Page 60 of A Very Merry Mistake

Jake isn’t a toy for her to snatch back when it’s convenient. And if I teach him anything while I’m here, it will be that.

I don’t think he realizes how much of a unicorn he is. If he ran within my circle, he’d be snatched up so fast and married before he could blink twice. Good guys are elusive.

He drives us to the antique shop, and when we walk in, I’m amazed by how deep it goes. The building is the entire length of the block from Main Street to Gingerbread Lane. It smells like an old library, and I make an immediate left. Shelves full of knickknacks, picture frames, and random dishes go from floor to ceiling.

“Do you antique a lot?” Jake asks, watching me with amazement as my eyes trail over every item.

“I like to look, but I hardly ever buy anything. Although I’ve been known to purchase the occasional snow globe.”

He gives me a wide grin. “You collect snow globes?”

A blush hits my cheek. “Yeah, it’s dumb. I know.”

“It’s not. But this means you have to meet my mawmaw. You’d love her collection. She has several passed down from her mother and ones she’s collected as a young girl.”

“Ooh, I’d love that. I have a shelf in my bedroom with all the ones I’ve found over the years. Funny story, though: I always get stopped by security for carrying it in my bag.”

“Really?”

“Swear.”

“Did you know there is controversy on when the first snow globe was invented?”

He chuckles. “Oh damn, snow globe drama.”

I nod, continuing to make my way toward the back. “Oh yeah. The first one was seen at the 1878 Exposition Universelle. Then, in 1900, a man named Erwy Perzy patented it. The collection of the originals went up for sale a few years ago. I almost bought them. Probably should have.”

“Wow, that’s interesting. I didn’t realize they aren’t that old of an invention. I guess my grandma has some early ones, then.”

We pass a rack of goofy hats. Many look like they came from detective shows from the 1940s. Against the back wall, there is a glass cabinet, and inside are different jewelry boxes. I’m a little disappointed; I thought I’d found the snow globe haven. Most antique shops I’ve ever visited have had one. I never ask the clerks where it’s located, either. It’s like my personal treasure hunt. Sometimes, they’re even randomly sprinkled around among the junk. That’s when it’s entertaining.

“What other facts do you know?”

I burst out laughing. “Oh God, way too many. They are mainly useless things, though. When I had panic attacks as a kid, my mother would start listing off random facts she knew to calm me down. After she passed away, it became an obsession. For example, did you know the Texas state sport is rodeoing?”

His face contorts. “It’s not football?”

I shake my head. “Did you know there is a ranch in Texas larger than Rhode Island?”

“Okay, that’s believable. Texas is a huge bitch.”

“All peacocks are male. Females are called peahens.”

He snorts. “Ha. Cocks. That’s easy to remember.”

“William Shatner sold a kidney stone he passed to an online casino for $25,000, then donated the money to charity.”

His mouth falls open. “Okay, wow. I could have you tell me this random shit all day long. A kidney stone? That’s…weird as hell.”

I shoot him a smile. “Green eyes are very rare. Only two percent of the population has that eye color, and it’s even rarer for men.”

Jake bats his eyes at me. “Oh, so I am special?”

“In more ways than one.” I wink. “When I first met you, it took every bit of control I had not to share that tidbit.”

“Interesting. Didn’t know any of that.”

I appreciate Jake not rushing me. Instead, he grabs random things and looks at them.

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