Page 54 of The Holiday Fail

“Andy told us the plan, and my bosses agreed to lend the outdoor heaters we use during the festivals,” Jim said when he came closer. “Just tell us where you want them and what else we can do to help.”

“Just lending us the heaters is more than enough. You guys don’t have to do anything else,” I said.

“We want to,” Austin replied with a hand on my arm. I wanted to argue, not wanting to impose when they were probably tired from a long day at work, but if there was one thing I knew about my friends, it was that they couldn’t be convinced otherwise when they were determined to do something.

“Thank you,” was all I could say as I gave them the biggest hugs, and then instructed them on where to set everything up.

Andy had the tables and chairs in the bed of the truck, but I was surprised to find the cab of the truck filled with grocery bags. “We’re going to need more food if we don’t want to run out tomorrow,” he said with a smirk. I was so focused on creating more space for people that I didn’t even think about that, but thankfully, I had Andy.

“We make a good team,” I commented. Andy laughed and kissed me again, lingering this time. We didn’t pull away until there was the sound of a throat clearing behind us and Jim and Austin were back to carry more stuff inside.

“All right, lovebirds. We need to get to work,” Jim teased. I laughed and dropped one last kiss on Andy’s lips before helping them carry everything inside.

Andy had brought enough tables to fill half the tent, and just as we finished placing them down, more people came to drop off what they could. Neighbors and friends from town showed up one after another, dropping off folding tables, so many chairs, and even things I hadn’t even thought of, paper plates, utensils, and decorations.

I was overwhelmed with all the support our community was showing us and the kind faces of the people telling us we were doing a good thing for the community. I looked at Andy, heart warm and very appreciative of the man, because none of this would have happened if not for him.

“I know that expression when I see it,” a familiar voice said to my side. I turned to see my best friend, Felix, standing there in the flesh. I practically screamed when I saw him and ran to pull him into a hug.

Felix had moved away last year to another small town named Christmas Falls. I’d teased him about trading one holiday town for another, but in reality, the move was good for him. He’d found the love of his life there and had even started his own business with a friend.

“What are you doing here?” I asked my friend when the hug ended. I looked him over. Felix was exactly as I remembered him. With his baby-blue eyes and shining gold hair, he looked like a sweet angel. Beside him was a giant, grumpy man with knitted brows that could rival Andy’s. Felix stepped to his side, and the man visibly softened.

“We came to visit my parents and heard you needed help. Plus, I wanted to officially introduce you to Bruce,” Felix said with a bright smile as he showed off his boyfriend. Bruce nodded with a greeting, then Felix sent him off to help set up, which Bruce obeyed without a word. The man was clearly wrapped around Felix’s finger.

“Is that okay? Making your boyfriend helpwhen he doesn’t even know me?” I asked, as I watched Bruce walk up to Andy. Bruce said something to him, then nodded toward us, probably explaining the situation.

Felix waved my question off, then hooked his arms in mine. “It’s fine. Bruce may look like that, but he’s a big teddy bear who loves to help. But more importantly…” Felix paused and looked at me again. “You’ve been holding out on me. You’re in love.”

Things had been so busy at the B&B that Felix and I hadn’t been able to catch up in a while, and it was only now that I realized a lot had happened since the last time I spoke with him, so I nodded.

The squeal Felix let out right by my ear was dizzying. “Oh my god. Who is it? Is he here?” he asked, looking around.

I glanced at where Andy was, and Felix must have caught my line of sight, because he smirked and hung an arm around me.

“He’s cute, though a lot younger than I expected. He looks around your age. What happened to your silver fox obsession?” Felix teased.

If you asked me a few months ago, I would have said that Andy was nowhere near my type, but now, my type was him and him alone.

“He’s the same age as me, actually, but he’ll become a silver fox one day,” I replied with a smirk. Just thinking about it sent warmth through me, and I realized it was something I really looked forward to.

Growing old with Andy? That sounded like a dream.

Felix just smiled knowingly. “We need to get together another day so you can tell me all about him. But you look happy.”

“I am. I really am,” I replied, which only had Felix’s smile shining brighter.

He laughed and patted me on the back. “After all these years of seeing you chase older men, who would’ve thought you’d fall in love with someone your age and I’d be the one in an age-gap relationship?”

I agreed and laughed. Fate really worked in mysterious ways, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chapter Twenty-Three

ANDY

I didn’t doubt that we’d be able to get everything ready for Thanksgiving, but we got it done a lot faster than I expected, all thanks to the people who came to help. Some could only stay for a little while as it was getting late, and they had their own Thanksgiving preparations to do, but we were thankful for any help we could get.

The community here was something I’d never experienced before. It wasn’t like this in New York, where everyone was their own personal island. Here, there were no such things as strangers. People were willing to do what they could to help, as seen by everyone bringing their folding tables and chairs to lend us and then staying to help get everything ready.

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