Page 23 of A Christmas Road Trip

Then I reorganize the car before leaving the hotel. We fill up with gas and vacuum out the car (my idea, not Chase’s, of course), and we head to a small town forty-five miles away.

This town doesn’t have a holiday shop or craft scene, but they pride themselves on being a “Christmas town.” They’ve obviously spent a lot on fixing up their downtown area to attract tourists, and they’ve really played up the holiday decorations. The biggest draw is their Christmas lights, which are set up in adorable vignettes all over the town land and reinforced by residents who go all out decorating their houses.

Obviously, the lights can’t be enjoyed until it gets dark, so we need to kill time until evening. There are a few antique and primitives stores in town, but I’m afraid Chase might be getting tired of them, and they don’t look particularly unique or interesting, so I suggest we have lunch and then go on a hike since the day is cool and sunny and I’ve researched a few popular trails in the area.

Chase likes the idea, although he assures me he’d be happy to look at more stores and insists I shouldn’t change any of my plans because I imagine he wants it. I’m actually glad to do something different today, so we look over the nearby trails over lunch and decide on a four-mile hike that isn’t too rigorous since I don’t want to be exhausted looking at the lights this evening.

Chase and I go to the bathroom when we’re done eating. He’s done before I am, and when I come out, I see him up at the cash register, paying for our lunch bill.

I’m shaking my head since he knows I’m supposed to pay for lunch this time. I’m heading over to join him when the sound of someone saying my name makes me pause.

“Paige!” the voice comes again.

I turn around and scan the tables in the corner until I find the source of the voice.

I recognize her immediately. Carly Grant. I went to college with her. She was in the same major, so we often ended up in the same classes. I haven’t seen her since we graduated.

“Carly!” I say with a smile, feeling more tired than excited about unexpectedly encountering her. It would be quite rude to convey this, however, so I make sure my expression is happy. “How wild to see you here.”

“I know!” She’s attractive with auburn hair and freckles. She’s smiling widely. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re just passing through. Wanted to see the lights.” I glance over toward the cash register and see that Chase has finished paying. He catches my eye with a wordless question about whether he should come over or not.

I raise one finger to indicate I’ll just be a minute.

Carly’s eyes follow the bit of byplay. “Is that your boyfriend? Very, very nice.”

I’m not sure what gets into me. It’s a petty, immature impulse, no doubt triggered by the fact that I was always insecure around Carly in college. She was perfectly nice to me—and only rarely passive-aggressive. But she was always pretty and popular and smart, and all the guys were into her.

They were never into me.

She clearly likes the looks of Chase, and she thinks he’s my boyfriend.

So I hear myself saying, “Yeah. He is.”

I flush as I realize I’ve lied about my relational status with Chase. I’m not the kind of person who does that, and I have no idea why I’m doing it now.

But I want people to think Chase is mine.

I want Carly to think that.

“How long have you been together?” she asks.

“We’ve known each other all our lives.” I glance back over to Chase, who is watching me with his eyebrows drawn together. “I hate to be rude, but we’ve got plans.”

“Of course you do.” She’s still smiling, looking lively and curious. “Hey, you said you were staying for the lights tonight. If you have some time, we have refreshments in the town hall every evening over the holidays. I’m serving today, so stop by and we can catch up.”

“Oh, that sounds nice. I’ll definitely try!” I’m grinning and relieved to make an escape.

It’s my own fault. Not Carly’s. She’s not the one who made me concoct a ridiculous lie for no other reason than to feel better about myself.

“We’ll be there between seven and nine. Be sure to stop by! I’d love to hear all the updates on your life.”

I confirm we’ll do our best and say goodbye, moving quickly to join Chase.

He’s studying my face as I approach. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Just someone I knew in college.”

---