Page 96 of Deck the Fire Halls

So yes, work that week was great.

I missed Soren though.

His late nights and my early starts meant less time together, but he had stayed over last night and kept me awake until after one in the morning. And I’d come to work this morning with a sore ass and zero regrets.

But tonight he’d start his graveyard shift, which meant a whole week of not seeing him at all.

Or barely seeing him.

Definitely no midnight thorough dickings, that’s forsure.

“Why the long face?”Gunter asked.

We were sitting at the table in the youth center going through information and proposals for the vocation idea I’d put to him, and I must have zoned out.

I snorted. “Am I that obvious?”

“Did you and Soren have a fight?”

I scoffed. “No. Just the opposite, actually. We are... we are so good.”

He laughed. “Then why the long face?”

I shook my head at myself because this bordered on embarrassing. “He’s starting his week of the graveyard shift, where he has to sleep at the fire station. I won’t see him as much, that’s all. Which is stupid and pitiful, to be honest. And embarrassing.”

Gunter laughed. “Sounds fair to me. So you miss him. That’s not embarrassing.”

“We’ve been dating for like two weeks,” I cried. “I’ve known him less than three. Three weeks. It’s insanity, that’s what it is.”

Gunter sighed, still smiling. “To hell with sanity. If it feels right, go with it.”

I put my hand to my chest. “I’m a man of medicine. I trust science. I trust procedure and?—”

“And I hate to break it to you, doc, but your heart can’t see or hear, and it certainly can’t read. It can only go by feel.”

I sighed and possibly pouted.

He nodded as if he understood my internal plight. “And how does it feel?”

I didn’t really want to admit this out loud. I hadn’t even wanted to admit this to myself, but Gunter was myfriend. My closest friend here in Hartbridge, if I was being honest and wanted to put a label on it.

I sighed again, slumping in my chair in defeat. “It feels like... love.”

Gunter’s smile was slow to spread. “I’m happy for you. But most of all I’m happy Hamish isn’t here to hear you say that.”

I laughed and rolled my eyes, mostly at myself. “You know, I think I can say unequivocally that it has nothing to do with any Hartbridge Cupid thing and a lot to do with Soren and his... you know.”

He clued in pretty quick. “Oh. His ability to keep you happy,” he said, then using his hands, measured a good seven inches apart.

I took his closest hand and moved it out another inch or so. “Yep.”

Gunter laughed and laughed, and I buried my face in my hands.

I had no idea how this was my life now, but the truth was, I’d never been happier.

“It’s not just that. It’s everything. He’s intelligent, and caring, and funny. And I know it was his idea about the Kris Kringle thing. He wanted to do something sweet for me.”

Gunter gave me a nod. “I had to get the lowdown off Hamish later. It was sweet of him.” Then he groaned. “Do you know what you’re doing for your couple’s gift?”

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