her. "I may not like Blaine, and it's no secret that he's totally not right for you, but you still had something special with him. I consider that a success. But what I consider an even bigger success is that you learned from it and you're still willing to try again. And now look at you. There is a very handsome man out there who is totally diggin' you. I consider that success."

"I told you yesterday, he's not into relationships. And I tried to be causal, Eva. I really did. But you're right, I'm just not wired that way."

Eva slipped out of the bed, tossing the covers over Andi's head. "Well, the way I see it, you're not going to know either way until we get out there. Now, come on. I need some coffee, and with any luck there'll be some Baileys in it."

***

After a quick shower, Colin was ready to face whatever craziness was going to be waiting in the living room. With any luck Blaine would have figured out he wasn't welcome and would be long gone. But somehow, he didn't think that was very likely. 

Sure enough, when he walked into the room, he was greeted by Blaine, who much to his dismay had not only not left for the city, had also made himself quite at home. 

"Merry Christmas," Blaine said.

"Morning." Colin moved into the kitchen area to grab a cup of coffee. "Roads clear yet?"

"Not sure," Blaine said. "I haven't checked. What's the rush, right? It's Christmas after all."

Colin shrugged and turned in time to see Eva and Andi come down the hall into the living room. 

Before he could put down his mug, Blaine was already across the room trying to pull Andi into a hug. "Merry Christmas," he called. The man behaved as if this was a normal holiday morning instead of some twisted facade. Colin smiled a satisfied smirk when Andi pull away from his attempt at a kiss, just in time for his lips to land on her cheek. She twisted out of his embrace and looked in Colin's direction. 

"Merry Christmas, Colin." Her voice was quiet, but her eyes connected with his and a glimmer of hope sparked deep inside him. Maybe the day wouldn't be a total loss. He moved towards her, ready to take her into his arms. Spending the night without her next to him, he'd been acutely aware that something was missing. She filled a space he hadn't even realized was empty. 

"Did you sleep well?" he asked when he was only inches from her. 

She nodded, but he knew she was lying because she looked down and would no longer meet his eyes. 

"And what am I, the Grinch?" Eva's voice came from beside him. He'd forgotten she was there. "Merry Christmas, guys." She laughed and Colin turned to give her a hug. 

"Sorry," he said. 

"Oh, that's okay," Eva whispered into his ear. "I know I'm not your Christmas wish right now." 

She pulled her away and gave him a wink. "Okay, okay. That's enough of the schmaltzy stuff. Why does everyone get all sappy on Christmas morning anyway? Let's have coffee and Baileys." 

Andi laughed. "You know what? I actually think that's a great idea." 

After they all had a coffee in their hands and were seated in the living room around the tree, songs playing in the background, Eva looked at Blaine and said, "So when are you headed back down the mountain?"

"I thought I'd stay today," he said. 

Andi choked on her coffee. "I don't think-"

"It's Christmas after all," he said as if Andi hadn't spoken. "Andi shouldn't have to spend it alone."

"She's not alone," Eva and Colin said at the same time. 

Blaine looked at each of them in turn. "Don't you have some family thing today?" he asked Eva.

She nodded. "Yes, but-"

"Like I said, Andi, you shouldn't be alone."

Colin squeezed his hands in a fist. Who the hell did this guy think he was? He'd done his charitable holiday deed, he'd given the guy a bed for the night. But he was just about done with being a good citizen. 

"I think you should go home," Andi said with a quick glance to Colin. "We can talk when I get back." 

Ignoring her again, Blaine jumped out of his seat. "I brought something," he said. "I think we should all have some." He disappeared into the kitchen, returning a moment later clutching four glasses in one hand, a bottle of champagne in the other.

"Champagne? In the morning?" Colin asked. 

"Do you need some orange juice in yours?" Blaine retorted. He popped the cork, letting the froth spill over the top.  He poured and handed the glasses around the room, oblivious of Colin's building rage and the growing discomfort in the room. When he was done, he said, "Before I make a toast, there's one more thing." 

Shit! The ring, Colin thought. He'd forgotten all about it. Or maybe, blocked it from his memory. He stood up from the couch ready to... do what? He didn't know. Before he could think of anything, Blaine had dropped to one knee was pulling out the box. 

"You have to be kidding?" He heard Eva say.

It was too late. Colin froze and fixed his gaze on Andi, whose face had taken on an unnatural shade of white.

"Blaine, what are you doing?" she managed to say.

Blaine didn't appear to hear her, or more likely, didn't want to, because he launched into what must have been a prepared speech. "Andi," he said. "The other night at my family's party, the one we always attended together, I looked around and realized something. I realized I needed you by my side. I missed you." 

He just realized it? Colin thought. 

"I missed the way we were together," Blaine continued. "We were good together. And yes, we had a few rough patches, but we should have stayed and fought it out. We gave up too easily. And, I think it's time we did this thing properly.  Andi Williams, will you marry me?"

That was his idea of a proposal? Colin almost laughed at the absurdity of it. Did Blaine realize what an amazing woman he was proposing too? 

The room was silent. Andi hadn't moved. She looked like she might throw up. Every fibre in his body wanted to go to her. But he knew he couldn't. It wasn't his situation to fix. After what felt like an eternity, Andi let out a slow breath. "Blaine, I-"

"You don't have to answer right away," he said. He hopped up from the floor and pressed the ring box into her hand. "Think about it. Think about how great we could be. And now," he said to the room, "a toast." He raised his glass. "To Christmas and the power of love." 

 In turn, everyone mechanically raised their glass, muttered something, and they all clinked at the farce of what had happened. Without drinking, he put the glass down. She hadn't said yes, yet Blaine was behaving as if she had. But she hadn't said no, either, Colin told himself, and for the first time, he tore his gaze away from Andi and stared out the window. 

She didn't say no, a voice in his head repeated.

From somewhere behind him, he heard Eva say, "I'm sorry, Andi, but I should get going." 

"So soon?" Blaine asked. "Things are just getting started." Colin cringed and his shoulders tensed. 

"Goodbye, Colin. Thank you for your hospitality," Eva said. Still, Colin didn't turn around. He raised his hand in acknowledgement and continued to look out the window at the snow covered trees.

She didn't say no, he thought again. Which meant he'd lost his chance.

***

Andi stood at the door for a few seconds after Eva left. She wasn't sure how she was going to face the mess in the living room without her friend, but she understood. Besides, it was her mess to clean up. And it shouldn't be so hard. Should it? After a moment, she took a deep breath and returned to the living room determined to put an end to the madness of the morning.

"I'm going to make breakfast," Blaine announced.

Andi was about to protest, when she noticed Colin still standing at the window.

"He seems to be making himself at home," Colin said without looking away from the window.

"I'm sorry, Colin," Andi said. 

"For what?" He turned then. His face was an unreadable mask. "Congratulations."

"No," she said. "It's not..."

He moved past her and sat on the couch. 

"Colin," she said. She sat down next to him. "Don't."

"It's okay," he said. His face didn't give anything away and she wanted to reach for him, but she stopped herself. The closeness they'd shared only one day before, seemed very far away. "You two obviously have unfinished business."

Unwanted and totally unexpected tears sprang up in the corners of her eyes. She'd known Christmas was going to be awful this year, but nothing could've prepared her for experiencing her first marriage proposal from a man who had broken her heart, while another man, one she shared an undeniable attraction with, stood by and watched.