Page 7 of This December

“So it’s just you and them? No siblings? No Caleb or Chase or whatever weird naming theme your parents have?”

He laughed. “I have a brother, Garrett, but he’s serving in the military overseas right now.”

“Oh.” I had no idea. Not that I could say as much because that would be weird. “So no naming theme then.”

Cole grinned. “Just a good old fashioned British name theme. Nothing as wacky as yours.”

I grinned back at him.

He tilted his head. “So can I get your number?”

It felt like an out-of-body experience as I numbly recited my phone number to him, and he keyed it into his phone. He typed a little bit more, and then my phone vibrated in my hands.

Unknown number:This is Flower Crazy Cole. Would you come over for dinner tonight? Say 7?

I looked back up and found him smiling winningly at me with that dimple flashing. He raised his eyebrows.

“I, uh, yeah. I mean, yes. Dinner sounds nice.”

“It’s a date.”

A minute later, I drove away with my mind whirling. I have a date with Cole Jackson.

Me.

How was this real life?

Then I remembered my mental promise to the littles. I’d have to make up yesterday’s tardiness to them later. Way later. Because no way was I turning this—tonight—down.

I have a date with Cole Jackson!

* * *

As I got ready in my bedroom that evening, I couldn’t decide what to wear. My entire wardrobe was either too casual or too business-y. I hadn’t been on a date in a while. And this didn’t feel like a normal date. I mean, it was Cole Jackson.

I wanted to impress him, but my wardrobe was seriously lacking. And I couldn’t ask my sisters if I could borrow something. No way was I telling them about this. They’d either not believe me or find some way to kill my joy—especially Aspyn. I don’t know what it was, but since I’d come home with my tail between my legs, she’d had a serious problem with my every move.

Screw it.

He’d seen me doing snow angels in his driveway with cherry tomatoes smeared all over me. I was just going to be me. Switching out my sweaty hoodie and leggings for a super soft baseball style long-sleeved shirt and my favorite pair of ripped jeans. I grabbed my slouchy cowboy boots and tiptoed down the hall to the mudroom.

I should’ve known it was too easy.

“Going somewhere?” Aspyn drawled behind me.

I froze with my shoulders hunched, my boots dangling from my hand like a cartoon robber. Mentally groaning, I turned around and faced my sister. “Clearly.” I gestured with my boots. “I’m going out.”

“Really? Tonight of all nights?” She propped her fist on her hip and gave me the disappointed mama glare that I’d seen her use on her three kids many times before.

But I wasn’t her child. “Why not tonight? I was here for the family kickoff dinner last night. I am allowed to have a life.”

“This is exactly the reason you haven’t found a job yet. You have zero follow through. You expect everyone else to pick up the pieces you keep dropping. I’m not surprised they let you go out of everyone at that company.”

Tears welled in my eyes as I looked back at my sister who was all but rabid as she spelled out all my failings. “Are you serious? Because I’m not staying for day two of mom’s crazy Christmas, I’m suddenly a disappointment to everyone?”

“Oh it’s not sudden. We’ve all known for a while.”

I staggered back like she’d slapped me. Because that was what it felt like.

---