Twelve years ago, I told you that I was in love with you. And twelve years later, I’m afraid that’s still true.

I’ve been in love with you through deployments and grad school and career pivots, and the thing is…. it’s time for me to stop. So this will be my last Christmas Card.

Josh blinked. What? No….no!

What did she mean it was time for her to stop?

As if in answer to his question, the card continued with….

There are things I should do. Things I need to do. I must let go of this one-sided love and pursue the kind of relationship that happens in real life and leads to marriage and children.

I’m in my thirties now. If I want those things, I have to stop dreaming and start real-lifeing.

So good news! This will be my last creepy Christmas card. Next year, I’ll start doing normal things like dating, and maybe I’ll find a long-term partner I don’t compare to you.

I hope you find love too. And, of course, a cup of hot chocolate. That always makes the holidays better.

Warm wishes,

Me

No. No…

He’d never met her, but the idea of her moving on to a new guy burned inside of his ice. He couldn’t bear the thought of someone else touching her the way he’d wanted to touch her—for twelve years. Twelve goddamn years!

Josh read and re-read the last Christmas card just like he had the first one.

But nothing changed. She’d dumped him. She’d dumped him without ever telling him who the hell she was…. or realizing that he wanted those things too.

With her.

Sight unseen—as crazy as that was.

He’d been let go by so many women over the past twelve years and had watched them walk away without a care. But this…

“Congressman Grant! What happened to your hand?” Vickie screeched when he returned to their office suite with a handkerchief wrapped around his knuckles.

“Cancel the rest of my appointments for the day,” he bit out before leaving without a word of explanation to his staff.

There was no explaining what had made him punch the House building’s stone wall—or the misery that sent him home to nurse his wounds with whiskey.

But, little did Josh know, he’d have reason to rejoice in less than twelve months from this terrible day.

That year he lost his secret admirer. However, the very next year, he would meet her in real life.

And she’d be nothing short of perfect for him.

Chapter Three

12 Days Before This Christmas

Neisha