12 Dates of Christmas

Chapter 29 - Jennie

I wake up to the smell of pancakes. I know for a fact it isn't Elena because she's still furious with me.

I go down the stairs and am surprised to see Milo. I watch him for a moment, noticing how his hair goes down over his forehead. I notice how he always bites his lower lip when concentrating. How his eyes narrow as he completes the simple task of flipping the pancakes.

"If you're done checking me out," he says after a while, "there's syrup in the fridge."

I smile. "It's not every day someone sneaks in to make pancakes."

"Well, it's the eve of Christmas Eve Eve. I had to do something." He saw the confused look on my face and laughs. "Three days until Christmas. I decided to be nice and give you your present today."

"Pancakes?" I ask, handing him a plate.

He nods. "That..." he reaches into his pocket. "And this."

He pulls out a small box. "I wasn't going to give you this until the two weeks were up. But I had to tell you something."

I wait for him to continue, not making any move to open this box.

"I'm not going to be here when the two week are up," he says quietly.

I look at him. "What?"

He shrugs. "I realized you'd much rather go out with these strangers than see what's right in front of you - what has been right in front of you for all these years. You have two dates left. Year after year, I watched you date all these guys and be disappointed when it doesn't work out. I don't want to be here when these two don't work out. I don't want to see the same look I've been seeing on your face when they break your heart."

I shake my head. "Milo, what are you talking about?"

He doesn't look me in the eyes. "I'm taking up this job in California. I'm moving, Jennie."

Anger boils inside of me. "Please tell me this is some kind of practical joke. You can't move."

He looks at me. "I wasn't going to take up the job offer after you kissed me. I thought maybe things were starting to change. But then you'd go back to saying you wanted things to back to how they were and that hurt. Jennie, I can't stand seeing you do this anymore. Go out, get hurt, and expect me to be there to fix everything. I'm moving in two days."

"Just like that? You're leaving?"

He nods slowly. "I'm sorry. I know you will never understand why I'm doing this. But I do hope you can forgive me."

"No," I say harshly. "I won't forgive you. You know why? Because you're a liar. And you're just like all these guys I've been going out with. You don't really like me, or love me, or whatever. You leave the first chance you get. And I'll let you know now that you're making a huge mistake. But I can't promise I'll be here waiting for you when you finally figure that out."

He doesn't say anything and I know there's absolutely nothing I can do to make him stay.

I take that as an opportunity to leave. I don't bother taking his "present" with me.

I want nothing he gives me.

After Milo left - only minutes after I had gone upstairs - I started getting ready for my date.

Honestly, I'm not even in the mood for this. It's just another date that won't even work.

I'm tired of obsessing over guys and crying over them.