Page 68 of That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe
“I can, if you’re willing to come back tomorrow. I have a doctor’s appointment in the morning”—I pause to point at the bandage again, aiming for sympathy points—“but I’m not a man who makes promises he can’t keep, and I guarantee I can have the work done by the late afternoon.”
Ryan’s gaze flits to Sara then back to me. “I’m sorry, but my schedule is booked solid tomorrow.”
“Then make it Wednesday.” I cock my brow. “Please.”
“Wednesday is Christmas Eve.”
“It is.” I drag a hand along the back of my neck, wincing. “And since Sara graciously agreed to postpone your original appointment when you had car trouble, I’m humbly requesting you extend her the same courtesy.” I let my hand drop to my chest, palm over my heart.
“Three.” Sara clears her throat. “You don’t have to?—”
“Least I can do,” I insist, cutting my gaze to her. “After all you’ve done for me.” I’m being a friend. That’s what she called me. I bob my head and smile.
“So.” I swing my smile back over to Ryan. “If you’re up for it, my offer stands to give you a personal tour of our town with a native Abievillian.”
“Hmm.” Ryan takes a moment to consider, her gaze darting between Sara and me.
“Three.” Sara clears her throat. “I’m not sure being dragged around town by a stranger is in Ms. Detweiler’s job description.”
“Well, I hadn’t thought about that,” I admit, ducking shyly. “How about if our first stop is the sheriff’s station? Sheriff Bender and Deputy Townsend are friends of mine, and I’d love to introduce you to our town’s law enforcement. Give you a real sense of the safety here in Abieville. After that, we’ve got some shops and restaurants we can drive by. Over the bridge is a gorgeous inn I’d love to?—”
“I’m sure she gets the idea, Three,” Sara interjects. “But you’re not safe to drive, remember? The concussion…”
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten.” I lift my chin. “And I never said I’d be the one doing the driving. So.” I turn to Ryan and offer my brightest smile. “What do you say?”
Her lips part. “I say … we can take my car.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Sara
I’ve been stewing for precisely one hundred nineteen minutes of the two hours since Three left. Ididjust take a quick sixty-second break to chug a glass of water, which means it’s been a full minute since I wondered what he’s doing with Ryan Detweiler.
He wanted to show her what Abieville would offer guests from Platinum Stays, so I’m guessing he’ll take her by the best shops for tourists, like Gracie’s Glass Emporium, Bookishly Yours, and that old store next to the market with all the antiques and souvenirs. Flower Power is pretty cool too, especially for people into fresh arrangements and gifts. I wouldn’t care too much if they stopped by Spill the Tea. But my stomach flips over imagining Three bringing Ryan to Dips & Scoops. Sure, it’s not exactly ice cream season, so there’s a chance he skipped that place.
But Three loves Dips & Scoops.
Well, he used to love it. Back when I thought he loved me too.
But we’re not going to talk about that, remember?
Right.
Instead, I finishstowing the last of the Hawaiian Luau supplies in the storage room behind the bookshelf, then take a moment to survey the house.
The space looks the way I assume a normal vacation home would appear during Christmastime. Since the tree still only had strands of white lights on it, I took the liberty of hanging all the ornaments myself. Three wasn’t here, so I had to pull the couch over and climb on top to reach the highest branches, but I did get it done myself. I even placed the star on at the end.
I felt bad tossing the construction paper rings Three cut out into a drawer, but I figured a homemade Advent calendar wouldn’t impress Platinum Stays. Honestly, I’d gotten so caught up in recreating the Fuller family traditions, I lost sight of the goal that brought me here in the first place: convincing Ryan Detweiler to approve our lake house for their listings.
Speaking of which, she could come back anytime now.
ANYTIME.
I plop on the couch in front of the Christmas tree, hoping the twinkle lights will improve my mood. No such luck. I’d been so excited to experience the kind of holiday Three grew up with, but decorating the tree alone turned out to be … anticlimactic.
The truth is, I miss my own family.
So I decide there’s no time like the present to call my mom. She’s already left me multiple messages asking for updates, so I’m planning to put as positive a spin on the situation as possible, leaving out the glitch with Three and the Hawaiian Christmas luau. And the surprise storage room. And the fact that Ryan Detweiler has yet to evaluate the house.
