Page 8 of Holiday Friend Zones
I grinned down at the familiar coffee cups from Latte on the Rocks, as well as the bag of pastries.
“I have my water bottle and a few snacks for the road.”I dug into the tote and pulled out my container.
“A variety of cookies because I was bored, and then I have this too.”I lifted another smaller container.“Tiny sandwiches that don’t need to be in the cooler.”
“How many Mary Poppins things are you going to pull out of that tote?”he asked as he turned on the engine.
I blushed, shaking my head.“You don’t ask questions about a girl and her tote.”
“With all my sisters you think I would’ve learned that already.Oh, you dropped this.”He leaned forward, and I could feel his breath on my knee as he lifted the small silver-wrapped present.
“Oh, thank you.”I chickened out as I grabbed the present from him and shoved it into the tote along with the containers.
“Anyway, I guess we should head out?I know you texted the address to me and I put it into the GPS, but can you double check?”
I nodded, aware that we were both leaning towards each other, before I turned abruptly to the GPS and smiled.
“Looks right.Thank you for this again.”
“If you don’t stop thanking me, I’m going to open the window as we’re driving through the snow and make you deal with it.”
“You wouldn’t.”
He gave me a look that said he totally would, and frankly, with the way that I kept blushing and heating up, maybe snow in my face would help.
It was a good four-hour drive to my parents’, which wasn’t that far, however, I knew the roads weren’t going to be easy.Cullen drove with ease, and I was grateful for his deep voice as he led the conversation.We spoke about silly things, work, the Montgomerys, and our favorite coffee place.It wasn’t lost on me that he had gotten my order right.Even though I tended to switch between twenty different things, he had chosen the one that I drink most often.
I knew his coffee order as well, but it was easier since it was just a plain latte with skim milk and three sugars.But he had realized that I was in the mood for a winter latte during this season, complete with caramel, a dash of vanilla, and eggnog of all things.It sounded disgusting, but it was my true joy.
“Okay, I’m going to need one of those cookies.”
I laughed as I bent over to dig into my bag for the container.
“Beware, I have six kinds.”
“Where did you have time to make seven different kinds of cookies?Because I know it’s not just one batch of each.”
I shrugged as I opened the box so that I could show him what I had.
“I like baking.And I was able to give my neighbors cookies, as well as the local kids project that I worked with all semester.
“Those kids did a great job with their play.You did good, Posy.”
I blushed, remembering seeing him in the back row, cheering for the director, rather than the kids.
Because he had shown up as my friend, just as Mercy had, and I needed to remember that.
Friend.
“I have sugar cookies, frosted sugar cookies, chocolate chip, oatmeal chocolate chip because raisins do not belong in cookies, peanut butter kisses, peanut butter sugar cookies, and strawberry shortcake kisses.”
“I have no idea what two of those are, but a kiss?I’ll take one of those.”
His face drained of color for a moment, before he cleared his throat and focused on the road.
“I meant the strawberry one.That sounds good.”
“No problem.However, I just realized I forgot napkins.”
