Page 64 of Pining for You

“Maybe it’s both,” I say, pointing to a man walking past us, carrying a netted tree over his shoulder, and a bag in the other hand, steam coming from foil packages inside.

We all pick up the pace, and as we turn the corner, the aromas of roasting and sharp smoke intensify. It smells like a summer barbecue skating on crisp winter air. And the music, now loud and unmuffled, echoes off the buildings from portable speakers at the lot entrance that has just come into view. There are strings of twinkling lights and familiar rows of picture-perfect Christmas trees everywhere, but it feels more like a block party than a place for transactions. Joy to the world indeed.

In the lot, there are so many people: families, couples, and singles, all scouring for their own Marleys. And on the street in front is a food truck that reads Tía Antonia’s Tacos, with a long table set up in front. Above the windshield is a sign posted that says:

Annual Trees & Tamales Bash! Get 10% off your food order with a tree purchase—’til we run out!

I watch people walk away with their food and am mesmerized by how cool this all is. I’ve never seen anything like it. It doesn’t erase the very major problem we have to face, but it’s enough to make me reach for my camera again.

How rad would it be for Cooper to do something like this?

I could totally pitch the idea to old man Cooper for next year—even with the bittersweet thought that I won’t be an employee of the farm to be a part of it.

But then it hits me.

Tamales and trees.

Carlos and Tía.

Brooklyn.

All the crumbs of my heart are vibrating in my chest now, as if it’s trying to mend itself, like it knows something big is coming and it had better get it together. It’s blind hope, not scripted. I have no lines to run, no formula to follow. But somehow, I just know.

And sure enough, the line moves until I can see that there, taking payments with her phone behind the table and wearing a red puffer jacket and hoop earrings, is the girl of my literal dreams.

Eve.

I lower my camera. For the first beat I lose my breath entirely. There’s no mistaking those eyes, or the way they glitter when she thanks customers. In the last twenty-four hours, I’ve already wondered if her eyelashes could be as long as I remember. If her hair could be as wild and sexy. If her smile could be as mysterious and captivating. But seeing Eve now, at home and in her element, it’s official: My memory has not even remotely done her justice.

The sparkles are all there just the same, lighting up the core of me. And there must be cartoon hearts in my eyes and floating around my head, because Diya comes up beside me and follows my gaze. “Um, I may be crazy, but isn’t that…,” she begins.

“Holy snowpeople. Is that—is that her?” Cash asks when he catches on too, then he answers himself. “It is! It’s definitely her!”

He’s shaking my shoulder now and performing some unhinged little hop that gets Izaac’s attention.

“Wait a second,” Izaac says, tuning in. “Her? You mean… Holy shit, Bosley, did we just stumble upon your girlfriend in a random parking lot?”

Audra punches Izaac in the arm.

“Um, ow! What the…?”

“I’m sorry—I’m excited too! Is it true?” she asks no one in particular.

“That’s definitely her,” Diya confirms.

“Oh, she is a snack.” Izaac waggles his eyebrows at me and throws an arm around his sister.

As all this chatter is going on among my friends, the voices inside my head are waging an internal battle: Is this actually possible? But of course it is! This is what I’ve always believed. That Christmas makes the impossible possible, even if like Johnna said, it’s not exactly how you planned it.

I finally exhale so I don’t pass out. But my friends are staring at me now and I am seven kinds of self-conscious. All the adrenaline-fueled confidence I had after our journey with Johnna evaporated when I thought this was all over. I could still hide, or straight-up bolt. I can still get out of this crazy day with a shred of dignity.

But no. I came here to do more than have my first kiss. I came to collect evidence—for my friends, and for Eve, but for my own purpose too—and here it is, presenting itself to us loud and clear.

The looks on my friends’ faces right now suggest that my mission is nearly accomplished. I just have to see it through.

“You got this, B.” Izaac nudges me. “We’ll be right here.”

“For your HEA!” Cash says.