Page 72 of Mine For The Winter

“Oh no, I’m getting my payback. And enjoying it.” Amber was still grinning. “So how was his hot dog? Did you eat it all?” Her voice lowered. “Was there mustard involved?”

Kelly rolled her eyes. All those times she’d teased Amber about North and now the shoe was on the other foot and she hated it. “Yes.”

“And the sandwich? Was that good, too?”

Kelly swallowed. “It was the best.”

“Of course it was.” Amber nodded. “So what’s the problem?”

The woman was still listening, Kelly was sure of it. But she didn’t know her. She looked like a tourist, and if she wanted to eavesdrop then let her.

“The problem is, I shouldn’t have eaten them. And nor should he.”

“Why not?” Amber blinked.

“Because I’m on a diet. And I don’t need the calories.” Or the consequences.

“You’ve lost me,” Amber admitted. “Tell you what. Want to walk and talk?”

The woman groaned. Ha! Yep, she was listening.

“Sure.” Kelly grabbed her coffee and Amber took her hot chocolate. They were already in to-go cups so they waved at Dolores behind the café counter and went outside. The sidewalks were as full of tourists as the café had been. They dodged a group of little kids in winter hats, crossed the road, and walked past the Tavern. The door was closed but she could hear the low hum of jazz coming out of the jukebox. Her dad always did love John Coltrane.

“So…” Amber prompted when it was clear they were alone. “Let’s start again but without the food metaphors. What exactly happened?”

Kelly blew out a mouthful of air and filled Amber in on Kris’ visit to her house and then her visit to his cabin.

“Wow. I never realized there were so many unspoken feelings between you two,” Amber said.

Yeah, and this was why Kelly had tried not to think about it for so long. Because this was a mess.

“Did you two ever…” Amber trailed off. “Before he left for Europe?”

Kelly knew exactly what she was asking. And the truth was too complicated. “Not really. Maybe. I don’t know.” All she knew was that she was making an even bigger mess and she had no idea how to stop. “I just wish…”

“What do you wish?” Amber asked.

“That I wasn’t such an idiot.”

“Oh honey.” Amber took Kelly’s hand and squeezed it. “You’ve got a lot going on, don’t you?”

Kelly sighed heavily. “Yeah.”

“I’m always here. If you want to talk.”

“I know.” Kelly nodded. But she also knew that Amber wasn’t the one she needed to talk to. It was Kris, but she was scared.

More scared than she’d been of anything before.

“It’s funny,” Amber said, “because North was all worried yesterday. He couldn’t get ahold of Kris for a while and started panicking that he’d left.”

Kelly nodded. The same fear filled her. Which was silly, because she knew Kris would leave. He was only visiting. Not back for good.

“That’s why I don’t want Cole becoming attached to him.”

It was the truth and a lie. Amber looked at her, full of sympathy, as though she knew Kelly wasn’t just talking about Cole.

She was talking about herself. And she was already attached.

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