Page 81 of The Snuggle is Real
“There’s extra materials in The Snug if you need to ugly up your sweater tonight,” she said. “Later, we’ll judge them all and award a prize for the best one. At least, for those who made their own. No prizes for shopping at Target.”
I chuckled, opening my coat to reveal my burgundy sweater with garland and twinkling lights affixed to the front.
“I’m not taking home any awards, but I’m good.”
The sweater was boring compared to most of this crowd, but I hadn’t wanted to get too weird on a first date. I didn’t even know if Todd had a sense of humor, though Ihadlisted it as a desirable quality.
I wanted someone who could handle some good-natured teasing, as Ford had when I’d brought up getting him into a Christmas sweater. Someone who could dish it out too, as Ford had when he teased me about my mystery date.
“What if he’s shorter than you?” Ford had asked the day before. “Who will get the items from the top shelf of the pantry?”
“I can reach the top shelf!” I’d protested with a laugh. Though, to be fair, I had to go up on my tiptoes. But that was because it was an exceptionally tall pantry!
“What if he’s a total Scrooge who never donates to charity?”
“I’ll convert him,” I said confidently. “You didn’t like the idea of charity, and I won you over.”
“Only taking charity. I’m happy to give it.”
“I know,” I said, heart melting a little. “That’s one of the things that I—” I stopped short, biting my lip.
“That you what?” he prompted, eyes boring into me.
I shook my head, unable to voice my thought. I couldn’t tell Ford that it was one of the things I loved about him. That would only send him running and rightfully so.
Ford let me dodge the question.
“What if he’s allergic to dogs?” he asked, going back to our little game.
I glanced toward Peppermint Bark, my temporary companion for the holidays. My foster dog who waited for me at the door every day, who greeted me with the biggest doggy smile, happy yips, and licks to the hand.
Shoot. Elias had been right all along. I couldn’t give him up.
“Then he’s toast. I’ll have to dump him and try again.”
Ford had laughed then, a deep rumbling sound that warmed my core.“Good answer. Pepper is your family, and whoever you end up with has to love him like their own.”
Would Todd like dogs? Would he likeme?I didn’t kid myself into thinking this would be a love match. I was too hung up on Ford.
This date was a necessary step toward reality and away from the dream that sleigh ride had put in my head.
Away from Ford.
Who was…walking toward me right now.
Wearing a gloriously ugly Christmas sweater with a cut-out felt shape that looked kind of like a dog with big googly eyes and antlers strung with blinking lights.
He pulled out the chair and sat down across from me.
“What are you doing? I’m waiting for my date.”
“He’s not coming.”
“What?” I pulled out my phone to check for messages. “How do you know that?”
“Because I’m your date tonight.”
What?
