Page 80 of The Christmas Express
‘I don’t think that. Alex, get back on the train. If this one leaves without you, I think you’ll get there too late.’
‘It doesn’t matter. I really like you.’
‘Of course it does. I really like you, too. But . . . but it couldn’t work between us.’
She hesitates, like she knows I’m right, but she takes my hands, running her fingers down my arms, and steps in close. ‘Why not?’ she asks with a sigh.
‘Well, you live in Canada. And I don’t. And your sister is marrying my ex.’
‘That is a little awkward, I guess.’ A hint of her honey smile returns.
‘One day we’ll find it funny. And just because it can’t be forever doesn’t mean I didn’t have the best time, and it doesn’t mean I won’t hold onto it as one of my favourite memories.’
‘I will to,’ Alex says, meeting my eyes, then glancing down at my lips.
‘So, you’re going to get back on the train?’
‘You don’t want to be a plus one or anything?’
I laugh at that. ‘You know that awkward thing we were just talking about . . . ?’
‘Oh yeah, that.’ She chuckles.
This is hard to let her go; we never even really got started. But though my heart aches, it’s nice to feel it again. ‘Good memories,’ I state, my voice firm.
‘Good memories.’ She holds my gaze.
On the platform, the train whistles. She has to go. She drops her hands, steps back and turns towards the station.
‘Wait,’ she says. ‘One more good memory.’
Alex reaches for my hand and pulls me back towards her, and her lips kiss mine like sweet honey. Everything about her is warm, and she kisses me for as long as she can until the second whistle goes.
We break apart, but in the best possible way.
One hour later, the café has opened, and as I wait in line, I snap a photo on my phone of the sign. ‘Open for Business’ it says.
Shortly after, coffee in hand, I board the train, ready for a long journey back to Jasper. In my seat, I take a sip of my warm coffee, topped with cream as white as the snow, and tip my head back to lean it against the rest.
Last night, after Alex confessed, I thought I’d made the worst decision of my life by coming to Canada. I was wrong.
And not just because of that amazing kiss which I’ll never forget.
I pick up my phone and navigate to the photos, pulling up the one of the ‘Open for Business’ sign. Then I do something cheesy, mushy, and a little bit old Hollywood romance, and I text it to Alex along with the message, My heart, thanks to you.
Chapter 42
Bryn
Moglington dislikes my friends already, and they haven’t even made it here yet.
I hold her in my arms and pace the porch, as if they’re going to appear around the corner any minute, while around me a blizzard of activity is occurring.
Ruby, fresh flowers in one hand and a candelabra in the other, stops on her way into the cabin. ‘They’ll be here.’ She smiles. ‘You can put the cat down.’
‘But what if it stops again? What if they don’t make it, after all this?’
‘They’re going to make it. Alex told me, clear tracks ahead, all the way to Vancouver. Do you want me to drive you to the station?’
