Page 5 of Mine For The Winter

“I’m sorry?”

His smile widened. He had the kind of face that looked too young for his taller-than-her frame. Like his legs had grown but his face hadn’t got the message. “My name is Kris Winter. What’s yours?”

“Kelly.”

He nodded, looking pleased at her answer. Like she’d given him more than she had. “Want to sit with me for lunch? I’ll share my sandwich. Since it looks like you also like cheese.”

“It’s okay, I’ll just eat my banana.”

He pulled a chair out and she waited for him to sit down. Then he gave her a look and she realized it was for her. What kind of boy held chairs out? She frowned but took the seat anyway. And then he sat down next to her and put half of his sandwich on her tray. “Eat it. It was my fault you fell over.”

Her stomach growled and she did as she was told, even though it bruised her pride some.

“You’re new,” he said.

“Yep.” She bit into the sandwich and her stomach growled again. She’d been too nervous to eat breakfast. Too worried about having to meet with the principal and then meet kids she didn’t know.

“That’s a first. You didn’t say you were fine.” He was grinning now. He had these little dimples that puckered his cheeks. “So where are you living?”

“In Winterville.” She put the half-eaten sandwich down and took a better look at him. He had a straight nose, the kind of nose she’d always wanted because hers had a bump on it and she hated it. His eyes were blue, and his hair was annoying because it kind of dangled into them. She wanted to wipe it away.

“Ah, you’re the tavern girl.”

She tipped her head to the side. “How’d you know that?”

“The tavern has a new owner. He has a daughter. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that’s who you are.” He was still smiling. And he’d spoken more words to her in the last two minutes than anybody else had all morning. Even the teacher in her first class had just pointed at a desk and then carried on with teaching the lesson. Any hope she’d had that she’d at least get somebody assigned to her as a buddy had drifted away.

When the lunch bell rang she’d followed everybody else, her purse clutched in her hand because her dad had given her exactly two dollars to pay for a sandwich. He’d looked hopeful when she left. As hopeful as he did since her mom had died.

Even if she had the worst day today, she’d tell him it was fabulous.

“Do you live in Winterville?” she asked Kris.

His grin widened. “Yeah. My grandma owns the town.”

And now she felt stupid. He was related to Candy Winter. Of course he was with that last name. Her dad had bought the tavern from Candy, and he’d talked about her the whole drive here. Told Kelly about how famous Candy Winter had once been. How she’d moved back to her hometown after a Hollywood scandal and had purchased the whole town, throwing money at the place until there were jobs for everybody she loved.

Kelly opened her mouth to ask Kris about his grandmother when a voice from behind her interrupted her thoughts.

“What’s the sitch?” She turned to see a sandy-haired boy grinning at them both. He sat down heavily next to Kris. Then he looked over at Kelly, his brows lifting. “Who’s this.”

“Kelly. Her dad bought the tavern,” Kris told him. “And she’s fine, so don’t ask.”

Kelly started to roll her eyes, but she stopped when she felt the smile tug at her lips.

“And this is Lyle. General asshole. My best friend.”

“Pleased to meet you, Kelly.” Lyle reached out his hand and she shook it. “So your dad bought the tavern. You think you can get us some free beer”

“No.” This time she did roll her eyes. It made Kris smile.

“That would not be fine,” Kris said, deadpan, looking at Lyle.

“Completely un-fine,” Kelly agreed.

Lyle looked from Kelly to Kris and then back again. “You two are weird,” he muttered, then grabbed his own sandwich and bit into it, still looking at her. “Wanna hang out with us after school? We’re going to my place to play someLegend of Zelda.”

“Sure.” She shrugged. “Sounds good.” Her dad wouldn’t mind. He’d told her she needed to make friends. She’d just have to call him from the payphone before she caught the bus.

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