Page 61 of Space Balls: Houston, We Have Liftoff
“For Matt. Thought he could go head to head with Brittany in the DIY department.” She holds up the bag in her hand and shakes it. “The laser tag and llama are for me, but I want to show Jackie.”
I know I should say something, but once again, Rose has me speechless. How could all that have gone through her mind on our short-lived race around the store?
“Ah, this Christmas—”
“It’s okay, really.” She side-steps me, eyes on the ground. “I get that spending Christmas together isn’t happening.”
“I—"
“It’s just that as great as my brothers are, we’re a house full of billionaires—so the thought of presents has never been that exciting.” She looks up smiling. “Shopping for your family was fun.” She freezes at whatever expression I’m making, then swallows. “That’s all.”
“What do you usually do for Christmas?” is all I can think to ask.
She looks relieved at my question, like she was worried I’d yell at her again.
I have never felt more like an asshole in my life.
“Die Hardmarathon.” Her normal devil-may-care smirk is back in place. “While overeating Holt’s holiday cakes and cookies.”
That pulls me up short. “Your brother bakes?”
“Yeah.” She nods, taking a step closer to Flynn’s front walkway. “His chocolate chips are the best.”
Two long strides of my own have me next to her again. “They’re that good, huh?”
“Oh yeah.” She laughs, her amusement sounding genuine this time. “Just ask Jules. I think my brother’s cookies have turned into some sort of weird mating call for them.” She snorts. “They’re so gross.”
She might say they’re weird and gross, but her expression looks wistful.
“Think he’ll give up the recipe?”
“Doesn’t have to, I already know it. It was my grandmother’s.” She’s back to frowning at me. “Why? You looking to make cookies?”
“Maybe you and I could.” It’s my turn to shrug, a sense of self-consciousness falling over me that I haven’t felt since adolescence. “You know, before we head over to my sister’s for Christmas dinner.”
Her mouth drops open. I take a moment to bask in the pleasure of having shocked Rose West into silence.
“That’s a month away.” She takes a step back. “Are you sure we should make plans that far out?”
I take a step forward. “It’s almost eight months until my flight. Whynotmake plans for next month?” I tilt my head to the side. “You’re not backing out of our deal already, are you?”
“No?” I’ve never seen her looking so unsure.
She’s adorable.
“Good.” I shift so we can walk up the path side by side. “’Cause one of those friends-with-bennies benefits is gorging on my mom’s Christmas tamales.”
“Tamales?”
“Yeah, she picked it up from her grandmother, who lived in a border town in south Texas before moving to the reservation in New Mexico when Mom was a baby.”
We reach the front step. “Sounds awesome.” Her grin erases all traces of my earlier panic.
“So you’ll come?”
I can tell she’s thinking about it. Though her smile dims, I can tell she wants to say yes.
I wait for the silence to break down her resistance.
