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She waves me off. “Oh, don’t be so modest. What was the job title your mother told—?”
“Honestly, nothing. It’s—”
“And please tell us about this—”
Panic shoots up my spine. My belly clenches at the looming question. I’m about to jump at her to shut her up when Liam senses my pending freak-out and saves me. “Mrs. Powers, how about I check you out?”
My mom presses the back of her hand to my forehead. “Are you okay, honey? You seem a bit pale.”
No, Mom, I’m busy coming down from an almost panic attack. “Fine, Mom.”
She sighs. “Okay, well, you can head home if you want. Your dad and I can finish up here. Get some rest.”
Liam returns minus the nosy Nelly. “I can walk her home.”
I turn to him, embarrassed. “You don’t have to. You live right here in town. It’s out of your way.”
“No trouble.” Grabbing my jacket, he hands it to me, then says bye to my parents and escorts me out of the store.
Quiet falls between us, with the birds and squirrels wrestling in the trees as background noise. It’s not until we’re halfway home that I break the silence.
“Tell me something I don’t know about you?” Liam looks down at me, and I stare straight ahead, suddenly feeling silly for the question. “Stupid thing to ask, don’t—”
“I’m allergic to sumac.”
I look back, giving him a side-eye.
“I’m serious,” he says. “When I first got over there, they stationed me in a small town, handing out meals and school supplies to kids. This mom…she was so grateful for the supplies, she insisted on making me some food for my journey home. I said yes and sat down while she made this pita sandwich. Anyway, I ate it, thanked her, and went on my way. A few minutes later, my throat started feeling really scratchy. Shortly after that, I was struggling to breathe. I made it back to camp before I dropped dead. Thankfully there was a volunteer in the medical field, and he stabbed me in the leg with an epi-pen. At first, I thought she poisoned me. But the side effects I was having pointed to an allergic reaction. It wasn’t till later when I did a full blood panel and realized it was due to a spice she used. Sumac.”
I stare at him, bewildered. I wish I could claw into his brain and learn all his secrets. His journeys. What it was like to be over there. Was he ever scared? Was he ever in danger?
“Okay, enough about me. Your turn. What happened back there?”
I shrug, staring forward. “I just don’t want to talk about it. Is that okay?” Because I can’t. Because hiding behind a lie seems easier. I pick up my pace, needing to get home. Be alone. Work on the demons battling in my head. I want to be honest, but with that comes judgment. Scrutiny. I go from being this perfect daughter to the family train—“Ouch!” I yelp as something cold smashes against the back of my head. I turn around to Liam, holding a snowball.
“What the! Oh, don’t you—”
I duck, missing the next one. “You’re gonna get it.” He takes off down the sidewalk. Grabbing for a pile of snow, I chase after him. “Come back here!”
“No, I’m good.” He hides behind the tree in front of my house.
“Oh, like I can’t see you. I see some things never change.”
“And what’s that?” he asks, peeking his head out, dodging the flying snowball.
“That you suck at this game.” I pick up more snow. Another perfect ball. The closer I get, the more my adrenaline spikes. I might have ammo, but he has strength and height. “Come out, come out, and get what’s coming to—” I squeal as he rushes at me. I don’t even have time to cock my arm back before he picks me up and throws me into a pile of snow.
A vibrant array of curse words sits at the tip of my tongue. Dropping to the ground above me, he presses his lips to mine, and everything fades as I sigh into his kiss. It’s gentle and sweet, sending a warm tickle down to my toes. He pulls away, and my eyes flutter open to the most enchanting sight. “Holly Bergner, will you go to the Winter Wonderland Festival with me?”
“Why, Liam Cody, are you asking me out?”
“That I am. Friendship date, of course. Unless you say no. Then I’ll be forced to ask old Mrs. Power—ouch.”
I pinch his thigh. “Shut it. It’s your lucky day. My schedule is pretty clear. So, yes. I will.”
His smile is infectious. My mental camera clicks over and over, wanting to hold on to that smile forever. “Good.” He drops his mouth to mine once again and pulls away, holding my gaze. “Well, I should probably let you up before your parents come home and catch me trying to seduce their daughter in the snow.”
