Page 60 of Holiday Crush
“That won’t be necessary. Thank you for the offer, but…I’m staying here.” I slid out of the booth and held my hand out, shaking his while he gaped at me like a fish out of water.
“Here?” he repeated. “I don’t get it. Vinnie said you were ready. He said you were biding your time and chomping at the bit to get on the ice. This is a good deal, Court. You’re not going to see another one like it.”
“You’re right and I appreciate your time, but things have changed and I think I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Thank you.”
I slipped a few twenties into our waitress’s hand on my way to the exit, then pushed the door open and took my first truly unfettered breath since I’d first come home.
I hurried across the street to Rise and Grind. According to the barista, a short blond kid with freckles and a nose ring, Ivan was visiting Stacy. I popped into the bakery, but my mom had taken the day off so after hassling Annie about her sweater and her Santa hat got old, I checked over at the coffee shop again and ended up leaving a text for Ivan to call me.
Three hours later, I still hadn’t heard from him. It was Christmas Eve, and he was probably swamped at the coffee shop. Or was he? Did Elmwood really drink that much fucking caffeine on a holiday? And didn’t they close early like everyone else? I ate my weight in peppermint bark and watched sports highlights while I waited for him to call.
Nothing.
The only one blowing up my phone was Vinnie, who wanted to know what the fuck happened. Gary was pissed, Vinnie was confused, and I was…perfectly fine. But I owed Vin an explanation, and I’d call him as soon as I talked to Ivan.
Three voice messages and four texts later, still nothing. Okay, now I was officially worried.
I shrugged my jacket on, pulled a beanie over my ears, and started for the front door.
“Anyone home? I could use some help with the groceries,” Mom called from the kitchen.
I helped her schlep a dozen bags into the house, leaving them on the island. “Is that everything?”
“Yes, thank goodness. I’ve been out all day, and I’m pretty sure I hit every town in the Four Forest area,” she reported, filling the tea kettle. “I’m so glad we have Christmas Eve off from entertaining, but we have to be at Aunt Margaret’s in two hours. Thank goodness she lives close by…it’s snowing out there!”
“Snowing,” I repeated.
“Just a few flurries, but we may have a nice blanket of snow in the morning. That’s always fun to wake up to on Christmas Day. Now tell me about your meeting. I’ve been on pins and needles. Did it go well? Did you like the agent?”
“Yeah, it was fine. He’s a nice guy.”
“Oh, that’s great news! I want to hear all about it.”
“I’ll tell you everything later. I gotta run. I haven’t been able to get a hold of Ivan and—”
“Oh, I just bumped into him when I stopped by the bakery to give Annie her gift.”
“Thanks.”
She followed me into the foyer, tugging at my coat before I reached the door. “I’m too curious to wait. Did you sign a contract?”
“No.”
Mom turned abruptly. “What? Why not? This is what you’ve worked for. This is your dream.”
I shrugged as I reached for the doorknob. “The dream changed.”
“Are you sure about this, Court?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life,” I replied adamantly.
She smiled. “Then go. I love you.”
“Love you too.” I pecked her cheek and raced out the door.
The streets were nearly deserted now.Snow drifted on a gentle breeze, glowing prettily in the holiday lights crisscrossing Main Street. Memories leaped at me from all sides as I hurried by the dry cleaner, Town Hall, and the benches in front of the fountain.
When I was little, I’d pretend to walk a tightrope on the fountain’s ledge, catching snowflakes on my tongue. When I was nine or so, my brother and I would have snowman competitions at the hill near Blossom where for some reason, the snow seemed deepest. When I was a teenager, I’d instigated the Great Snowball Fight during a freak snowstorm on winter break.