Page 64 of Oh, Christmas Con

“I’m really glad you enjoyed it,” he said.

“I’m, uh…” Maye wasn’t sure how honest to be without coming across as uncultured or inexperienced, but there was no point in putting on a front, so she went full lame-o. “I’m trying to play it super cool here, but that dinner was actually one of the best experiences I’ve had in a very long time.”

“Aw, I’m glad,” Chris squeezed her shoulder. “Why would you have to play that cool? If you had a good time, you can be excited.”

“Well, you know, it was just a dinner, and to be so impressed by a dinner—”

“Just a dinner?” He scrunched his face and took a step back. “Just…a…dinner?” He repeated more pointedly.

“No, no, no!” Maye reached out to keep him from backing away any more. “I didn’t mean it like that, I swear!” When she looked up to see him smirking, her arms were wrapped all the way around his waist.

He flashed his eyebrows.

“Ohmygosh,” Maye slapped his chest. “You can’t do that. I will never know if you’re acting or if you mean it.”

“I’m sorry,” he said as he reclaimed the space between them. “So, you were saying I impressed you with my dinner?”

“Actually,” Maye hated to pivot at this moment when it felt like they were clicking on all cylinders, but she didn’t want to regret not bringing it up. “There’s something that I would like to admit, that is a bit difficult, but I will do it anyway. I feel like we have a good connection…” she looked at him and nodded, waiting for some sign that he actually agreed with that statement.

“Oh,” he said as he nodded, “I agree. Wholeheartedly.”

“Okay, phew,” Maye said, pretending to wipe her brow. “But, I am in a weird place right now because I am enjoying how much I’ve grown since I was dumped, and I am not quite ready for anything serious, but at the same time I am afraid to misread a situation or an interaction and start building hopes and ideas on top of that…”

“Because I’m an actor, you mean?” Chris asked.

“Yes,” she said. “It must sound so ridiculous—”

“No, not at all,” he said. “I mean, I feel a little insecure sometimes thinking about how you have so much expertise in your field, so I must look silly trying to get into a character’s head for a role.”

“I’ve never thought you’re silly for that. Not once. Your characters, on the other hand…” she smiled and brushed her hand across the top of his.

“Hey, save it for the show,” Chris said playfully. “You should know,” he grabbed ahold of her hand, “that every experience with you has been my genuine self. Sure, I’ll ham it up when there’s a crowd or when we’re bantering back-and-forth, but I promise to never put on an act for you. I’ll always be real.”

“So that dinner?” Maye asked. “I have to know…have you done that before?”

“Never!” He exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to, though. I think I was waiting for the right person.”

“Maye, you should see some of the—” Tracy stopped in her tracks when she saw Maye and Chris holding hands. “Oh my, what have I walked in here, in broad daylight, in front of a full camera crew and production team? Get a classroom you two!”

“I was just checking her heart rate,” Chris joked. “We don’t want any more incidents out here in the heat.”

“Touché, my friend,” Tracy said. “Anyway, Maye, you should see the cool sweaters Hanna has for fall. She said we can take some back for Fall Fest. There’s a sweater covered in little carved jack-o’-lanterns, one with a—”

“I’m sorry, did you say Fall Fest?” Chris interrupted. “Where is this Fall Festival?”

“In our town,” Tracy said. “The annual Greenville, Maine Fall Fest. It lasts the whole month of October with a vendor market and activities around town, but the first full week of the month, we go hard with a multi-day festival downtown.”

“Is there food?” Chris asked.

“Tons,” Tracy said. “Restaurants, home bakers, and everything in between.”

“Are there games?” Chris asked.

“Are there games…” Tracy said to Maye as the two chuckled knowingly. “Yes, Chris! It’s a fall festival! There’s every game you could imagine!”

“Well,” Chris lowered his voice and spoke slowly. “If there’s one thing you need to know about me, it’s that I absolutely love a small-town festival.”

“You should come!” Tracy blurted out. “Maye is the festival coordinator this year.”