Page 24

I grab my mug and hoist it toward him. “Cheers!”

He taps his against mine, smiling. “Cheers.”

We both take a sip. It’s the perfect amount of hot and sweet, the creamy mint coating my tongue and throat, warming my belly. I hum a satisfied “Mmm-mmm-mmm!”

He chuckles, his cheeks turning pink.

“What?” I say, laughing at myself.

“Nothing, it’s just...” He takes a moment to regard me, his eyes lingering on my lips. “You’re really cute.”

I flush bright red, my insides turning to goop. “Thanks. You’re pretty cute, too.”

The rest of the movie passes as we chat about Christmas, movies, Chilliwack, and how he’s lived his whole life here. I learn that he has three jobs and is saving to travel, and tell him about my goals and ambitions as an actress. We drink our hot chocolate, nibble our pizza, and occasionally pause talking to watch the movie, all while inching closer and closer to each other. By the time the movie ends, my legs are resting on top of his lap and our sides are pressed together.

“How random is it that of all the cabins I could have rented, I picked this one?” I ask, speaking low and quiet, not wanting to break the spell that’s settled over us.

“I don’t think it’s random at all.”

“No?”

He gives his head a slow shake, then reaches up, tucking a tendril of hair behind my ear. “I must have been a pretty good person in my past life for karma to bring you my way.”

I fucking melt. I don’t necessarily believe in karma, and I know from a Canadian Bollywood-style indie film I acted in a few years ago that karma is a much more complicated process than the common Western appropriative context, but I appreciate the sentiment.

“I feel pretty lucky, too,” I admit. “It feels like so many things had to align for us to meet. The movie I’m filming, the Christmas lights, the old electrical in this place—”

He chuckles, nodding along.

“We could have very easily not met at all.”

“But we did,” he counters.

I nod. “But we did.”

A tense silence builds as we draw closer. There’s a thrumming in the base of my belly, increasing in intensity with everysecond. His throat bobs as his eyes fall to my lips, which part ever so slightly, welcoming him. I feel nearly dizzy with anticipation, my heart pounding in my ears, and—

His phone rings. The spell breaks and Matt pulls back, eyeing the device as it dings away. “That’s my alarm.” He gives me an apologetic half smile.

I shrug, masking my disappointment. “We knew this time would come.”

He turns off the alarm and looks at me one more time, then gives my thigh a quick squeeze before standing. I follow him, waiting as he toes his shoes on and opens the door. He pauses in the doorway, the bright July afternoon sun illuminating his tall frame from behind.

“Look, Ellie,” he says, glancing up from his shoes back to me.

My heart thuds in my chest. Nothing good ever happens after someone starts off withlook. Unless it’slook, there’s an ice cream truck. I swallow, bracing for the opposite. “Yeah?”

“I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable or do something inappropriate, especially given the circumstances of you renting the cabin. Just say the word and I’ll leave you alone, but...” He takes a deep breath, then meets my gaze. “I think you’re really cute and I’d like to see you again, if that’s okay.”

Squeezing my fists together at my sides, I contain as much of my excitement as I possibly can and keep my face set to a measured smile rather than the full-out grin tugging at my cheeks. “I’d like that,” I somehow manage to reply in a cool and even tone.

His smile lights up his face. “Cool. Text me when you’re free.”

I nod. “Will do.”

He gives me a knowing, playful look. “Without breaking anything this time.”

“What!” I gasp in mock offence, pressing my hand to my chest. “I would never do anything so—”