Page 43 of Wishing for Love

“Then I guess I know the next move.”

She removed her arms from his body and stepped back. She didn’t volunteer what that move was going to be and he wouldn’t ask.

“Time to get some sleep,” he said. Which he knew wasn’t going to come.

“No snack?” she asked.

“I think that urge is gone.”

“But replaced with another one,” she said, laughing. “I really like you, Phoenix. As a person. Don’t stress over this. We’ll talk about it more when you’re ready. And if you’re not, then don’t stress over that either.”

She turned and went to her room and he knew it was time to return to his.

Just one more thing to have on his mind now.

15

LIGHT AND HAPPY

The next morning, Crystal was up at her normal time even though she didn’t have to get Elsie ready for school. But she wouldn’t stay upstairs until Phoenix left for work either. That would be wrong and make her a coward on top of it.

She promised Elsie they would make cookies for Santa tonight. She’d spent the past week wrapping most of the gifts for the little girl and helping to decorate the house.

Phoenix hadn’t had a problem with any of it. She hadn’t been part of the tree decorating and didn’t get upset over it. She put a small one up in her little apartment and had a few decorations herself.

She squared her shoulders and all but skipped down the stairs to the kitchen. Phoenix was sitting at the island with a cup of coffee in front of him, his phone in his hand as always, a frown on his face.

“Not the best way to start the day,” she said. She wanted to keep this chipper. Keep it light and happy.

There was this fear she’d overstepped last night and now could risk losing her job.

Just one more mark on her resume of shitty decisions if that happened.

He looked up quickly. “What way is that?”

“The frown. Everything okay?”

“Work,” he said, sighing. “The usual.”

“Production issues?” she asked.

“Supplies this time. Not to mention I’ve got two people who called in today. I should have expected it the day before the holiday and just shut down.”

“Why didn’t you?” she asked. “Or are you on a tight timeline?”

“I give staff twelve holidays a year and more time off. I shut down on Sundays right now too. I’d like to work seven days a week.”

“But it’s hard to find staff or afford them?” she asked.

“The chicken and the egg. I can’t seem to get one in front of the other. I’ve got some good employees and I know it’s a holiday and all.”

“Today isn’t a holiday,” she said. “It never has been. It’s just that society starts time off earlier and earlier. At least I always felt that way. I’ve never had this day off.”

“I suppose if you’ve got family in town or kids, it’s different.”

“Did you normally go home?” she asked. “Before you started your business?”

“I tried to,” he said. “Most times it worked.”

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