“No, thank you, I’m good. Going to pack now.”

He leaves to his bedroom and I sit staring at the opposite wall. Christmas. It’s in two days. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.

Time passes so fast. What do I have to show for it? I need to set my plan into motion to earn enough money, find a place to stay, return to my evening classes and finish my GED. That may open some doors.

Land me a better job. A legal one.

And then maybe Audrey will...

Will what? Don’t be such an idiot. Too many ifs in my plan—go back to the club, make them take me on. And win. Preferably without getting crippled for life.

Fuck Christmas. I’m not going to Audrey’s or anywhere else for that matter. I’ll train. I’ll be ready. I can do this. For once in my life I have a goal.

I’m gonna turn my life around.

Chapter Nine

Audrey

Christmas Day.

I’m standing at the bay window of my living room, staring out at the grey of early afternoon. Snow is falling in light swirls.

I spoke to my mom in the morning and we wished each other a Merry Christmas. Then I tried to work on my astronomy project but had to stop because I couldn’t concentrate.

Today’s supposed to be a happy day, a fun day. This is my first time without any family—or friends. The loneliest Christmas in history. How depressing.

And Ash hasn’t come.

He said he wouldn’t, but I held out hope he’d change his mind. Not that I can blame him for not coming. I didn’t even find the courage to apologize to him, and after what he’s been through, I can understand the anger.

I know anger. After the accident, fury had boiled in my veins. I’d wanted to scream and kick and break everything down. The unfairness of it all had been too much to bear. Why me? Why my dad? Why?

Maybe I can understand Ash better than anyone. So ironic.

But he kissed me. The memory lingers, making me feel hot and restless. The way his hard body pressed against me, the power of his arms, his tongue thrusting into my mouth... God. I want to touch him, skin to skin, explore his body. I want to see how hard he is for me, to touch his arousal, feel it, stroke it.

Okay, something’s definitely wrong with me. I’ve never felt this way about any other boy. Besides, Ash obviously doesn’t want to see me again, and here I am, fantasizing about his hot body.

Get real, Audrey.

Getting through this holiday alone is going to be a bummer, but I’ll make it just one more challenge. I can do this. I’ve been through so much worse that I know I can do almost anything.

On most days, that is. On others, especially after waking up from a nightmare, the world crashes around me, sending me to my knees.

Not today, though. I’ve cooked a simple pasta with sauce from a jar and watched TV. Played my music real loud and danced around the apartment to the sounds of German groups, the strong percussion of In Extremo and the mellower melodies of Faun and Helium Vola.

Now I’m resting, watching the snow. And for later on, a special dessert waits in the fridge—my favorite cherry pie and whipped cream. I have even bought white wine and chilled it, though I’m not sure I’m going to have any. I don’t like drinking alone.

Come on, Christmas. Give it your all. I’ll be fine.

Tessa and Dakota, Dylan and Rafe will be back in a couple of days. Meanwhile, the shops will open again and I plan on going shopping, and then to the movies.

I’ve learned a few things about solitude, living with Mom these past few years. I’m fine on my own.

Still... It isn’t just any day. It’s Christmas, a time spent with family and people you love.

Get over it.

I move away from the window and the gloomy thoughts. A mindless show is playing on TV and I turn it off. Reading might be a good idea. A romance. Snug and warm in my bed, losing myself in worlds where love is easy and you know the ending will be a happy one.

I change into my teddy bear jammies with my bunny slippers. I take my hair down from its tight ponytail and head to my room, when the doorbell rings.

I freeze. It can’t be...

I shuffle to the door, peek through the peephole. My breath stops.

Ash is standing outside, in jeans and a black jacket. He has his hands in his pockets, his dark hair falling in his eyes.

Oh my god.

I open the door before he vanishes in smoke. I can’t believe he’s really here. As cold blasts in my face, I reach out and grab his arm.

Solid. Hard.

Ash’s brows lift.

Oh right. I look from my hand on his arm to my bunny slippers. Crap.

“Come on in,” I say, my voice a little high-pitched. I tug on his arm and he steps inside. “Sit. I’ll be right back.”

I race into my bedroom and close my door, not even waiting to see him settle down. I lean back, closing my eyes.

Ash is in my apartment.

Shit. What are the odds of Ash turning up after all and seeing me in my oh-so-sexy teddy bear jammies and fluffy bunny slippers?

Gritting my teeth, I pull off the offending garments and quickly draw on my high-waist, black stretch pants and a white, low-cut blouse that flows below my hips. I then put on my boots and run a brush through my hair.

Checking my face in the mirror, I cringe at my blotchy skin. I’m dying to apply some make-up, but I fear that if I leave Ash alone any longer he might just get up and walk back out. It wouldn’t be the first time. Boy’s skittish and I’m partly to blame for that.

So I draw a deep, fortifying breath and step out of my bedroom.

And panic, because the sofa and armchair are empty. I turn in a circle, about to start cursing, when I spot Ash standing in the corner, studying my bookcase.

He’s still here.

And now he’s looking at me expectantly, a dark brow arched, and I have no clue what to say. I guess I never believed he’d come over. Not after the way he refused my invitation so vehemently.

God, I have to say something. I can’t always freeze in his presence. “Merry Christmas,” I manage.

One corner of his mouth tips up. “You, too.”

His voice is low and rough. Sexy bedroom voice. He’s shed his jacket and his shirt stretches over his muscled chest like second skin, outlining every dip and ridge.

God, what’s wrong with me? “I didn’t think you were coming.”

He shrugs, a slight roll of broad shoulders. He looks uncomfortable. “Yeah. I didn’t think so, either.”

The bruises on his jaw and under his eye are slowly fading to green and yellow. He still looks beaten up and hurting. I want to put my arms around him and tell him he’ll be alright.

Okay, not only my body is out of control, my brain is, too. “Have you eaten?”

He shakes his head, a light flush coloring his cheekbones. He looks back at the shelves, runs his hand over the spines of the books—a mixture of classics and romance, with the odd fantasy novel thrown in. I expect him to make a sarcastic comment, but he says nothing.

I shiver and don’t know why. I have goose bumps all over my skin. “I made pasta. I’ll warm it up for you.”

“It’s okay, I’m fine.”

Jesus. I’m home alone with Ash. A tiny voice in the back of my mind squeals.

“Just take a seat. I made it for you, as well,” I lie. Thank god I made enough.

I hurry into the kitchenette, all jittery. Putting the pasta and the sauce to warm up in the microwave, I glance back.

He’s sitting at the dining table, hands clasped on the table top, shoulders tense. He looks beautiful—and lonely.

It hits me then: I’m not the only one spending Christmas Day alone. I knew this—that he fled his home because of the violence. Is he going back? Will it be safe for him?

Protectiveness washes through me. A funny notion, since he’s over six feet tall and his muscles bulge through his long-sleeved shirt. But his dad is much bigger, I know, and an experienced fighter.

He glances up when I bring the dishes and set them on the table. His hands are splayed on the table. There it is—the scar across his knuckles, a reminder of the night he saved me.

I tear my gaze from it, confused by all the feelings inside me. Just be friends, Tessa had said. How difficult can it be?

“What about you?” he says when I serve him my pitiful culinary experiment.

“I ate already. Got hungry early.” Lunchtime was hours ago but the way he tenses again tells me he’s probably thinking of leaving right now, and I’m not having it. Not before I get a chance to finally talk to him. “Go on, it will get cold. I’ve saved dessert to have with you.”

He settles a little, his shoulders slumping, and digs into the pasta. What convinced him to come? I watch him eat until I realize he’s stopped, his brows dipping over his eyes, and I go to get dessert ready.

By the time I return with the pie and plates, he’s polished his food.

Well, either my cooking isn’t so bad or he was starving. “Zane left no food?”

Ash grimaces. “He did. I need to find a way to pay him back and...” He trails off, his gaze guarded. He obviously feels bad about being a guest at Zane’s.

“He’s your friend. I’m sure he doesn’t mind.”

“He shouldn’t have to put up with me all the time.”

“It’s just a few days.”

He shakes his head. Something’s on his mind but he says nothing more as I lay out the plates and spoons, and take my time unwrapping the pie.

“I hope you like cherry pie,” I say.

He nods and receives his slice. “Thanks.”

“It’s not much as Christmas meals go,” I mutter, serving myself a dollop of cream. I push the bowl toward him.

“It’s great,” he says and there’s an odd note in his voice. He sound sincere, which is weird—pasta with canned sauce, and deep frozen cherry pie?—but there’s also something like longing that makes my chest hurt.

This boy confuses me so much.

***

We eat our pie in a silence so thick you can cut it with a knife. After the first mouthfuls, I can’t take it anymore, so I get up and put Dead Can Dance on my old beaten-up stereo.

Ash is frowning when I return to the table but presses his mouth shut. I focus on my pie. At some point I look up to find his gaze fixed on my mouth.

My neck warms, the heat rising to my cheeks. I wipe my chin. “Do I have cherry jam all over my face?”

“No, you...” He swallows hard, licks his lips. He puts down his spoon. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

He puffs out a breath and his eyes turn hard. He pushes his dish to the side. “Why did you invite me?”

I clench my jaw. “Just wanted to see you. We’re friends.”

“Used to be.”

Ouch. “I thought we could be again.”

He blinks at me, then looks away, his thick dark lashes sweeping low. God, he’s gorgeous. Now that I’ve decided I don’t hate him, I can’t stop ogling him. How mortifying.

Then he stands up, muscles rippling under his shirt. “I should go. This was a bad idea.”

Oh god, no. “Please stay.” I get up, shoving my chair back. The legs screech on the wooden floor. “Come on, Ash. It’s Christmas. Can’t we make up?”

He’s breathing hard. He rakes a hand through his dark hair. Boy is built like a god, narrow h*ps and strong legs, and those shoulders...

“Make up.” He’s eyeing me carefully and his hands are curling into fists. “How do you propose to do that?”

“Just give me a chance to explain. To apologize. I’m sorry I wasn’t nice to you.”

“You weren’t nice? What are you talking about?”

Okay, what? “I thought I hated you because of what your dad did. But I don’t. I swear.”

He takes a step back as if I’ve just slapped him. “You should.”