Page 50 of A Winter Thaw

She laughed. “No, I need to talk to you.”

“Oh. Uh, I was about to get onstage.”

“They just said the show wasn’t starting for another ten minutes or something. Do you have a minute?”

Theo glanced behind him, toward the stage. “Yeah, I think so. They’re busy getting set up out there. But if you need to talk, later would be better. I mean, I don’t have a lot of time now⁠—”

“Please just give me a minute,” she begged, biting her lip. “I’m afraid I’m going to lose my nerve.”

Theo’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh.” There was a short pause. “What do you mean?”

Michelle took three steps toward him, so quickly it made his heart jump. “Theo,” she blurted. “I have feelings for you.”

The whole world stopped. Theo stared at her, unable to move. He was exquisitely numb, and it took him a few seconds to realize that his mouth was hanging open.

“You… you do?” His voice was so husky it was almost a whisper.

She nodded, smiling shyly. “I kept telling myself I didn’t know how I felt, but the truth is that I did know and I was too scared to face it. Falling for someone scares me. Falling for you scares me even more—I mean, what if it doesn’t work out? Then my relationship with my favorite arch nemesis would be ruined forever.”

Theo closed in the distance between them and held her face in his hands. “But what if it does? I think it will, Michelle. I have feelings for you too.”

“Okay,” she said breathlessly, and then they both laughed.

Before he knew what was happening, he brought his head closer to hers and gave her a gentle kiss. He seemed to be watching himself do it, like he was a character in a movie or a book. But then the fireworks of joy that went off in his chest were definitely real, and his.

Michelle grinned at him, looking starry-eyed. “So, um, now what?”

“Would you like to stay for the show?” he asked, suddenly more excited to perform than he’d ever been before in his life.

“I’d love to. There are still a few little tables at the back open, so I can sit there.”

“Awesome.” He gave her a quick hug. “See you out there.”

“See you out there.” She smiled at him and slipped out the door. He stood there for a few moments, feeling stunned.

Did that really just happen? he thought, shaking his head. He felt a glow in his chest like nothing he’d ever experienced before. I guess it really did. He grinned. I don’t know how on earth I’m going to focus on this show, but I’ve never been happier in my life.

He grabbed his guitar and made his way to the stage, whistling.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“Oh, that looks just perfect! I’m so excited.”

Audrey clasped her hands as she surveyed the table that she, Elaine, and Harper had decorated together. It was sprinkled with yellow and peach-colored rose petals, and they’d arranged beautiful candles on silver candlesticks in the middle. They’d strung garlands of flowers above the table like a canopy, and behind it they’d hung a gold-framed sign that read, “New Beginnings.”

They had rented out the smaller back party room at Bluewater Bistro and gotten full permission from management to decorate to their hearts' content. On another, smaller table, they’d arranged a few gifts, wrapped beautifully in gold and pink paper, along with a resplendent bouquet of roses.

“We did ourselves proud,” Elaine said, her eyes sparkling. “I just know this is going to make Penelope feel incredibly special.”

Harper grinned, looking thrilled, and then glanced down at her pocket as her phone dinged. “Maybe that’s them!” she squealed and looked at her phone. “Yes—it’s Michelle! She said they’re walking up.”

All of the women made noises of excitement and began to flutter around the room, making finishing touches on all the decorations. Penelope thought that she and Michelle were going by themselves to dinner, and it was important to everyone who had planned the party that the moment of surprise be just right.

“Can you see them yet?” Harper whispered to Elaine, who was peering around the doorway, keeping an eye on the part of the restaurant that led to the back party room.

“Not yet,” Elaine said. “But I’m sure—oh! Here they come!”

Audrey’s heart jumped up and she started laughing with a sudden feeling of giddiness. “Come on, hide!”