Page 47 of That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not. They won a trivia match this afternoon, and the prize was some romantic massage for two. They left their cabin a little while ago wearing matching robes.”
“Yeah. I didnotneed to know that.” I cough out a laugh, but talking to Nella’s making me feel more like me than I have in days.
Be yourself.
Listen to your heart.
Yeah. I’ll try, Nell.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sara
The bell above the door to the Five and Dime jingles as I walk in for the second time today. A burst of cold night air blows in along with me. The same young clerk who was here before looks up from herPeoplemagazine.
“Forget something?” She stuffs the magazine behind the register. Her name tag says Cami, and she’s wearing Rudolph antlers and a necklace made of blinking Christmas bulbs. “I’ve been too busy to restock the bins of ornaments since you and Mr. Fuller practically bought out the entire store.”
Of courseCami knows Three.
Apparently he was her World History teacher two years ago, and now she’s in his Government class. These are facts I discovered when she offered to give us her employee discount as we checked out.
“Oh, we have plenty of Christmas decorations,” I tell her. “I’m looking for something else.”
“I told you we’re sold out of all our Rudolph antlers, right?”
My lip twitches. “Sadly, yes. But you wouldn’t happen to still have anything for a Hawaiian-themed party would you?”
Cami wrinkles her nose. “Kind of like a luau?”
“Exactly like a luau.”
“At Christmastime? I don’t think so.” She glances around the brightly lit shop, bursting at the scenes with all things holiday. “Why do you need luau stuff in December?”
Yeah. Good question, Cami.
The truth is, I’d been hoping to recreate a traditional Christmas for Three, but when Nella called, I realized that’s not what he’s actually missing. He’s missing the cruise and Hawaii and being with his family. So I’ve been trying to celebrate the wrong holiday. Three needs something different.
Something tropical.
“I just want to surprise Mr. Fuller.”
“I’m sorry.” Cami frowns. “Besides the usual stuff we stock year-round, we’ve only got winter-themed things. What you’re looking for won’t be displayed again for another few months.”
“I understand.” I force a smile, but an ache of failure hits my stomach. At least my coming here gave Three the chance to catch up with Nella without me hovering around the house. “I knew it was a long shot,” I say, turning to leave.
“Hold on.” Cami steps out from behind the register. “I’ll take a quick look in the back storage rooms. Who knows? We might have some leftover merchandise from last summer.”
“Really?”
“It’ll be the dregs, but better than nothing, right?”
I beam at her. “Thanks so much.”
She shrugs. “It’s for Coach Fuller. He’s the best.”
“Coach?”
