Stranded with my Best Friend for the Holidays: Stranded for the Holidays, #3

By Kaylee Monroe

What could be more romantic than New Year's in New York City with the man of my dreams?

We'd see the sights and experience the city together. And on New Year's Eve, we'd be front and center in Times Square when the ball dropped for that all important kiss to bring in the new year.

Except the guy I'd planned on taking broke up with me weeks before the trip.

Cue my best friend, Kylan—who I'd always had a major crush on, though we'd never crossed the line beyond flirting. He was more than happy to join me, and I figured together we could make the best of it and at least have fun together.

But neither one of us could have anticipated being stranded in a hotel in New York City, right before New Year's Eve, due to an unexpected snowstorm. And little did I know that 'making the best of it' would mean both of us admitting to our years long attraction to one another, along with a hot kiss we both swore was just meant to see if we had "chemistry" but turned into steamy sexy times that ruined me for any other guy.

Now, I'm looking forward to the new year with a new man, until we return home and I'm blindsided by a woman claiming to be his girlfriend . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kaylee Monroe
• Release date: Aug 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223039174

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Sierra

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What do you think? I asked as I strolled into my sister’s bedroom with a flourish.

Zoey was sitting at her vanity, applying black eyeliner, but she turned to look at me. A smile spread across her face as amusement lit up her eyes.

Wow. That is quite a sweater dress.

"An ugly sweater dress, I corrected her. It’s a Christmas tradition to wear the most hideous sweater you can find."

In this case, I had found a great one. It was green with red and white pom poms on the front as well as gaudy silver garland. Paired with black leggings and a pair of knee-high boots, it was cozy and fun to look at.

Well, I think you’ll get plenty of attention in that thing, Zoey said, standing.

My eyes widened as I took in what she was wearing. The dress was red and skintight, the scooped neckline showing off a lot of cleavage. She had paired it with black tights and pointed stiletto heels.

Uh, no. I think all the attention will go to you. Are you hoping to meet a man tonight? Because it’s just the Mallery family’s annual Christmas Eve party. I doubt there are going to be a lot of hot single guys your age there.

I know that, but I’m going to another party later, and I’m hoping to impress a guy I’ve been flirting with at the bar for a while.

Well, I guess this is a way to do it, I said, arching an eyebrow.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, Zoey said as she turned back toward the vanity and grabbed some red lipstick. We don’t all have hot boyfriends, Sierra.

I dropped my eyes to the floor and let out a sigh. Hearing it, Zoey turned back around and came toward me.

What’s wrong? she asked.

Nothing, really. I shrugged and sat down on the bed. It’s just that Jared and I aren’t…we broke up.

My sister gasped in surprise. Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Did you dump him or…

He broke things off last week.

Last week? Zoey repeated, frowning. How could you not mention that your nearly year-long relationship ended before now? We should have spent the last week eating pints of ice cream and cursing all men. Then she paused, her lips pursing. You know, I never liked that guy anyway. He was good-looking, but I caught him staring at me a couple of times. What a creep.

I gave her a small smile as she came to the end of her rant. Honestly, I was upset for about a day, but I quickly realized that it was probably for the best. We’d grown apart lately. I think I just didn’t see it at first because it was the longest relationship that I’d ever been in. So I felt like the change in my feelings toward him was just normal, long-term relationship stuff. I honestly don’t even miss him. I’m more upset about the trip than anything else.

Trip? she echoed.

The New Year’s Eve trip I planned for us, I reminded her. We were supposed to go to New York City together.

"Oh, right. The dream trip."

It really is. I’ve always wanted to go to Times Square for New Year’s, and this was my big chance and taking Jared was the perfect plan. We were going to kiss when the ball dropped.

How romantic, Zoey drawled.

Yeah, but there’s more. I smoothed my hand down my sweater dress. I had everything planned out. Reservations at a fancy restaurant, sightseeing I wanted to do, and the hotel already booked and paid for. I got a deal with a no cancellation policy on the hotel, so I’m going to lose a ton of money on it and the flight, which it’s also too late to cancel.

It wasn’t as if I made a lot of money in the first place. I was one of the many underpaid teachers in the world. It was part of the reason I still lived with my parents. I was paying off my student loans with my meager wages before trying to find my own place. And as a fifth grade teacher, I dealt with a lot of bad attitudes every day. I deserved a good vacation, even if it was just a couple of days.

Why don’t you just go alone? Zoey suggested.

I thought about it, but I’m too intimidated to go to a big city like that alone. Then an idea came to mind. Hey, what if you came with me! We could have so much fun together.

Zoey propped her hands on her curvy hips and shook her head. I wish I could, but I have to work. New Year’s Eve is one of our busiest nights of the year.

That made sense. Zoey was a bartender, so there was no way she could leave town on New Year’s Eve.

Why don’t you ask Kylan? Zoey suggested.

I don’t know… I bit my bottom lip, thinking about it.

Kylan was my best guy friend, and I was sure we’d have a blast together exploring the city, but I was hesitant. The hotel room had one king-sized bed, which meant we’d be sharing unless one of us wanted to sleep on the couch.

Sharing that bed with my sister wouldn’t have been a big deal, but my male best friend? That could get awkward, and not just because I’d always had a bit of a thing for him. Our friendship was too solid for me to ever do more than harmlessly flirt with the man, but what if we woke up wrapped in each other’s arms or something equally unexpected? I wasn’t sure that I could hide my attraction to him if that happened.

Still, inviting him could be my best option. I didn’t want to lose thousands of dollars with nothing to show for it if I didn’t go.

Girls, are you ready? our mother called out from the living room. The party started a half an hour ago.

And we have a long commute, Dad added.

I chuckled a little when Zoey rolled her eyes at his dad joke. The Mallerys were our next door neighbors, so the party couldn’t have been closer unless we were throwing it ourselves.

We’re coming, I replied while Zoey checked her reflection one more time.

We all bundled up in coats for the short walk from one house to the other. Cincinnati was usually cold in the wintertime, and this year was no exception. We hadn’t seen any snow yet, but once the sun went down in the evening, it had been getting bitterly cold. Frost coated the blades of grass every morning and our car windshields fogged up if they weren’t heated up in advance.

The four of us were carrying gifts for a secret Santa gift exchange. The Mallerys assigned the secret Santa names each year by pulling names out of a bag, but the game was somehow rigged because Kylan always made sure we got each other’s names. He always said that I was the easiest person to shop for because he knew me so well. I felt the same way.

There was a limit of twenty dollars on the gifts, so I had to get creative with my present for him. It took some searching around several stores, but I eventually found something. The wrapped gift I was carrying was heavy because it was a set of four coffee mugs with the theme of his favorite TV show, The Office. Each mug had a cartoon version of one of the main characters of the show and a funny quote they’d said on an episode.

It was silly and fun and I knew he’d love it. He’d watched every season of the show more than once and was known to quote lines from it on a regular basis. He was also addicted to his morning coffee.

I’d knocked this one out of the park.

The Mallerys always decorated their house outside and inside for the holidays, so as the four of us made our way up the front walk, we passed a blow up Santa sleigh and eight reindeer on the grass. The colorful Christmas lights strung along the edges of the porch washed over us and the biggest wreath I’d ever seen was hanging on the front door. I could see the big Christmas tree through the window and people moving around the living room with red solo cups in their hands.

Kylan answered the door when we rang the bell, and I immediately knew he’d been drinking for a while and was feeling tipsy. His smile was huge, bringing out the dimple in his left cheek, and his face slightly flushed. Still, he was incredibly handsome with his short black hair and uniquely pale green eyes.

The Davises! he announced jovially. Did you have trouble finding the place? Is that why you’re late?

My Dad laughed loudly at that, patting Kylan on the shoulder as he walked by. My mom and Zoey followed after saying their hellos. I was the last one through the door, and I shook my head at him.

Did you come up with that just to make my dad laugh? I asked.

Of course, he said, helping me out of my coat. "I love that he’s into those cheesy jokes. I’m going to be that kind of dad