Page 52 of A Very Merry Enemy
He crouches to Colby’s level. “Go get in line. I’ll meet you there.”
Colby runs off, laughing.
Hudson straightens up and stares at me. “Get your shit together, Lucas.”
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder.” He walks away, shaking his head.
I avoid looking toward the bakery.
Around noon, she walks out with Bella, carrying boxes to acustomer’s car. Holiday’s wearing tight jeans and a red hoodie. Her hair is in a high ponytail. She looks rested, happy even, like last night didn’t wreck her the way it wrecked me.
Then she glances toward me.
Our eyes meet across the parking lot.
For a second, neither of us moves. We just stare at each other.
I’m the one who turns and walks away.
I get lost in work. I help families find trees and load them onto cars. Pine sap sticks to my hands.
Every time I turn around, I catch a glimpse of red across the parking lot. Her laugh carrying on the wind. I keep thinking about that sigh she made in her sleep.
This is killing me.
By two, the hangover drags me under. Dean catches me leaning against someone’s car, eyes closed.
“You okay, man?”
“Tired.”
“You look like you’re gonna pass out.” He pulls a granola bar from his pocket. “Eat this. And drink some water.”
He shoves it in my hand and walks away.
I force myself to eat it even though it tastes like sawdust.
Around three, I’m in the barn when I see her through the window walking to her car.
My body moves before my brain catches up.
I walk out of the barn, toward her. I’m halfway there when I stop dead in my tracks.
What the fuck am I doing?
She hasn’t seen me yet because she’s too busy searching through her purse.
I could close the distance and give her an apology.
I stand there frozen, twenty yards away.
She finds her keys and unlocks her car.
Then she looks up and sees me standing in the middle of the parking lot.
For a moment, neither of us moves.
