Page 96 of The Jinglebell War
“Thank you for those kind words, Garrick,” she says to the audience without even glancing back at me. She’s in tight jeans and an over-sized, puffy winter coat, her hair in a loose braid under a knit cap.
She’s gorgeous standing so confidently on that stage, her smile wide and bright.
“I’m so glad you can all be here for the festival. Yuletide welcomes you and hopes you’ll return year after year to our magical town. I myself have only recently moved here, and I have never lived in a more enchanted place.”
I walk off the stage as she continues to talk about all Yuletide has to offer, moving the focus off her and onto our town. She sounds like she means every word, like she truly loves Yuletide.
And if she leaves, it’ll be my fault.
Mav is waiting for me at the side of the stage with Barry. He pats me on the back and hands over my coat. “You gave it a shot. Sorry it didn’t work out.”
I was still holding out hope, but clearly Mav saw something I didn’t. “I’m not quite done.” I’m not giving up until I’ve put it all on the line.
He sighs and shakes his head. “I can’t watch this. Barry and I are going to take a walk and get another hot pretzel.”
I pat Barry on the head and wave them off. When I look up, Blue is stepping off the stage on the wrong side. Shit.
I race around the backside of the stage, dodging tourists and nearly slipping on the snow packed ground.
When I get to the other side of the stage, Blue is miraculously still there. She’s talking to Lori Whittle, owner of Sundae Dreams.
I should probably wait, but I’ve waited too damn long already. I cannot take the tension a moment longer.
“Excuse me, Lori,” I say. “I just need to talk to Blue for a few minutes.”
I don’t even give Blue a chance to argue. I grab her hand and pull her around the back of the stage to a quiet spot away from the crowds.
“Garrick.” She sounds breathless. “What the hell?”
She looks up at me, eyes wide, cheeks pink, and it’s only the better angel on my shoulder that keeps me from kissing her.
“I haven’t said everything I need to say to you.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and looks around likes she’s hoping for an excuse to get away from me. “Go ahead.”
It helps that she’s not looking directly at me. I’m not sure I could say what I need to say with those big eyes of hers, so full of intelligence and emotion, on me. “I’m in love with you.”
She sucks in a gasp, and all of that attention focuses on me like a laser. “What?”
“I know it sounds stupid. We haven’t been friendly longer than we were enemies, but I can’t imagine waking up to anyone else. I don’t want to wake up to anyone else. I want you back in my bed, Blue, and back in my life.”
Tears fill her eyes as she looks at me. “I lied to you, Garrick.”
Oh, shit. I can already feel the bottom dropping out. That look on her face can’t mean anything good. “What about, sweetheart?”
She waves a hand at me. “I’m nobody’s sweetheart, Garrick. I lied to you about my period. It didn’t start.”
What does a stroke feel like? I’m pretty sure I’m having one now. My whole body is fritzing. “Are you saying…?”
She nods. “So, I understand if that changes things for you. I’m a package deal now, and it’s not going to be easy—”
“I’m in.” I don’t even have to think about it. My body is back online and every bit of me is happy about this news. “Whether or not you want to be with me, I’m all in for this baby.”
A tear slides down her cheek. “I’d like to be with you, Garrick, but I don’t want you to feel any obligation—”
I grab her and kiss her. All I need to know is that she wants to be with me. We can work out the rest later.
She’s laughing when she pulls away. “I guess you’re all in with me, too?”
