“She’s a surgeon. Hospital emergency rooms are crazy, man. You know that. And Cass mentioned that her career is her life.”

Yeah, and he’d thought he was okay with coming second. Now, he wasn’t sure if there was even a second spot on Erika’s priority list. “I get that she’s busy, but I think she just doesn’t know how to balance work and life. She was so different when she was here.”

“Everyone’s different on vacation. She had no other choice but to relax. Is she coming back for Christmas?”

“She said she would try...”

“Hey, guys, when Reed’s done sulking we have a full bar out here.” Kelsey, their holiday hire, stuck her head in through the office door, her bright red hair falling into her eyes.

“Has anyone told you yet that you match the Christmas decorations?” Reed mumbled.

She gave him the finger. “And you’ve been playing the part of in-house Grinch perfectly.”

That was true, but he couldn’t shake his bad mood. Not having a girlfriend over the holidays used to be a blessing—he hadn’t had to spend his tips on expensive presents—but now he was feeling the void with all the celebrating every night at the bar. His sister and friends used to be enough. Now there was only one person he longed to spend Christmas with.

“Seriously, guys, we can’t keep up out here,” Kelsey said, leaving the door open as she walked away.

“We’re coming,” Tank called after her. Turning to Reed, he said, “So, Christmas? Is she coming back or not?”

“We had planned on it, but honestly I’m not sure.” Reed jammed the darts into the board.

Tank tapped his shoulder as they left the office. “I hate to be the one to say this, but I don’t think this is going to end the way you want it to.”

“Yeah.” Tank was cynical about love and relationships, so Reed hesitated to take the words too much to heart. He couldn’t give up on her yet. He’d told his mother that Erika was worth fighting for and he just needed to fight harder.

He’d talk to Cassie. She knew Erika the best and she was the most optimistic person he knew.

“Thanks for the chat, man,” Reed said, returning to his post.

He just needed to block out the holiday music, the tacky decorations and the sickeningly-in-love couple in the booth across from him and do his job.

* * *

CLIMBING THE STAIRS to Cassie’s condo hours later, he saw her lights still on, so he let himself in. “Hey, you still awake?” he asked, seeing her lying on the couch.

Their mom had left earlier that day and Diva was asleep in her food dish in the corner.

Cassie sat up and waved him in. “Yeah... Just going over Christmas bonuses.”