Free Waiting for Midnight by Samantha Chase Page B

He’d shed his jacket and he placed his mug on the coffee table.  “So what did Santa bring you?”
    She chuckled at the ridiculous question.  “I got a wonderful craft book,” she said and pointed to the box. 
    “And what else?”
    She shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I haven’t opened anything else.”
    His eyes went wide.  “Seriously?  Look at all those gifts!  How could you not tear through them?”
    “It’s too early!” she laughed.  “I felt guilty even opening the one!”
    “Maddie, it’s what you do on Christmas – no matter what the time.  You open gifts!”  He reached over and pulled another box out from under the tree and handed it to her.  “Come on.  Open it.”
    As much as Maddie loved having him sitting beside her, she forced herself to remember that he was the reason she was so miserable.  Taking the gift from his hands, she placed it on the coffee table.  “Thanks but…I’ll wait until later to open the rest,” she said quietly and reached for her coffee.  The mug was barely to her lips when Noah gently took it from her.
    “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice soft.
    It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him what exactly he was sorry for, but it was too early in the morning for such a conversation.  So all she said was, “Okay.”
    Noah’s shoulders sagged slightly.  “I’ve missed you, Maddie.  A lot.”
    She had to stop him – had to make him not say anything else.  “It’s really too early for all of this, Noah.  I appreciate you making the porch look festive and everything but…I can’t do this with you.  Not now.  Not anymore.  Please.”  She went to reach for her mug again, but Noah’s hand on hers stopped her.
    “I was wrong,” he said quickly, before Maddie could stop him.  “I…I didn’t know what to make of what was happening between us and I panicked.  I know I hurt you and that just about kills me.  You didn’t deserve that.”  He shook his head and held her hand a little tighter.  “I’m in love with you, Maddie.”
    With a snort of disbelief, she pulled her hand away and stood up.  “Unbelievable,” she murmured as she turned away and began to pace.  “Look, I get it Noah.  I do.  Holidays are hard for some people.  It’s not necessary for you to come here and claim you’re in love with me.  If you’re lonely, I’m sorry.  But you know what?  I’m lonely too.  Do you have any idea how hard it is to be upbeat all the damn time?  I try; I really do and let me tell you, it’s exhausting.  It takes a lot of effort for me to get up and be happy and put a smile on my face at this time of year, because inside I’m dying.  I look around and I see everyone surrounded by their families and I’ve never had that!  So I rely on the kindness of my friends who graciously open their homes and their arms to me during the holidays and normally I pride myself on being willing to do the same.  But I can’t this time.  Not with you.”
    She mentally cursed when tears blurred her vision.  Turning away, she swiped at them and nearly screamed when she felt Noah’s hands on her shoulders.  Slowly, he turned her around.
    “But you have to,” he said, a small smile playing on his handsome face.
    “Excuse me?” she asked with disbelief, her tears almost instantly drying.
    “You have to,” he repeated. 
    Stepping out of his grasp, Maddie crossed her arms and glared at him.  “Really?  And why is that?”
    “It’s Christmas.  The season of forgiveness.  And besides, I’m begging.  Practically groveling.”  He took a step closer.  “I’ve been miserable without you.  I realized how dark my life was before you.  Then you showed me how good things could be – and I truly believe things could be even better.”
    “Oh, really?”
    He nodded.  “I want a chance to prove to you how good things could be.  Before, I let you do all of the work.  You did nothing but give and I was happy to just take.  I want