Page 33 of Maybe This Christmas
She scooted into the booth.“I used to love to ice skate when I got the chance.I haven’t in ages, though.”
Caleb slipped into the booth opposite her.“Well, it’s your day in town.If you want to ice skate, I’m sure we can make it happen for you.”
She gestured to the line snaking around the outside of the gazebo.“Maybe today isn’t the best day for that.I don’t have to do everything today.I’m staying at the lodge until after Christmas.”
Her smile drooped, but Gretchen appeared with a three-tiered metal and wood tray before he had time to ask if anything was bothering her.
“This is the holiday sampler.”
While Gretchen went through the items on each level of the tray, Caleb couldn’t keep his eyes off Emma.Her dark hair cascaded over one side of her face as she leaned forward.Her lips were painted a shade of red that suited her pale coloring.
What was going on with him?He was never the type of guy to notice the little details.It was one of the things he and Olivia had argued about.One of the biggest fights they had was when it’d taken him two days to notice that she’d gotten over four inches cut off her hair.
He knew well enough that it was probably a symptom of a deeper issue with his relationship with Olivia.But still, he wasn’t the type to be wooed by lipstick.
“Where should we start, Caleb?”
“I’ll go get a coffee flight sampler while you two figure it out,” Gretchen said.
Caleb pointed to the bottom row of the tray, where slabs of several of Sebastian’s most popular breads lay, along with various spreads.
“Try the signature loaf first.It’s the thing that gets butts in seats, as my brother says.”
He handed Emma a plate, his fingers brushing hers as she took it.Her cheeks flushed the same pinkish red as her dress.
Jesus Christ.
She ducked her cheek against her shoulder as she reached for a piece.“Sounds like a plan.”
“Don’t forget the butter and jam.”He nodded toward the small container on the table.
Gretchen returned with the coffee flight—several small cups of their locally sourced brews.
After she left them again, Caleb looked around for Sebastian.Thankfully, his older brother was nowhere to be found.They had the space to themselves, however momentarily.
“You look like you’re having fun,” he observed.
She wiggled slightly in her seat.“I am!It’s kind of invigorating and depressing at the same time.I realized that I haven’t felt like this in ages.”
“Why depressing?”
She was thoughtful while she buttered her bread.“I guess I was feeling a kind of anticipatory grief for a while.Do you know what that is?”
Caleb shook his head.
“I think I knew my old life was dying.So, when I lost my job, I lost Davis, and I wasn’t as devastated as I should’ve been.Because, in a way, I’d been grieving that life for a while now.”
He draped his arm along the back of the booth.“Have you heard from him at all since he left?”
She rolled her eyes slightly.“Just a message that I had until the end of January to get my stuff out of his condo.I don’t know.I’m not mad at him.Just a little relieved, I guess.”
“That’s a very mature way of looking at it, Emma.”
She shrugged.“What can I say, I’ve had a lot of time to think about it.”She took a bite of bread.“So, what will we do next if ice skating is out?Maybe a little window shopping?Or actual shopping?”
He grinned.“Oh, I have an itinerary planned, don’t you worry.It’s been a while since I’ve been able to show off my hometown to anyone, and I intend to take good advantage of it.”
She laughed.“By all means, take all the advantage you want.”She seemed to notice the innuendo only after the words were out of her mouth.“Within reason, of course.”
