Annihilate Me: Holiday Edition by Christina Ross Read Free Book Online Page A

their hands.”
    I
did, and I felt a spark of hope.   “They’re holding hands.”
    “They
have been since we got on the plane.”
    “I
want so much for them.   I want them
to have what we have.”
    “I
guess time will tell,” he said.   “But for now?   Things look
good.”

 
 
 
 
 
    CHAPTER EIGHT

 
    When
we arrived at Alex’s house on the Point, the snow was banked against the
building, but a path had been cleared for us to use the entrance Alex used,
which was at the back of the house facing the ocean.   I noticed smoke wafting from each of the
five chimneys, I saw a wreath hanging on the door, and I knew that whomever
Alex had called to prepare the house had recently cleaned it, stocked the
fridge, changed the linens, and likely much more.  
    “We
are so lucky,” I said when I stepped out of the SUV.
    “We
are, aren’t we?” Alex agreed.
    “Beyond
lucky.   Look at this.   Look how white the snow is.   And smell the burning wood from the
fireplaces.   I love it here.”
    “You
don’t get this in Manhattan.”
    “Oh,
and look at the ocean.   With the
leaves off the trees, you can see even more of it from here.   It’s so different from the last time we
were here.   It’s darker, more
ominous.   Over there is Bar
Harbor.   And there’s Cadillac
Mountain.”
    “Beautiful.”
    I
leaned into him, and spoke so only he could hear.   “And there’s the beach you took me
on.   Do you remember?”
    “As
if I’d forget.”
    “I’m
assuming that won’t be happening on this trip.”
    “I
told you that I can bear the shrinkage,” he said.   “Even in Iceland, which was one of your
challenges, if I remember correctly.”
    I
looked at him as everyone got out of the SUVs, and said, “I remember, but
there’s no longer any need for you to prove it to me.   It’s about twenty degrees right now, and
it’s only noon.   There will be zero
sex on the beach.   If we attempted
that, it would be more like flu symptoms began on the beach.”
    “I
still could do it.”
    “Well,
I couldn’t, Iron Man.   That said,
I’ll happily be waiting for you in bed tonight.   You know—with a fire roasting just
at the foot of the bed.”
    “I’ll
warn you now.   With that fire,
you’re going to get all sweaty.”
    “Which
is why we have our own bathroom, complete with tub and shower.”
    “Maybe
I’ll also take you there.”
    “This
isn’t Club Med.   It’s Club
Christmas.”
    “Just
try to keep my hands off you.”
    I
wrapped my arm around the low of his waist, and pulled him toward me while
everyone looked at the house, at the snow, at the ocean, and smelled the clean
air with satisfied sighs.
    “Lisa
is the only one who wore sensible shoes,” I said.   “At least when it comes to the
women.   Tank is wearing boots.   What are you wearing?   I haven’t even looked.”
    “Same
boots as Tank.   He bought them for
me.”
    “He’s
a good friend.   Those boots are
construction grade.   And they’re
kind of a turn on.   Maybe we’ll take
it to the beach after all.”
    “Don’t
make any promises you can’t keep.”
    “Or
maybe you can wear them later tonight.   You know—in the bedroom.”
    “I
can play that part.”   He lifted his
chin.   “Look at Blackwell.”
    “Poor
thing.   It’s as if she’s on the
moon.   I better help her and the
girls walk safely.   None of them is
dressed for this.”
    I
walked toward them.   “Ladies,” I
said.   “This way.   Watch your step.   Go on the path.   A large swath has been cleared for us,
and by the looks of it, it’s been salted, so you’ll be fine.”
    “What
kind of hell is this?” Blackwell said as she picked her way toward the
house.   “Look at it—it’s unfit
for human life.   Certainly they’ll
uncover bodies in the spring.”
    “The
salt is going to ruin my shoes,” Daniella said.
    “Think
of it as an adventure,” I said.
    “An
adventure that will ruin my