This Christmas

This year, if Hadley wrote her dream Christmas list it would go something like this:

1. Spend every waking – and sleeping – moment with her incredibly gorgeous boyfriend, Will.

2. Figure out what’s been bugging him lately. Yes, going away to college has been tough… but it’s time they reconnected.

3. Enjoy a sparkling Christmas in New York City, gazing at the Rockefeller tree, going ice skating, and drinking steaming mugs of cocoa in Central Park.

So driving off to spend Christmas in a rustic cabin in the woods wasn’t exactly the plan. But when it comes to her irresistible and at times impossible boyfriend, nothing’s ever that simple. And as fantasies of an icy Times Square are replaced by a clumsily-decorated tree, making snowmen and the warmth of a log fire, Hadley feels herself falling in love all over again.

Except does Will have something to tell her that could change Hadley’s happily-ever-after Christmas dreams into a not-so-winter wonderland after all?

This Christmas

Katlyn Duncan

www.CarinaUK.com

Praise for KATLYN DUNCAN

‘The epitome of a summertime read.’ Rather Be Reading on This Summer

‘Fans of sweet romances and light reads will flock to cheer on Hadley and Will’s romance blossom.’ Pretty Little Pages on This Summer

‘I definitely recommend This Summer if you are looking for a great romance but that’s not completely light and fuzzy. The writing is fantastic and the romance PERFECT <3’ Lose Time Reading

‘I really loved this book from the beginning to the very end. It was a book that you couldn’t put down because you wanted to see if this couple would ever get together and fall in love.’ 4.5 stars from Once Upon a Twilight on This Summer

‘This Summer really reminded me of Colleen Hoover’s Hopeless that I loved and even though it wasn’t as intense, the writing itself was incredible.’ Spiced Latte Reads

‘This Summer was a sweet best-friends romance with a large dose of drama. It is an ideal summer read.’ Rampant Readers

‘Katlyn Duncan’s YA debut, Soul Taken, is a thrilling ride that will leave you breathless for the next page, and curious to find the true soul we nurture within.’ Jennifer Murgia, author of the Angel Star series and Between These Lines

‘Wow! Talk about a completely unique concept with tons of new ideas, roles, and characters that took me on an exhilarating adventure.’ 4.5 stars from I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews on Soul Taken

‘Soul Taken is a BRILLIANT read! …This is one of those books to look out for.’ 5 stars from A Diary of a Book Addict

Also by Katlyn Duncan

This Summer

The Life After Trilogy:

Soul Taken

Soul Possessed

Soul Betrayed

Contents

Cover

Blurb

Title Page

Praise

Book List

Author Bio

Four Days Until Christmas

Three Days Until Christmas

Two Days Until Christmas

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Extract

Endpages

Copyright

Katlyn Duncan has been reading and writing since before she can remember; her earliest memories involve dragging her mom to the store to get the latest Goosebumps book. She earned two science degrees and currently works in the medical field. She spends her free time writing, reading, and renovating her Victorian “fixer upper” in southern New England with her husband.

Four Days Until Christmas

I’m still riding my end-of-final-exams high when I reach Will’s doorstep. I pull out the spare key Will gave me after he signed the lease to his apartment days after he made the decision to come with me to Manhattan while I attended NYU, and it would only be a few more weeks until he started college for himself. The familiar twinge I’ve been ignoring the past few months pinches at my chest and I do my best to disregard it.

I open the door slowly, unsure if Will’s roommate and co-worker, Nathaniel, is in the nude again. Seeing him twice was enough for me. But the living room is dark with no sign of life. I close the door behind me and allow my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Nathaniel insisted on keeping the place like a cave with black curtains. On those rare Sunday mornings when I woke up in Will’s apartment, I could see the appeal. There was enough noise coming from outside the window; at least there was little light so we could pretend we didn’t sleep the day away.

I could navigate this place in the dark but, in an apartment with two boys, there were always booby traps on the floor. And I don’t feel like tripping over anything or waking up the grumpy downstairs neighbors. A pile of blankets is strewn across the couch, but I can’t make out a body underneath it.

“Nathaniel?” I whisper, but the pile of blankets doesn’t move. I’m inches away and poke at it with my finger, realizing it’s only blankets with no body underneath. He was probably watching TV—reality shows are his thing—and shuffled off to bed after the late shift.

A light from the galley kitchen around the corner catches my attention. Someone is in there. I hear the distinct pop of the milk jug cap. I smile to myself. Another thing I’ve learned about Will since we’ve been together is his love for milk at random points in the night, right out of the carton.

I slip past the couch and silently drop my purse on the coffee table, avoiding bowls and plates with various food cemented to them. I slowly tiptoe towards the kitchen. I imagine surprising my hopefully shirtless tousle-haired boyfriend who I haven’t properly seen in two weeks other than the random video chat in between studying for finals. That twinge pokes harder at me. Don’t kid yourself Hadley, it’s been longer than two weeks.

When I enter the kitchen, I don’t see the man I love shirtless. Instead I see the curve of lace black panties barely hidden under Will’s button-down work dress shirt. The girl stands up from the refrigerator and pulls out a milk carton with Will’s name written in permanent marker. Her long black hair slides over her shoulder, revealing her profile. Any other person could assume she must be here for Nathaniel, but his predilection for men suggests otherwise.

My mouth drops open as the seconds drag on. I have no words, but millions of thoughts swirl through my mind. Horrible thoughts. Will and this chick naked thoughts. I came here to surprise Will. Maybe he thought I was still in my finals and didn’t bother hiding his side-piece? I envision our entire relationship flushing down the proverbial toilet as this girl takes my place. The place of a girlfriend who hasn’t had time for her boyfriend for much of the past four months.

She closes the door and turns around. We’re shrouded in darkness again and I blink a few times to readjust my eyes. She flies back against the refrigerator, knocking a few magnets to the ground.

“Holy shit!” Her hand covers her mouth and she reaches for the light switch under the cabinets. If at all possible, seeing her in full light flares the jealousy that burns inside my chest. How can she be even more attractive in the horrible green-tinged light above the sink? My cheeks burn.

“You scared the shit out of me, Hadley.”

My name on her lips strikes me and I come out with the lamest response. “How do you know my name?”

A slow smile spreads across her face. “Will’s told me all about you.”

His name sends waves of adrenaline through me. I can’t look at this girl. Without another word I spin on my heel and march towards his room. I’ve had enough of her face, I need to hear it from the horse’s mouth. The cheating horse’s mouth. Heat pricks at the back of my eyes but I turn the handle of his door and push it open. It slams off the wall, but all I can focus on is his wide-eyed stare. His chest is bare but I ignore the adorable tousled bedhead I hoped to see a minute ago as he finishes pulling up his boxers.

“Hadley?”

My voice has returned. “Who is she?”

Will’s gaze flicks over my shoulder. I can feel the girl there but I don’t turn around. My breathing is ragged with each passing silent second. But he does something I don’t expect.

He laughs.

Laughs!

“What’s so funny?” I ask, my voice finally betraying the jumble of emotions flooding me.

“Hadley,” he says shaking his head. “Becky is my sister. Stepsister.”

I balk. “You’re sleeping with your step sister?”

Becky snorts from the other room.

This time I turn around. I only see her legs resting over the side of the couch.

I turn back around and Will is in front of me, grinning. “I am not sleeping with my stepsister. She’s been staying over. On the couch,” he adds the last part quickly.

This is the first time I’ve heard of her existence. My leftover rage has my hands shaking. I clasp them together. “Since when do you have a stepsister?”

“That’s my fault,” Becky offers.

I turn around to face her.

She flicks on the lamp on the side table. “I had a different idea of meeting the infamous Hadley Beauman that Will hardly stops talking about.” She winks at him then continues. “But my idiot boyfriend broke up with me last week and locked me out of the apartment. I needed a place to crash.”

I narrow my eyes at Will. He leans against the door frame, massaging the back of his neck. He’s uncomfortable.

At least it’s not just me.

I glance at Becky. “Excuse us for a minute.”

I brush past Will, entering his room. He closes the door.

I turn the light on, not wanting any more surprises. “She’s been here for a week and you didn’t tell me?” I try to steady my voice, but it cracks. Ever since Will came back to our hometown after his two year disappearance from my life, he held secrets from me. But I thought that was over when we made it official and moved to a new city together.

Will leans his back against the dresser, meeting my eyes. “We haven’t seen each other in two weeks. You were distracted with finals. She’s been here for me…”

She’s been here for him since I wasn’t. “Will, I can’t just give up on school to hang out with you. That might have worked a few months ago, but I really want to do well.”

He crosses the room and fixes his gorgeous hazel eyes on me. I fight to keep my stern expression even though I want to melt into his arms. His warm hands wrap around my wrists and he pulls me closer to him, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “I understand that. But Becky wanted to meet you properly. She wanted to wine and dine you.” He smirks. “Well, she wanted me to wine and dine the both of you.”

He cracks my facade and I drop my head, resting my cheek against his bare chest. His arms wrap around me and I inhale. He smells like soap. One thing he never forgets is to shower after a shift at the restaurant.

“I’m so stupid,” I say against his chest. I don’t really know how to tell him about my insecurities over our relationship for the past month. I have my own life and he never complained, so I have no right to go off on him like I did. Especially over his family.

“You’re not stupid,” he says, his chest vibrating against my cheek. “A little crazy, maybe. But not stupid.”

I chuck him lightly on the arm and lean my head back. I stand on my tip toes and press my lips against his grin.

“School’s over,” I say, a little breathless after kissing him. I didn’t realize how much I missed him. “And you promised we’d see the tree.”

He bites his lower lip. “Again?”

Little did he know I made daily side-trips from class just to see the amazing spectacle at Rockefeller.

“At night,” I protest. “When you can actually see how pretty it is.”

I feel his hesitation and want to ask him why, but he let’s go of me and starts to rifle through his dresser. He pulls out a shirt and lifts it over his head, hiding his amazing chest. He opens the bedroom door and leaves me standing in his room by myself.

Lately I’ve been getting the sense that we’re moving backwards in our relationship. I hardly thought bringing it up in front of Becky was the time to deal with it. I have three weeks off from school and I don’t intend to waste them.

I leave the room and hear Will moving around the kitchen. Becky is sitting up on the couch now, watching TV, but the walls are thin. She probably heard everything.

I sit on the arm of the couch. “It’s nice to meet you,” I say awkwardly.

Her legs are covered by a blanket and propped on the coffee table. She grins up at me. “Sorry about the secrecy.” She pats the cushion next to her and I slide into the indicated spot. “I don’t have many girl friends. I wanted to impress you.” She laughs to herself but quickly sobers. “I hope I didn’t cause an argument,” she says in a low voice.

I glance at the kitchen where Will is pulling ingredients and pans out to make breakfast. Ever since he started working at the restaurant he picked up a few tricks. I hope he’s making the same buttermilk pancakes he made the last time I stayed over.

I shake my head and face the television. “It’s nothing.” Nothing but the same old silent argument we’ve been having. Probably the same reason I jumped to conclusions about Becky’s presence in the apartment.

She nudges me in the arm. “Will’s nuts about you.” She flicks her eyes in the direction of the kitchen then back to me. “I think I might have an idea.” She rifles through the blankets, looking for something. I attempt to help her as she frantically pulls all the blankets away. I scoot over as she releases a quilt from under me. Her hands disappear between the cushions and she comes up empty handed.

“Can I help you?” I ask just as she finds her phone and brandishes it between us.

She unlocks the screen and her finger moves like lightning over the smooth surface. She smiles broadly and shows me the screen. I take the phone and pinch the photo to get a closer look at the picturesque rustic cabin staring back at me. It’s surrounded by at least a foot of snow, making it look like a Christmas paradise.

“My grandfather built it and we used to spend winter and summer vacations there.” Her voice is nostalgic, but regret weaves its way through her words. “It’s the perfect place for a Christmas getaway. You and Will should go.”

I look up from the screen into her big brown eyes.

“Are you serious?”

She shrugs. “Mom—Will’s mom always hated it up there. And I haven’t been since my dad got sick.” She smiles sadly, twisting her fingers in her hair.

I reach out my hand to her, wanting to comfort her in any way. But I stop myself. I have no idea what it’s like to lose a parent and I barely know her. My hand drops to the couch. “You should come with us.”

She furrows her brow as if I suggested she rent an apartment on the moon. “You two need it more than I do.”

I think of all the plans I had for Christmas in the City… but maybe, without distractions, Will and I will have the chance to reconnect.

Will enters the living room with two cups of coffee, handing one to each of us. “Getting to know each other?”

Becky widens her eyes as if I’m the one who offered the cabin. She’s making this my decision.

“Um, Will,” I start weakly. “Becky said we can use her dad’s cabin for Christmas. As a little getaway. For me and you.” Why am I so nervous? He’s my boyfriend. I feel like I’m asking someone I barely know to prom. Wisps of insecurities bubble up in my stomach, making it churn. But along with reconnecting, what more perfect place for Christmas than a charming cabin? We won’t have to deal with Nathaniel or my roommate, who decided to stay at school for break. We could go for at least a week. Set our relationship back on track before heading into a more hectic semester with Will’s impending work and new school schedule.

Will cuts his eyes to me. “Is this what you want?”

I nod, the gears starting to work in my head. Rustic environment, snuggling by the fire, a live Christmas tree. It will be perfect. “Yes.” It’s just what we need.

Will cracks a grin and leans over, pressing a kiss to my head. “I did take next week off work. So we should be good to go.”

Becky claps her hands with glee and I can’t stop smiling.

This Christmas is going to be perfect.

***

I leave Will’s apartment after a few hours of hanging out with him and Becky. Will has one last shift before our mini vacation which leaves me plenty of time to pack.

I receive a text from Mom as I’m about to leave. Packages just arrived. Merry Christmas!

My parents and Ethan were enjoying two weeks in Florida with my aunt and uncle. With finals, I wasn’t able to make it. I wasn’t too upset, anticipating time with Will, but it would be my first Christmas without my parents. At least we’d see each other before I went back to school

My heart soars. I’d planned on getting a small tree with Will for his apartment, but with the change in plans we’d be able to have a big live tree with colorful presents underneath.

I text Will. Make sure you don’t unwrap presents from your family. Mom just sent mine over. We should wait until Christmas morning!

With a little more skip in my step I divert my route to the shipping center closest to Rockefeller, which I told Mom to send the gifts to. Another excuse to visit the tree!

I’m bursting with excitement and Lily’s face pops into my mind. I call my best friend and she picks up on the first ring.

“Are you done with finals?” she asks.

Between my grin and the temperature outside, my cheeks burn. “Yup.”

“Oh finally,” she breathes with relief. Her voice offers me the same relief. I can’t help but miss her. Even though we spend a majority of our days texting, I haven’t been as attentive since I was studying. “You do well?”

“I think so. But that’s not why I called.”

“What do you want?” she barks, but her voice is muffled.

I roll my eyes. “Are you at work?”

Something brushes over the microphone.

“Do you want me to call you back?” I ask.

“No,” she says. “It’s fine. Marcus is on his tenth break since he got here two hours ago. It’s only fair.”

I smile. Only Lily could see that as fair. And it helps that her boss, Marcus, has a huge crush on her. “Okay.” I explain to her about the cabin and between squeals of delight that make my ears ring—I can’t imagine what it does to the customers around her—my heart races with anticipation.

“It’s a good plan right?” I ask.

“It’s just what you need. During the summer it was easy working together at the camp and living next door. But you two have overcome a really rough couple of months in your relationship. Which is great. The couples I see around here break up all the time just because they don’t see each other for one day.” Someone yells something indistinct in the background but she carries on. “You do need time apart. But passing up this time alone together would be relationship suicide.”

I turn the corner and see the tree, admiring its splendor from a distance. “When did you get so wise?”

“I’m a natural observer. And somewhat of a male guru.”

I laugh.

“Make sure you give him loads of attention though. You know, the sexy kind.”

And there’s the Lily I know and love, but sometimes a little over the top. I look around me, my cheeks flushing as if someone had heard her. “Alright. Get back to work.”

“Text me with details!” she cries before I hang up.

Three Days Until Christmas

“And you carried these to your dorm yesterday?” Will asks, shoving the third box of presents into the elevator while I hold the door.

I smile sheepishly. “I had to make two trips. But I’m thinking of sending the taxi bill to Mom.”

Mom went a little over the top with the gifts this year, or maybe I never noticed before since I wasn’t the one carrying them to put under the tree from whatever hiding spot Mom and Dad chose each year.

Will stacks the last box and I tug my rolling suitcase behind me, allowing the doors to close behind us. His elbow rests on the top box and he stares up at the descending numbers at the top of the doors.

A yawn overcomes me and I struggle to keep it under my hand. Will glances at me.

“You can sleep on the drive up if you want. I thought we should hit the road sooner rather than later.”

I nod. I wanted to get an early start on our vacation as well.

The lobby of my apartment building is empty, so I don’t worry about holding up the elevator again. Will stacks the packages outside the elevator and I guard them while he makes the two trips out to the truck. I don’t feel as bad when he struggles as much as I did. It’s not like I asked Mom to send me all the gifts. I do feel a little guilty when I think of us dragging everything back when we come home, but that’s the fun of Christmas. Besides, what’s Christmas without presents under the tree?

I follow Will out of the building to his truck. He lifts the last two boxes into the bed and spreads them next to the others. I attempt to lift my suitcase but Will grabs it before I topple over.

“We’re only going for five days,” Will says.

“It’s cold,” I say and stick my tongue out at him. I find his backpack in the bed, but nothing else. “I told you to bring your gifts for the tree.”

He clears his throat and pulls me alongside him toward the passenger side of the truck. His eyes are on the oncoming traffic. “Mabel sent me a stocking.” He opens my door and I awkwardly climb in.

He gets into the car a few seconds later.

“That’s it?”

He puts on the directional and checks the street. “Yes, that’s it.”

I sit back in my seat. “Did your mom get you anything?”

He half-shrugs as he pulls out into the street. “No, Hadley. Can you start the directions on my phone?”

Heat prickles along my neck as I copy the address from Becky’s text to the navigation app on his phone. Here I am with four boxes of gifts and Will has barely anything. Well, besides the complete DVD box set of our favorite show, Judge & Jury, that I bought him. It seemed stupid now that he barely has anything else to open on Christmas morning.

I note the end of the conversation when he opens his hand for the phone. I give it to him and he hooks it into the stand suctioned to his dash. His eyes dart between the road and his phone before hard rock music blares through the speakers.

I don’t push the subject, but the uncomfortable prickle of embarrassment lingers on the surface of my skin.

I settle into my seat for a long three hour drive.

***

Will’s knuckles whiten over the steering wheel. “We should have left sooner.”

I look up from my e-reader, nearly done with the newest book in my favorite paranormal series. We’ve been at a slow crawl for the past hour and are barely out of the City.

He massages the back of his neck while his eyes narrow at the other cars.