Page 77 of Why Not Now?

He kisses me again, pulling my body flush against his now, teasing my lips with his tongue until I open to him. We break apart when someone clears their throat loudly. I blink my eyes open to see Spencer shaking his head. “You’ll have to forgive them, Tanner. They’re still in the can’t-keep-their-hands-off-each-other stage.”

Derek snorts, but he doesn’t let me go. “You and Lis are still in that stage, too. Don’t try to deny it.”

Lis moves to Spencer’s side and kisses his cheek. “We can be discreet when we want to be,” she says.

“Sure,” Derek responds as he lets me go enough that I’m only tucked against his side. “You just rarely want to.”

He moves us along as a group, now two people bigger, back to the first display again. I take pictures of each gingerbread structure—they’re way more than houses—from multiple angles while Lis describes to Lacey and Juliet how they were put together.

“Can you eat this stuff?” Juliet asks.

“Oh, I wouldn’t,” Lis says. “These will be out for weeks. By the time the show is over, they’ll be stale. Hard as rocks, I would guess.”

“Gingerbread is so good,” Lacey says. “I’d love to learn how to make it.”

“We’ve been talking about hosting classes at Blue Vista,” Derek says. “During the slow seasons. Maybe we could do a gingerbread one.”

They continue discussing the classes Lis could host and the paint nights Adalie wants to host. Lacey and Juliet sound very excited about the paint nights and Spencer promises to let them know when they’re going to be, but the first one probably won’t be until the new year.

All the while, except when I’m taking a picture, Derek has his arm around me. I’m filled with peace as I listen to the laughter of the people I’m with and the Christmas music playing softly in the background.

Chapter 24

Derek

IrealizeI’mmopinghalfway through Wednesday when Adalie sits across from me and says, “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I lie. I’m frustrated I won’t see Ava tonight or tomorrow because she’s working two shifts again, cleaning houses in the morning and waiting tables in the evening. I’ve talked to her a bunch over the last few weeks about how much she works, but she believes she needs to. Even though I’m sincerely worried about her mental and physical health.

I still haven’t told her about the car, but I’ve decided it can wait until after Christmas when things calm down a bit. When she’s not so worried about the electricity bill coming up or the presents she needs to buy.

“You’ve been down all day. Did your dad call again?”

“Not since yesterday.” I tap my pen against my desk, regarding my friend. “Would you be willing to do me a favour?”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s a stupid question.”

“Right. I’m taking Ava toThe Nutcrackeron Friday. I want to get her a new dress to wear, but I know shit about dresses. Would you help me choose something?”

Her eyes sparkle with excitement. “You want me to go shopping?”

“Yes?” I say, trepidation suddenly filling me.

“Let me see if Lis or Vic wants to come.”

She gets up and rushes out of my office before I can call her back. Spencer ducks his head in. “What’s going on?”

“I’m pretty sure I just created a monster. I asked Adalie to help me shop.”

“Oh.” He pauses. “Good luck with that.”

“Your girlfriend might be coming, too.”

“Ah. Well then. I’ll see you at your funeral.”

He leaves me and I try not to feel anxious as I finish my tasks for the day, but I’m also confident that, if anyone can help me find a dress for Ava, it’s Adalie. All she ever wears is dresses. Even when it’s cold outside, she wears dresses with tights. When I’m done, Adalie and Lis are waiting in the lounge.

“Vic said we could handle it, and three opinions might overwhelm you,” Lis says. “But we’re ready when you are.”

---