And honestly, it wasn't my business.
Instead, I just stood there with him, feeling the warmth of his presence despite the cold night air. The lights from the Christmas tree flickered around us, creating an almost magical backdrop for this unexpected moment of connection.
"Thank you for coming tonight," I said after a while. "It means a lot."
He nodded slowly, his gaze never wavering from mine. "You're persistent," he remarked quietly.
"I guess I am," I replied with a chuckle. "But sometimes persistence pays off."
Another silence settled between us, but it felt different this time—less awkward and more comfortable. It was as if we were both content to simply be in each other's company without needing to fill every moment with words.
As the evening continued around us—people dancing and laughing, Julian Everett's music weaving through the air—I couldn't help but feel like something significant had shifted between Daryl and me. We were no longer just acquaintances thrown together by circumstance; there was a deeper understanding beginning to form.
And I was excited to see just what that was.
Chapter8
Daryl
The ceremony ended with a burst of applause and a shower of twinkling lights from the town's grand Christmas tree. The sight was... unexpected. Despite my reluctance, I found myself lingering near Beth, feeling a strange warmth that had nothing to do with the chilly air.
"Did you enjoy it?" she asked, her eyes sparkling like the lights above.
I grunted, looking away. "It was all right."
Her laugh echoed softly in the night. "I'll take that as a yes."
We made our way back to her car, parked at the edge of the lot. I could see my breath in the cold air, and my hands felt stiff. When we reached the car, I opened the passenger door for her.
"Thank you," she said, her voice softer now.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. She slid inside, and I walked around to the driver's side. The engine sputtered before it finally roared to life, but the heater seemed to have missed the memo about warming up quickly.
"It's freezing in here," I muttered, rubbing my hands together.
Beth wrapped her coat tighter around herself and smiled. "It always takes forever to warm up."
I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She seemed unaffected by the cold or maybe she was just better at hiding it. Her fingers tapped absentmindedly on her knee, probably playing some silent tune in her head.
"You know," I began, my voice sounding gruff even to my own ears, "you should get this looked at."
Her eyes met mine, a mix of surprise and gratitude in them. "Maybe you could take a look at it sometime?"
I shrugged. "Sure."
Silence settled between us again, but it wasn't uncomfortable this time. The warmth from the heater finally started seeping into the car, making it a little more bearable.
I didn't understand why I was even offering to help her in the first place. The car drove better than before. It was fine.
And yet…
I didn't like the thought of her being cold. Something about her shivering in that coat, trying to stay warm, bugged me. Maybe it was just the way she smiled through it, like it didn't bother her.
I pulled up to the side of the garage, the familiar creak of the engine filling the silence between us. "You can bring the car in whenever," I said, keeping my tone even. "I'll get a new heater in for you."
Beth's face lit up, her smile so bright it was almost blinding. I found myself staring, caught in the warmth she radiated.
"You have a way to get home?" she asked, breaking the spell.
