Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
We’re supposed to go out to dinner tonight. After my lunch time shenanigans earlier today, when I risked my life to kiss her, I asked her to go out to dinner again. I figured she would be in a daze after my excellent kissing prowess and hedged a bet she’d say yes. I was right. She agreed.
The problem with my above average kissing skills is Eve already had plans, which is likely why she said no in the first place.
Hence, why I’m at the community center wrapping presents. If I wanted to see her tonight, I had to do it here. It was a no brainer to spend time with her in her element. It’s moments like this that I’ve missed. It’s the camaraderie of the community we grew up with and always talked about giving back to. Looking around, there are people from each generation working to bring a day of happiness to the children of Deer Ridge.
This is what I lost when I accepted the internship in New York City.
All hope isn’t lost on my date night with Eve, though. She did promise me some hot cocoa later . . .
. . . In her apartment.
The night will be perfect regardless, but a little snowfall would make it a bit more magical.
However, when I said I would help, I didn’t think I’d be part of an assembly line with strict rules: take a name, find the gift, and wrap. Once you’re done, you take the wrapped present to Evangeline who writes the child’s name in some fancy cursive writing.
Rinse and repeat.
Evangeline gave me a choice: wrap presents or decorate, neither of which I’m very good at. But I figured measuring, cutting, and taping, would be much easier than blowing up balloons and attempting to make a balloon arch. The crew doing the balloons are not having an easy go of it and I think if more than one popped in my face, I’d probably cry.
Wrapping means I’m closer to her and have an excuse to talk to her without disrupting her work. This is the perfect choice.
Alma, the famed pastry master of Alma’s Bakery, sits next to me. I’m surprised she’s here, considering she opens the bakery so early. If it were me, I’d be fast asleep. She sees me struggling with the ribbon and offers to help, guiding me on how to tie it efficiently.
“I hated ribbons when I was younger. They always delayed my unwrapping process,” I tell her.
“It’s why we put them on presents. To slow you down. There’s nothing wrong with taking your time and enjoying the process. Makes the outcome much sweeter.”
“For a kid, it’s pure frustration.”
Alma laughs and asks me to loan her my finger. “I remember doing this with my mom. It was after I found out about Santa.”
“How old were you?”
“Twelve,” I tell her. “It was when we didn’t come to this party. My parents sat me down and explained everything. Such a crappy year. The one thing my mom always stressed was to keep believing in the magic of it all. Deer Ridge does a good job keeping the overall spirit of the season alive. It’s hard not to believe.”
“New York seems magical, too," Alma states. “The parade looks fun.”
“Wouldn’t know. I spent Thanksgiving in the Hamptons.”
“Did you like it?”
“Um . . . it was different. Being used to one tradition and learning another is an adjustment.”
“Are you going back?”
“No,” I tell Alma with zero hesitation. I glance over the top of her to where Eve sits and smiles, even though she has her head down. I wait, staring like I’m a creeper, for her to look. She finally does and rewards me with a shy grin before going back to whatever she’s working on.
“You know, if you hurt her again, we’re not going to allow you back in town.”
Alma’s words should stun me, but they don’t. “I won’t hurt her.”
“If I were her, I’d make you grovel.”
“And I’m prepared to do so,” I tell her as I go back to wrapping. “I made a mistake. It was costly and hurtful. I let greed and ambition take me away from the person I love. If it takes forever for her to forgive me, so be it.”
“You being here is a huge step in the right direction.”
I laugh, thinking about my plans for the night. “I had a date planned for us. Dinner out and a stroll along Main Street to listen to the carolers.”
“Maybe she’s not ready to be alone with you.”
“Could be.” I chuckle. “But come on, Alma. Look at me. I’m tall, handsome, and I have abs to die for and that V women clamor for. Who wouldn’t want to go out with me?”
Alma’s head turns slowly, her eyes are unreadable. I wink and give her a cocky smirk.