Page 60 of Meet Me In Winterberry

“I love it,” I say, and I mean it. I’m not sure why something as simple as a fireplace is making me emotional, but it is. The realization that I never want to leave hits me square in the chest. “If Ben was right about my car, I’m sad I won’t be here to see it.”

“Yeah, that’s true…” he says quietly. Immediately, he shuts down and turns back to the crowd toward Nora and his parents, leaving me standing by myself.

“Penelope, you look amazing,” Sally says as she fights her way through the crowd to reach me. “Are you ready for the bar tonight?”

“I am.” I half-smile. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. Brent was explaining it to me and I’m literally in awe.”

“Yeah, this is something special here in our town. I look forward to it every year. It’s something so simple but so beautiful. I probably sound corny.” She laughs.

“Nope, not corny at all. I completely agree.”

“Do you have an ornament to put on the tree?” she asks.

“What do you mean?”

“The tree! It’s empty right now, but from now until Christmas, people bring homemade ornaments and decorate it. Wait until you see it in a few days, it’ll be overflowing.”

“I love that!” And I mean it. “Maybe Nora and I can make ornaments to hang on there.”

“She would love that. You can do it before you leave, then your ornament will be here as a reminder of your time in our tiny town,” she says as she loops her arm through mine. “Okay, let’s go find the boys and go to the bar. I need a night out. I could do without a night out with Dominick, but it’ll still be fun.”

“What is the story with you two?” I ask her.

“We dated in high school, I thought we were in love, he didn’t, the end.”

“It doesn’t sound like the end to me,” I say bluntly.

“Please, I can’t stand that man,” she says, giggling. “Let’s go get the boys.”

We join the group, approaching Brent and Dominick.

“Okay, are we ready for a night on the town?” Sally asks. “Small town, but still a town.”

“Definitely ready,” Brent says. I can tell he’s itching to get out of here. “Our Uber will be here in a minute. I’m gonna say goodnight to Nora and then we can go.”

As he walks away, I can’t stop myself from staring. He looks otherworldly in those jeans. This man is like a Greek God and I’m under his spell.

I watch him as he embraces his little girl and kisses her forehead, hugs his mom goodbye, and waves to the other residents around him. He may not be a big people person, but damn is he loved here in Winterberry.

“All right, our chariot awaits,” he says once he gets back to where we’re waiting. “Let’s go.”

The four of us make our way to the Uber.

Here goes nothing.

Chapter Twenty-One

Brent

Assoonasweget to the Uber, Dom climbs up front. Sally grabs the seat behind the driver. I open the back passenger door for Penelope, and she looks up at me before sliding into the middle seat.

The back seat is small, and when I get in, the three of us are squished together. Our legs are touching, and Penelope’s nearness sends heat rushing through me.

I’m not sure where to put my hands, so I lay one on my left thigh and prop my head up with my right hand. Penelope puts both of her hands on her thighs, and I’m tempted to reach out and interlace our fingers.

The desire is almost out of my control, but I don’t know how she would react if I did. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.

“All right, ready for a night at The Anchor Pub?” the Uber driver asks.

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