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“Yep, I’m good. I just forgot how to use a laddertemporarily.” I got down and moved it to the right. Alden lingered nearby.
“I’ll be sure you don’t fall again.”
“You do know it’s too late for that, right?” My cheeks heated as I said it.
“I have an idea. It’s the same for me, you know.”
“This is super cute,” Winnie said in a low voice. I didn’t even notice she’d walked over to us. “But you two are beingsoobvious right now.”
“I told you I was about to ruin Christmas,” Alden muttered.
“Nickis,” Winnie corrected. “And I doubt it’s the first holiday he’s ruined.”
“Are you talking about me over there?” Nick called.
“Of course,” Winnie said, rolling her eyes. “They were just telling me about one of your childhood Fourth of Julys.”
“You told her about the smoke bomb incident?” His eyes were on us.
Winnie laughed. “Nope.Youjust did. I just picked the easiest holiday to mess up and went with it. Now, let me focus on this ugly tree.”
“It’s not ugly!” Nick defended.
“It definitely is,” Amma responded. “Now get back to work.”
TWENTY
“You seemto like that corner a lot.” Amma’s voice made me jump. “Just like you admired the top of the ladder just a few moments ago.”
Heat crept up my neck. I should have known Amma would watch where I was looking. I’d tried to keep in check, but there was no avoiding looking at Stella anymore. It had been just she and I for damn near five days, and it wasn’t enough.
It never would be enough.
I thought I could play it cool like I did for the last seven years, but now I knew her too well. I’d been sorely wrong.
“What corner?” I hoped playing dumb would help.
“Whichever one Stella is in.”
Nope. Amma read right through me. “It’s hard to spend several days taking care of someone and then all of that changing.”
“Oh, I’m sure. It’s alsoher.”
“I don’t?—”
“Don’t deny it. You’ve looked at her for a long time. Do you think I can’t see it? I’m old but I’m not blind.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” She laughed. “Ha! Don’t be sorry. I think it’s a good thing.”
“You would be the first.”
“Some people used to be protective of her, sure. But you’re a good person. Everyone here knows that. You’ll treat Stella right.”
“You really think that?”
“Yes,” she said as if it were obvious. “In fact, it always could have happened, but I’d especially understand if it happened while you were trapped together.”