Page 34 of Why Not Now?

I wipe the stupid grin off my face. “No. I’m still mad at you.”

He chuckles. “Sure you are, sweetheart. Come on. Let’s see what else you can take pictures of.”

We start on the path that winds through the park and I stop every few feet to take pictures of the beautiful lights dressing up the trees and the baubles that seem to float on the surface of the pond. The glitter of the decorations glint in the sparkle of the lights and every photo is pure magic.

As we walk, I glance down at my view screen on my camera. These are going to be stunning in my portfolio. Something about Christmas makes everything seem a little brighter. I don’t know why I never thought to come here before, or to any of the other Christmas events that happen in and around Vancouver.

Derek pulls me to a stop on one side of the water and I glance at him, curious. He doesn’t say anything, just waits until suddenly a song begins, and lights flash in time with it.

I gasp. “Carol of the Bells,” I say.

He smiles. “Your favourite.”

“How do you…”

He shrugs. “I remember. I’d like to tell you I planned this, but it’s just a happy coincidence they use your favourite Christmas carol for the light show.”

I link my arm through his and lean my head on his shoulder as we watch the lights dance and change colours in time with the music, other couples around the pond doing the same. When it’s over, we continue on, walking through a light tunnel and around the water. I don’t unlink our arms.

I let Derek lead as we make our way back to the admission gate and start a second circuit. I just take in the lights this time, not worrying about photography, enjoying the views and the laughter of other people, letting the ambiance fill me up.

Derek stops us under an archway, and I look up at him quizzically. He points above our heads, and I see we’re standing under some mistletoe.

“You led me here on purpose, didn’t you?” I ask.

“Maybe.”

His eyes search mine and I know he’s wondering the same thing I am. What is this between us? What does it mean? What can we do together without having our hearts broken?

The questions fade as he pulls me closer, unlinking our arms so he can wrap his around me.

I close my eyes and tilt my face up, waiting for him to close the distance. When he does and our lips brush, I sigh and melt into him. I press my hands against the sides of his face, the sharp stubble from his five-o’clock shadow scratching against my palms.

It’s a sweet kiss, not like the ones we shared last night that were hungry and wild. This one is soft, almost unsure.

When we break the kiss, neither of us speaks. He just searches my eyes again, and I desperately want to ask what he’s thinking. Instead, we simply move on, his arm still wrapped around my waist, keeping me tucked against his side.

“This is beautiful,” I say after a while. “The only thing that would have made it better is if it was snowing instead of raining.”

He snorts. “That I can’t pull off. Even I can’t control the weather.”

“What made you think to bring me here?”

“You always loved the lights. I thought about Canyon Lights out at Capilano Suspension Bridge, but this is closer. And cheaper, actually. Was it a good choice? Do you love Christmas again?”

I laugh. “Trying to get out of taking me out after just one night?”

He smiles down at me and my heart squeezes at his expression, a look that makes me feel precious. I find my eyes focusing on his lips. “I’ll take you out whenever you want, sweetheart. Just say the word.”

For a second, I’m transported back nine years. We’re still nineteen years old, still in love. My parents are still alive and I’m in college, my whole life ahead of me, full of promise.

Then I blink and I’m in the present, my heart aching, because I can never get back there, no matter how many fun Christmas things Derek takes me to, no matter how many sweet kisses we share under the mistletoe or how many hot nights we share in bed. I’m not that naive girl anymore. I haven’t been in a very long time.

Chapter 12

Derek

Afterwe’dbeenatVanDusen Gardens for about an hour and a half, Ava’s jaw cracks in a huge yawn and I take her home.

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