“I’ll bring you back tomorrow in the daytime.”
“Are you trying to get me to agree toanotherdate?”
“Would it be so awful if I was?”
She pondered the question.
“Would you say yes?” he pressed.
“Yes,” she said. “I think I would.”
“Then, I’m asking, but not just any date. My team puts together all the holiday food boxes for the families in our county who are in need. A few years ago, I realized I could make it a bigger opportunity by spending my time prepping everything for them. So I assemble all the boxes, marking them with the name/address and putting them out on the tables in our communitycenter. That way when the team comes in the next morning, it’s a pretty streamlined process.”
“So what exactly are you asking me to do?”
“Help me do the prep work on Monday night. I’ll put the boxes together, and I have a feeling your handwriting is much prettier than mine. You can write on the boxes.”
“That sounds easy enough.”
“You’re hired, but I have to warn you, the hours are awful and there’s no pay. Just the feel-goods of knowing you’ve helped a neighbor.”
“That’s what makes it a date, and not a job. Count me in. No matter what.”
“Well, then pack your pj’s, and a toothbrush, because it’ll take all night. We’ll work overnight Monday night, and my team will take over in the morning to put everything together on Tuesday for delivery Christmas Eve. Overnight, like all night. You good with that?”
“Are you worried that I might be afraid of the dark?”
“No. I just wanted to be clear that it was an overnight date, but you know, not for sleeping. Wait, that didn’t come out right. No funny business either.”
Her lips curved at the outer edges. “Oh darn, there really is no pay? There better at least be mistletoe.”
“Didn’t I tell you to be careful what you wish for?”
She jumped around, trying to get warm. “Yes. Several times now.” But she seemed to be wishing for the same things over and over.
He tugged her in under his arm. “Come on. Let’s get you back home. It’s too cold out here.”
“One second.” She pulled her phone up and tucked in close to him. “A selfie to remember this moment.”
He bent down, the whiskers on his cheek scraping her neck lightly and his breath warm against her cheek.
The flash went off, and she turned in to him, unsure if it was his or her own heart she felt beating. “We better go.”
Back in the Tesla, Tucker drove back to Chestnut Ridge. The streets were empty, the town as quiet as if no one lived there.
“I’m sorry for the night to end. It was really fun,” she said.
“It’s been really nice.” He patted her leg. “Thanks for a terrific night. I hope we can do it again?”
“Then we will.”
“How about tomorrow after we go to the elementary school pageant?”
“I forgot about that. I’m leaving tomorrow night to head down to see my mother at the assisted living home. The party at the Hilltop starts at noon and it’s a five-hour drive. I’m going to drive home, then I’ll just be two hours from there on Saturday morning.”
“That makes sense.” They got out of her car and he tossed her the keys. “It was a real treat to drive this thing. Thanks for that. Best Christmas gift ever.”
“You’re welcome.”
