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"Didn't you just say you had nothing going on?" Alex looked at Danny, annoyed.
"I just remembered! But don't worry, I'll definitely keep you company tonight!"
"If you, her own brother, don't go, Isabella's going to be disappointed!"
"If I go, she might actually be more unhappy." Danny coughed awkwardly. "I, uh... kind of pissed her off a couple days ago. Better if I sit this one out. Besides, it's just Christmas. She'll be back for New Year's anyway—I'll see her then."
"Alex, I probably can't make it either," Tyler chimed in. "Got something tomorrow night, and then I'm heading out of town the day after. You should just go by yourself. Isabella's closest to you anyway—having you there is more than enough." He said it with a knowing chuckle.
"Are you two serious right now? At the crucial moment, you're both bailing on me? I already told Isabella I'd bring you guys along. You're making me look like a liar!"
"You alone can represent all three of us." Danny clapped him on the shoulder. "Go on. Isabella will be thrilled to see you."
"Exactly. And actually—" Tyler was already pulling out his phone. "I don't think you should even stick around for drinks with us. You should head straight there. There should still be flights to Paris at this hour. Let me check..." He tapped through the search results. "Hey, there actually is one! 10:50 PM departure. It's not even 9:30 yet—you can totally make it to the airport. Flight's only about ten hours, so you'll land right in time for Christmas Eve night. You could surprise her!"
"Yes! That's perfect!" Danny's eyes lit up. "Isabella will lose her mind. Tyler, buy the ticket. Alex, go home and grab your passport—actually, no, don't go home. Just have someone pick it up and bring it straight to the airport. That's faster!"
"Right, right—done. Already bought it."
Before Alex could get another word in, Tyler and Danny had talked him into it, purchased the ticket, and abandoned their dinner plans entirely. The two of them practically shoved him into a car to the airport, then waved him off onto the plane with entirely too-cheerful grins.
Once Alex was gone, Tyler let out a dry laugh. "That big idiot. You know what they say—when someone's gifted in one area, they've gotta have a blind spot somewhere else."
"Tell me about it." Danny shook his head. "He clearly likes my sister, but he never shows it. Isabella's been so obvious about it, and he's still acting clueless—even wanted to drag us along as third wheels. God, it's frustrating."
"Yeah. And Isabella has to be the one making all the moves. Alex is really something." Tyler sighed. "If Isabella actually wanted us there, she would've called you directly."
"Hmm. But then again..." Danny put on a theatrically wounded expression. "Isabella didn't even call me on Christmas Eve. Girls, man. Once they've got a guy they like, they forget all about their brothers."
"Oh, please. You didn't even think to check how your sister was doing alone in a foreign country, and you're blaming her for not calling?"
Danny's face brightened. "But hey—think about it. Alex is gonna be my brother-in-law someday. He'll have to call me 'big brother.' That's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
"Let's go, big brother. Let's go get that drink."
"Ugh. Just the two of us sad, lonely single guys."
"Get out of here—you've got like five girlfriends. You don't get to call yourself single." Tyler and Danny left the airport, bickering and shoving each other as they walked...
In a high-end apartment in Paris, Isabella was curled up on the sofa, hugging her cat, listlessly watching Christmas Eve specials on TV.
Outside, the entire city was steeped in holiday spirit. The streets were draped in colorful lights, crowds flowing endlessly through the cold night air. Bars and clubs overflowed with people celebrating—couples, groups of friends laughing and toasting, the whole city alive with warmth and noise.
But even more than the parties, it was a night for families. People gathering together, staying up through the night, welcoming Christmas morning.
Isabella had been living alone since she arrived. She had a housekeeper who came to cook and clean, but the evenings were always quiet. Usually, she didn't mind. She barely even noticed.
Growing up, Christmas had always just been... fine. An excuse for parties, for stores to run sales. Nothing that stirred any real feeling in her.
But being here, surrounded by all this festive energy, she couldn't help feeling the pull toward home. This was the first time she'd been away this long. She'd be back for New Year's to see her family, but right now, in this moment, she felt genuinely lonely.
Her mom had called earlier. Isabella had kept her voice bright, not wanting to worry her. She felt like growing up meant learning to stand on her own, outside the shelter of her parents.
Still—knowing Alex was coming to see her tomorrow lifted her spirits considerably.
Time for bed.
Isabella yawned and checked her phone. Almost midnight. She switched off the TV and was heading toward her bedroom when her phone suddenly rang.
She glanced at the screen, surprised. Who was calling this late?
It was Alex.
But the caller ID showed a Paris number.
A local number.
Isabella's heart skipped. She wanted to laugh, but what she felt more than anything was pure, bubbling surprise.
She knew. He'd come. He'd flown overnight just to surprise her.
Joy and emotion flooded through her all at once. "Why did you come tonight? Where are you? I'll come find you!"
"I'm downstairs at your building." She could hear the smile in his voice. "Security won't let me up. Otherwise I'd already be at your door."
"I'm coming down right now!"
Isabella rushed for the door—then caught herself. She was still in pajamas. She spun around, dashed back to her room, threw on proper clothes, and paused in front of the mirror.
She'd already taken off her makeup. Completely bare-faced. But her natural features were striking enough that she didn't really need it. She smoothed her long hair back, took a breath, and hurried downstairs.
The building had strict security—no unauthorized visitors allowed in. The elevator carried her down to the gleaming lobby, bright and luxurious, and the moment the doors opened, she spotted him.
Alex stood by the towering Christmas tree, lights twinkling around him, smiling at her. Handsome. Warm. Waiting.
In that instant, everything she'd been holding back—the homesickness, the longing, all of it—came rushing to the surface. She didn't care about appearances, about decorum. She ran straight into his arms and held on tight.
No words. None needed.
Alex froze for a moment. But dense as he could be, even he could feel what she was saying.
Her warmth made his heart pound. Every breath carried the faint, sweet scent of her hair.
He hesitated—then, a little nervously, raised his arms and wrapped them around her too.
"Isabella," he said softly, smiling. "Merry Christmas Eve."
The words had barely left his mouth when the church bells began to chime. He glanced at his phone. Midnight exactly.
"Merry Christmas," he added.
Isabella looked up at him, her smile radiant.
"Merry Christmas."