Page 17 of No Time for Traditions

And that she’d wanted him to kiss her.

“I know I’ve been emotional about all of this, but it’s not your fault. You’re just doing your job.”

“Thanks. And you’re right, I can’t change your family’s mind.” Greg sighed and opened his truck door.

“What are you doing?” Brittany watched as he got inside and cranked his truck.

“I normally eat in the cab on cold days. Care to join me?”

Brittany’s stomach twitched at the thought of sitting alone in the truck with Greg. “I’ve got more food back at the house. You can enjoy this.”

“Come on, even I can’t eat all that.” Greg nodded toward the spread on the hood of his truck as he got out and shut the door. “And you brought plenty of paper plates and forks, too.”

“I just grabbed a stack on the way out.” Brittany tried to justify bringing more than enough provisions for two.

“If you’re not mad, then what’s the harm in having a quick lunch?” Greg walked around and opened the passenger side door, motioning for Brittany to get in. “Besides, I could use some human interaction to break up the monotony.”

“Okay.” Brittany’s lips curved as she got in the truck he’d driven since high school. The same truck in which he’d picked up some of her friends for dates. She tried to remind herself of that while Greg brought the food to them.

But no matter how hard Brittany tried, she couldn’t get past the fact that a few hours earlier, Greg Tucker had acted like he wanted to kiss her. And, even worse, that a big part of her wished he had.

Chapter 7

The day hadn’t turned out at all the way Brittany had planned. And the whole purpose of disposal dinnerware and containers had been so she could drop off lunch and leave.

But Greg had invited her to stay, and with no good excuse, she’d stayed.

Brittany tried to tell herself she’d stayed to be polite. That wasn’t it. She’d stayed because as much as she wanted not to like Greg, she did.

And trying to remember the Greg from high school wasn’t working. Adult Greg was nothing like him. Okay, so he was still a little like him. Still handsome and outgoing, a jokester. But caring and way more mature.

Ugh. She hated thinking about him like that.

Brittany threw away the remains from their lunch and cleaned up the kitchen. After that, she snuggled on the couch and turned on a movie. She wanted to continue writing, but felt like she needed a break from her love interest. In the story, of course. Not real life.

Just when she got comfortable, her phone buzzed. Brittany reached out and took it from the coffee table to see a text from her brother:

Ice-skating?

Brittany smiled. Every year, Hillside turned part of the downtown square into an ice-skating rink. Colored lights made a festive arch over the rink, and Christmas music played in the background. Every year, as far back as she could remember, she and Scott skated together. Even when Scott was in high school and she in middle school, they went to the rink. Of course, they would meet friends there and not really skate together in those days, but they still went at the same time.

When?

In about an hour?

Brittany looked at the time. That left her just long enough to get ready and drive into town.

Okay, I’ll meet you there.

Brittany turned off the TV and went upstairs to change and put on makeup. As she looked in the mirror, she realized how relaxed (or rather, sloppy) she looked. Every time Greg had seen her this week, she’d worn some form of lounging clothes and no makeup. However, it shouldn’t matter what she looked like, since she shouldn’t care what he thought of her.

But shedidcare what he thought of her.

She could fight it all she wanted, but somehow, Greg had gotten under her skin. Brittany’s stomach sank at the thought of Greg. Of all the people to feel this way about, it shouldn’t be him. Why him? Better yet, why anyone right now?

Not having time to analyze her feelings or scold herself for finding the good in Greg, she braided her hair, put on makeup, and changed out of leggings and into jeans and a sweater that actually fit. She pulled on a pair of boots, grabbed a coat, and headed downstairs to take Old Blue into town.

Driving the Toyota to town made her remember all the times she’d done so when she first turned sixteen. Anytime one of her parents needed something, she’d volunteered to get it just so she could drive. Brittany smiled thinking about that time in her life. No pressures from work or big life decisions. All her grandparents were still alive and well. She’d imagined it was that way for everyone back then. Now, as an adult, she knew her parents dealt with struggles she didn’t know at the time.

---