Page 36 of All I Want for Christmas Eve

Chapter Fifteen

I am strolling slowly down Main Street in Snowflake Creek, wearing high-heeled red boots and window shopping for Christmas presents for my family. Mary and Sven are out somewhere grabbing a romantic brunch or whatever together. I think Clara is somewhere around, too. It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m usually not a last-minute shopper. But I just haven’t been feeling the holiday spirit since I got home. However, I pause at the window of a bakery when I see a gorgeous display of Christmas-themed cake-pops. I stare at them for a second, reminiscing about Adam and feeling sad.

Somehow, the cake pops don’t look that appetizing. Usually I would be thrilled to try every single one of those beautifully decorated sweets. But now, I can only imagine that they would taste like sadness.

“I think that your reindeer were better,” says a familiar voice.

I freeze, still staring at the cake pops. I notice the shadow of a taller man in the glass behind me. I do not turn around immediately. I bite my lip.

“Eve?” he says softly, placing his hand on my shoulder.

I jump at the touch and turn around sharply, glaring at him. “Adam? What are you doing here?”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t fly,” he says. “Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. I was really embarrassed.”

I shuffle from side to side, crossing my arms and looking down. “How did you find me?”

“There’s only one Snowflake Creek in Minnesota. I figured I would just drive up and down every street and ask everyone I saw until I found you. But luckily, there’s only one major street, and the prettiest girl happened to be walking right down the sidewalk.”

“Oh. So… Did you get over your fear of flying?” I ask him.

“Not yet. There was no chance of that happening anytime soon. I drove.”

“You… drove?” I ask.

“Yes. Thankfully, it was my left leg that was injured. And your car is automatic, so it wasn’t hard,” he says with a grin.

“That’s like… a five-day drive, if you drive at least ten hours a day. In the summer. In this weather…”

“I did drive over ten hours a day, Evie. I promised myself that I would do whatever it takes to get home to you. I told you that we’d see each other again, and I mean what I say.”

I am still reeling from the fact that he called it gettinghometo me,when I realize what else he said.“Wait—mycar?”

He gestures behind him, at my Jeep. “As soon as you left on that plane, I was mentally kicking myself. I rushed over to the lot where we sold your Jeep, and paid him double what he paid you to get it back.”

“Rich people,” I say with mock annoyance, but my heart is swelling.

“See? That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”

“You really disappointed me,” I tell him softly. “I understand the PTSD, but… I really thought you were just flaking out on me.”

“Well, I wanted to prove that I would never do that,” Adam says, moving over to the Jeep and opening the door to the backseat. “Look what I brought you!”

Wrapped carefully in bubble wrap is my green armchair. My grandma Evelyn’s green armchair. I feel tears spring to my eyes. “Adam, you didn’t.”

“I know how much it means to you,” he says, gently placing his hands on both my arms. “I still think it’s hideous. But you love it, so I wanted to bring it for you. And I hope that you can forgive me for being such a chicken, and bailing on you.”

“You weren’t being a chicken,” I say, sniffling and rubbing a tear away. “You were traumatized. Of course, I understand that. I just thought you were using it as an excuse to ditch me.”

“I never would, Evie. I meant everything I said. I know itseemed crazy and soon, to say all the things I said to you, and I totally get why you would think I was just being a jerk and faking—”

“I didn’t think you were faking,” I say softly.

“But I meant it,” Adam says. “I meant every word. Of everything. Will you forgive me?”

“Of course, you idiot,” I say, throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him soundly, while tears slip from my eyes. We kiss desperately for a good minute before I notice there is the sound of applause. My sisters are standing nearby and clapping, along with Sven, and basically the whole town. My cheeks turn red, and I try to wave them away for privacy.

But Snowflake Creek is a small town, and there’s no such thing as privacy.

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