Page 50 of Maybe This Christmas
She played with the bucket.“This is kind of a heavy conversation to have right before a Christmas movie.”
He took a step back.“I’m sorry.I guess it’s just a natural conversation around here.Most of the women I’ve seen since the divorce either have kids or want them.”
She turned away from him to scoop popcorn into her bucket.“I guess you could say my upbringing soured me on the idea of having children.I’ve seen what can happen when kids are unwanted.”
He couldn’t imagine how Emma must have felt as a child, being abandoned by her mother, losing her grandmother, and being shuffled through many foster families.
“That said, I’m not a child hater or anything.I know that’s a common stereotype that comes alongside being child-free.I’m not even sure that’s exactly what I am, anyhow.”
“It’s understandable if you were,” Caleb said.
“I’ve always liked kids.My foster sister Aniyah has kids.I’m their godmother.So that’s not an issue.”
Caleb cleared his throat.“Thank you for being honest with me.I’m sorry if I ambushed you.”
She dipped her hand into the popcorn bucket.“You didn’t.You’re right—this is a natural conversation.Even if this is a fun holiday fling, we can still know who each other is outside of this place, right?”
She wouldn’t quite meet his eyes.He had to wonder if she was feeling the same thing—that they were fooling themselves if they thought this could ever be just a holiday fling.
“How about we turn on the movie?”She shoved a handful of popcorn into her mouth.
Conversation over.Hopefully, he could recover the night before it took another awkward left turn.
A small bit of popcorn found itself on her cheek.He reached over to brush it away.
“I’m glad to get to spend another night with you, Emma.I can’t tell you how happy these last few days have made me.”
Then, taking a page out of her book, he shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth, preventing further conversation.
Emma chuckled.“I see how it is.Come on, let’s get the singing and dancing shenanigans started.”
Chapter Seventeen
She wasn’t sure who’d dozed off first.Emma jolted awake sometime after the movie booted back to the DVD menu screen.Caleb was knocked out in the recliner next to her.His blanket had slid off his lap and now lay pooled around his feet.
She’d felt nervous at the beginning of the night, given the heavy turn their conversation had taken.But if her answers had thrown him, he hadn’t shown it.They’d chatted off and on during the movie, until they’d both drifted off.
Perhaps it was her upbringing, but sleep had never come easily for her, especially not in a strange place, and with a—not so—strange man.
There really was something special about Caleb.
She took a moment to gaze at him.He snored ever so slightly, unsurprising given his position, with his head tilted back.
He looked so comfortable, she hated to disturb him.But she knew as well as anyone that once you passed thirty, sleeping in an unusual position would lead only to aches and pains come morning.
She pushed her leg rest down and tossed the blanket to the side.Then she quietly approached Caleb.She gently placed a hand on his shoulder.She paused, waiting to see if her touch would wake him.He didn’t as much as stir.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.”
He jolted awake so suddenly Emma took a step back so they wouldn’t knock heads.He sat up with a start and gasped out a breath.He dropped a hand onto his chest when his eyes landed on Emma.
“Sorry, the dad reflexes kicked in.Normally, when I’m woken out of a dead sleep, the words ‘Dad, I threw up’ are to follow.Then the world’s worst scavenger hunt begins.”His voice was all kinds of raspy.
She stifled a laugh.“Sorry.We’ve both had a long day.It’s not a remark on present company that you fell asleep.Because I did too.”
“I know, you fell first.”
She laughed before she could stop herself.“You have no idea just how right you are about that.”
