Page 42 of Peppermint Bark

“No, sweetie, not Levi. He’s my brother, you like him.”

She whistled. The man turned. I blinked.

In the next instant, he squatted in front of me.

His hand reached forward. I shrank away. Mallory smacked it down.

“Are you ok?” His voice was a low rumble, deep and trustworthy.

“This is my brother Alex.”

The twinkle lights behind him cast a glow around his head. “Are you an angel?”

Those dark brows furrowed and the lines around his mouth tightened.

Maybe he wasn’t an angel. Maybe he was a beautiful demon sent to tempt me.

But weren’t demons just fallen angels seeking redemption?

As I examined his worried expression, a hand touched his cheek. When he leaned into it, his stubble tickled my palm. “Are you ok? You look worried.”

“You’re seriously checking on me right now?” Amusement replaced the concern, the left corner of his mouth lifting. “You’re unbelievable, Grace.”

Why was he talking about grace? Mama loved that Scripture, "For by grace you have been saved through faith," but I didn’t see how that was relevant.

Then I realized he was talking to me, calling me Grace …

When my head tilted, Alexander’s smile disappeared, mouth painfully tight.

I wanted his smile back. “You’re irresistible when you smile. You should smile more.”

His cheeks flushed pink as he looked down at the ground, brow furrowed.

A bark of laughter stole my attention.

“Did you just tell him to smile more?” Mallory fell sideways. Her laughter was contagious. I felt dazed, but I grinned back. I liked making her laugh.

“The King of Mansplaining, Captain Masculinity, and you told him to smile more!” She wiped away a tear. He watched her with veiled amusement, the left side of his mouth curling up.

“Well, before you got distracted by his dazzling smile,” she said, wiggling jazz fingers, “you were naming five things you see.”

Trees, stars, wreaths, dirt, and lights.

“Good. Four things you hear.” Cars, crickets, carols, footsteps.

“Three things you smell.” Pine trees. Apple cider. And … what was that?

I lifted the unfamiliar plaid scarf around my neck. “This.”

“What does it smell like?”

I couldn't describe it. Woodsy, but not quite. Maybe minty?

“It smells like hope.”

Alexander tugged on his bottom lip. “Listen, I’m sorry that I —”

“Later.” Mallory grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Is it ok if I touch you, to help you up?” When I nodded, they held out their hands and I stood shakily. “Let’s get you home.”

---