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“But—”

“I waited a really long time to tell you all that, Gianna. Too long.” Sam hopped off the tailgate. “But—”

“But?” The cold air around me grew still.

He sighed and put his hands into his pockets. “You’re going to Italy in a couple weeks, and then college after that, and I’ll be here…”

My mind scrambled for a response, any response that would help tell him, show him, that it didn’t matter where I was going or for how long.

All that mattered was that I wanted to be with him.

But what came out was a very small “Okay.”

He took my hand and rubbed his calloused thumb over my claddagh ring. “I just…I need some time to think about this.”

The soreness in my throat turned thick, but I gave him a small smile, and said, “I understand.”

The sun peeked out from behind the clouds as he let go, casting most of the snow-lined street in sparkling light.

I pointed over my shoulder. “I better get back over there before Nico decides he needs a turn on the ladder. Can’t have a repeat of three years ago.”

Sam laughed. “No. Your Aunt Helen would kill him if he broke another bone.”

I gave an awkward half wave and started to make the trek back across the street. And despite feeling a little sad that Sam and I couldn’t immediately pick up with where we left off on that snowy night, part of me did feel lighter, even hopeful.

Because Sam didn’t regret kissing me.

And he had meant what he said the night that he did.

Sam could honestly take all the time he needed to figure things out.

Because Christmas wishes, unlike New Year’s resolutions, didn’t have an expiration date.

After dinner at Nona’s, I stayed up late, looking at virtual tours and reading food blogs for the best places to go in Rome. I should’ve been asleep, but I was waiting for Mom to come back from her big date with Mr. Bailey. He’d apparently walked to her studio while I was busy helping Nico and asked her out to dinner. No pushing or scheming from Nona or anyone else in town either.

James had even texted me after his dad had left the B&B for their date that he was “grinning like a fool.”

Maybe I wasn’t the only one who would get her Christmas wish?

As I stood staring at my old luggage, wondering if I should try to bring an empty duffle for food and souvenirs, the front door opened and closed followed by the familiar ting of keys dropping into the tin.

I opened my door and tiptoed in front of Leo’s room before I started down the stairs, slowing as the fridge door slammed shut when I neared the bottom.

“What is the matter, Alice?” Nona asked in the kitchen. She had insisted on staying and cooking dinner for Leo and me because “boxed macaroni and cheese is not a real meal.” Leo had taken great offense to that and quoted Home Alone, saying it was “highly nutritious,” but Nona waved him away and made us pasta e fagioli.

I rested my hand on the banister and peered around the corner as Mom sank into a chair and groaned, a pint of Ben & Jerry’s in hand.

Uh-oh.

It’s never a good sign when the pints come out.

“Was it not a nice time?” Nona asked, laying her hand gently on Mom’s.

“Actually, it was, at first.” Mom scooped out a large spoonful of ice cream. “Travis is surprisingly funny.” She took a bite and wedged the spoon back in the pint.

“Is he?” Nona sat back. “Well, that’s good to hear.”

“Yeah.” Mom stared at the spoon as she pushed the end of it back and forth. “We talked about art and photography, and it was going pretty well until…his phone rang.”