Page 15 of Home for the Holidays

“What the hell, what the hell, what the hell?” Heidi whispered to herself as she rushed over to the pastry counter, yanked an unfolded box from one of the shelves, and started to fumble to put it together. How could she be so stupid, asking out a customer like that? And one she didn’t even know? So very dumb. And then getting denied? It’d been years since she asked anyone out. So many years. She was rusty, obviously, and she had no idea how to ask women out. All of this was too new. Had she even read the situation correctly? Was this woman interested? Or was she simply being kind? “Ugh, motherfucker,” she said softly as she continued to fight with the pink cardboard. Her fingers were like jelly. All she wanted to do was fold the freaking thing, and nothing was working. “Goddammit.” Frustration seeped from her pores.

“What in the world are you doing?” Charity peeked over Heidi’s shoulder and grabbed the box with a huff. “It’s a box, Heidi, not a physics problem.” She quickly folded the sides, sliding the tabs together without any issues. “What is going on with you? Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “Oh, sure.” She forced a strained laugh. “Yeah, I’mgreat. Stress, y’know? Manifests itself in weird ways.” Another laugh bubbled out of her, but this one sounded entirely too nervous for the situation. She cringed. “Thank you for folding that.”

“Do you want me tohelpyou get the order together?” Charity’s eyes were wide as she stared at Heidi. “Because you’re acting like a weirdo.”

“No, no, I’ve got it. Thank you.”

“Are you sure?” Charity very slowly started to hand the box over. She stopped before Heidi grabbed it, though, pulling it away so she’d answer her next question. “What happened over there?”

“Nothing.”That was too quick of an answer, Heidi.

Charity’s eyes narrowed. “Who is that woman you were talking to?”

“No one.”

“Um—”

“No, I literally mean no one. I didn’t get her name. She’s in town for the holidays. Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothingmore to sayis what I meant to say.” She wanted to kick herself.

Charity rose onto her tiptoes and peered at the woman over Heidi’s shoulder. “You sure about that? She’s very pretty.”

“Why would that even matter?” She stopped herself and glared at her employee. The glare probably looked more like a pained expression, though, because Heidi didn’t have a mean bone in her body. “Charity, get the pastries for me,” Heidi acquiesced, hoping she’d get Charity off her back by giving her work to do. “The most popular ones, please. And make sure you put two bear claws in there. And three warm chocolate croissants. Oh, and a vanilla sprinkle doughnut. And a chocolate one. Shit, just let me do it—”

Charity ripped the box away from her. “I’ve got it, Heidi. I’ve got it. Don’t worry.” She turned and started to fill the box, doing exactly as Heidi had said. It wasn’t that she couldn’t have gathered the items herself. She could have. But clearly, she wasn’t on her A-game. Or B-game. Or, hell, any game for that matter. What had gotten into her? Was it really this woman?

She glanced across the café at her. She was on her phone, talking to someone. Her smile was wide, her dark hair was pulled into a messy bun, and the morning sunlight finding its way into the café was catching red highlights. This woman wasn’t justvery pretty. She wasabsolutely gorgeous.Her alabaster skin complemented her eyes, which were as blue as the sweater she was wearing. And the light smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks were so cute.

Oh my goodness. Cute? Heidi, what? Are you going to swoon next? You absolute idiot.

“Why are you biting your lip like that while staring across the café at that strange woman?”

Heidi jumped at the sound of Charity’s voice an inch from her ear. “JesusChrist.”

“I don’t know if you should be using the big JC’s name like that days before His birthday.” Charity smirked as she handed over the box of pastries. “I also put your famous chocolate chip cookies in there, y’know, for good measure.”

“You know how to go above and beyond, don’t you?”

“Yes. Now will you tell me why you’re staring longingly at her?” She placed her hand on the counter, blocking Heidi from leaving the small space they were occupying. “You know I know you’re into women, right?”

Heidi gasped, sucking in air so quickly she started to cough. Charity had not just said what she thought she said. Right now was not the time, and the café was not the place.

“Settle down, Indigo Girl.” Charity patted Heidi’s back. “You okay?”

Once she’d stopped coughing and wiped the tears from her eyes, Heidi opened her mouth to protest everything, but nothing came out. Not a single sound. She snapped it closed and plastered a pleading look on her face.

“I’ve known for a while.”

“How?” Heidi’s shoulders fell the tiniest of amounts. She had thought she was doing such a great job of being in the closet, but two of the people she was closest to in life had already called her out.

“I have excellent gaydar for a straight.” She shrugged. “It’s a blessing and a curse.”

“There is no way you knew just by looking at me.” Heidi folded her arms across her chest.

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