He’d been busy at the rink all day, but he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it—or Imogen, for that matter. He kept seeing the way her face had lit up when she’d figured out herexhibit piece idea. He’d been thinking about it, actually—about her—more than he probably should have been.
Personally, he’d thought the town Secret Santa idea that Mabel and Vanessa had come up with was incredibly fun, but it had been a bit unnerving that he’d been thinking so much about Imogen, his ex-girlfriend from high school and now his friend, and then he’d drawn her name. It was a nervous, heart-fluttery feeling that he hadn’t had… well, since high school. Since he’d been with her.
The truth was, he’d been looking for excuses to see her. He’d been feeling that way more and more since the day he’d come in to pick up his chocolate order; maybe longer than that, if he was being honest with himself. Getting her a Secret Santa gift was a perfect excuse, but he also wanted the gift itself to be perfect.
And he didn’t want to do anything to mess up their friendship. He was lucky to have the relationship he did with her now. Lots of high school exes didn’t, and it could have been awkward when he came back, but it wasn’t.
He thought of how surprised she’d been that he remembered how she liked her sandwich, and that she didn’t like plain peppermint. He hadn’t meant to remember those things, he just… had. As if she took up a permanent spot in his mind that he couldn’t replace with anything else. He knew, deep down, that it was more than just how a friend would remember things. He still cared about her. But he didn’t want to shake things up and make them awkward. The last thing either of them needed was for him to complicate things by reading too much into friendly gestures and shared glances.
But he enjoyed seeing her. He wanted to see hermore. And he really, really needed to think of the perfect Christmas gift.
Mabel looked out of the window of The Toy Chest for what felt like the hundredth time that afternoon as she waited to see Imogen emerge from Artisan Chocolates. She was pretending to fix the window displays of the toy shop, but really she was plotting to grab Imogen as quickly as she could before the other woman left for the day so that she could get her in to draw a name for Secret Santa. Lincoln’s, of course. She and Vanessa had been plotting to make sure that happened, just as they’d made sure that Lincoln had drawn Imogen’s name.
“Any sign of her yet?” Vanessa whispered, appearing at Mabel’s elbow and clearly trying to contain her excitement.
“Not yet,” Mabel said quietly, although there was no one else in the shop to overhear them. “I saw her through the window about ten minutes ago, working behind the counter. But she isn’t done for the day yet.”
Vanessa pressed her face closer to the window, trying to get a better view. “Maybe we should just go over there? We could pretend we want to buy chocolate. Actually, I kind ofdowant chocolate.”
“And what, take the Secret Santa names to her? We haven’t done that for anyone else,” Mabel pointed out. “Imogen’s smart. She’ll know we’re up to something if we do that.”
“You’re right,” Vanessa agreed, impatience still coloring her tone. “I’m sure she’ll be done soon.”
Getting Lincoln to draw Imogen’s name had been easy. Mabel had simply prepared a bowl filled entirely with slips of paper bearing Imogen’s name, letting Lincoln reach in and make his “random” selection. They’d prepared a jar with the samething for Imogen—all of the slips had Lincoln’s name, so there was no chance she’d pull anyone else.
“There!” Vanessa said suddenly, grabbing Mabel’s arm. “She’s locking up. One of us should go catch her before she heads home.”
Vanessa bounced on her toes as Imogen stepped out of the shop, locking up and tugging her scarf closer around her neck. It was a gray, frigid day promising more snow, and both women knew Imogen would be in a hurry to get out of the cold and get home.
“Remember,” Mabel whispered urgently as they headed toward the door to intercept her, “act natural. We’re just helpful friends who thought she might want to participate in a fun holiday tradition.”
“Got it,” Vanessa whispered back, although her grin was so wide it was hardly subtle.
Both women bundled up quickly and headed out, Vanessa waving to catch Imogen’s attention.
“Imogen!” Vanessa called out brightly. “Perfect timing. We were just talking about you.”
“Oh?” Imogen paused, eyebrows rising as she saw the two of them. “Nothing bad, I hope?” she laughed, tucking her keys into her purse. “What’s going on?”
“We were just talking about how you haven’t been over to pull your name for the town Secret Santa,” Mabel piped up. “Everyone is exchanging gifts Saturday, and we’ve been letting everyone know that if they want to participate, they should come in and draw a name.”
“Secret Santa?” Imogen looked genuinely puzzled. “I hadn’t heard about any Secret Santa.”
Mabel elbowed Vanessa. “Didn’t youtellher?” she stage-whispered, and Vanessa winced.
“I’ve beenbusy,” she hissed through her teeth. “Running thestorewhile you take care of the farm!”
Imogen looked between the two of them. “Everything all right?”
“Yes!” Both women spoke in chorus, and Imogen’s eyes got a little wider. “We just… want to make sure everyone gets a chance to participate!” Vanessa said quickly. “I totally meant to tell you. Things have just been crazy, and…”
“It’s fine, honestly,” Imogen said quickly. “Things are crazy for me too. I don’t know if I even really have time for something like…”
“No, you can’t miss it—” Vanessa started to say at the same time that Mabel spoke.
“Youhaveto participate!” Mabel’s voice overlapped Vanessa’s, and Imogen looked a little startled.
“Oh. Well, if it’s that important to you?—”
