Page 28 of Ten Christmases Without You
They could find an out-of-the-way spot and settle in for a few hours. That would be wonderful. “All right.”
She gathered up the items and climbed into his rental, and they drove out of town until rolling hills and fields opened up around them. Despite the cold temperatures, the sky was an electric blue. The grass through her window blurred along thewinding road. A lone red barn with white trim sat at the top of a hill dotted with grazing horses.
“Remember how my dad used to gun it to the top of this hill and then let off the gas?” Charlie asked as they approached a large rise in the straightaway.
“I do remember. We laughed so hard one time that I thought I was going to pee my pants.” It both scared her to death and gave her a rush of excitement.
He eyed her with a devious grin.
The car began to speed up, the engine rising to a crescendo.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
Charlie pressed down on the gas, and they climbed the hill at a rapid rate.
“Stop. Slow down.” She could hardly get the words out through her laughing as she gripped the door handle for support. “Stooop!” The fields on either side whipped past them.
“There’s no one out here but us!”
Thenwhoosh! They felt airborne. Her tummy flipped and she squealed, making Charlie burst with laughter. He let go of the gas and they slowly dropped back to a normal speed.
“You could’ve gotten a ticket,” she said, her heart pounding.
He glanced over at her, a glimmer in his eye. “It would’ve been worth it. I haven’t seen you laugh like that in a long time. I’m glad to know you still have it in you.”
She blew air through her lips to shake it off, but he was right. Even she couldn’t remember when she’d laughed like that. And when she tried to pinpoint the last time, she realized it was only Charlie who’d ever been able to make her do it.
“Speaking of our younger days, do you know the guy Adrienne’s marrying?” he asked.
Emmy shook her head. “I don’t.”
“I was surprised when she messaged me on social media for my address,” he said. “I haven’t spoken to her in ages.”
“Yeah, I haven’t seen her in a long time either.”
He maneuvered the vehicle around a curve. “That’s surprising. You two were really close in high school.”
“I know. It wasn’t either of our faults, really. We went separate ways after high school. And now, life is just so busy…”
It had been over eight years since she’d seen the person she’d spent nearly every day in high school with. They’d cried together at graduation, knowing that Adrienne was heading across the country for college to the University of Texas. Then, the days turned to weeks, weeks to months, and eventually to years. Now, Adrienne had to ask for her address, because she didn’t even know where Emmy lived.
“So howislife?” he asked.
Loaded question.
She’d managed to avoid the topic during breakfast, but now there was no one to divert his attention. She didn’t want to lie to him, but she wished she had more to say. By this point, she should have at least some accomplishments to be proud of.
“That good?” He laughed.
“I’m stuck, really.” There. She’d said it out loud.
He glanced over at her and back at the road.
“I threw myself into a job out of college that I thought had promise, and it isn’t living up to my expectations.”
“I get that.”
“Really?”
