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I stop walking. “What?”
“Nothing,” he says, slowing his steps but not stopping. With his back still to me, he adds, “I guess I was just making a point that Christmas wishes don’t always come true. It’s best not to get your hopes up.”
“I know,” I say and start walking again, hurrying my steps to catch up. This man has faced far too much disappointment, and I hate that I added to it. I look up at him and he briefly pinches his eyes shut. “What?” I ask. “Are you okay?” Jeez, he looks like he’s in total agony.
“I can’t believe I’m about to do this.”
“Do what?” I glance around but can’t figure out what he’s talking about.
“Come with me,” he says, putting his arm around my back to lead me down toward the port. “I hope you don’t have any work that can’t wait.”
“My work can always wait for you, Cason,” I say with an honesty that makes his brow furrow. I glance down as we walk, my mind on Cason. Now what did I say to give him grief? “What do you have in mind?” I ask, assuming it’s something to do with us both getting naked. The man sort of has a one-track mind, and I’m not complaining, not one little bit.
“This,” he says, and I lift my head to see all the Christmas trees being sold in the lit-up lot.
My entire body shakes, and my knees turn rubbery, as I take in the festive display before me. It’s gorgeous with all the colored bulbs flashing, and a hot chocolate stand set up. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was part of the Christmas movie.
“Why are we here?”
“You want a tree, don’t you?”
I stand there, sure I’ve heard him wrong. Perhaps the hustle of the people around me has distorted his words and has me hearing things.
“I... I don’t understand.”
He laughs.
“Would you like to put up a tree, Londyn?”
“I...yes,” I say. “Only if you do.”
“I do,” he says.
I narrow my eyes. “Who are you and what have you done with my friend?”
“More like what are you doing to me?” he mumbles under his breath, and my heart does a little happy dance against my rib cage. I love seeing him get into the holiday spirit, love that he’s feeding off my happiness. Although I don’t want to get too excited. I’m still not sure I haven’t taken a wrong turn, and stepped into the twilight zone.
“Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to pick out a tree?”
I snap out of it and give him a playful glare. “You don’t have to be an ogre.”
He laughs harder, and takes my hand. “Oh, we’re back to that are we?” We weave in and out of all the gorgeous trees, until I find the most perfect one.
“This one,” I say.
“Seriously?” He gives me a look that suggests I’m crazy, and I’m not sure he’s wrong. I am crazy. Crazy to get mixed up with him again, to fall into his bed, to make something of this holiday season, and to try to bring a new kind of joy into his life. But in the end, while I’m going to leave here heartbroken, if it brings a modicum of happiness to this amazing man, then the pain will be worth it. He deserves more than this life has given him. “You had to pick the biggest one on the lot?” he asks, dragging my thoughts back.
“Hey, you told me to pick one out, and you never said there were restrictions, so if we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right.”
“Have you never heard of moderation?”
“If you’re going to do it, then overdo it.”
“Right, moderation is for the weak,” he says. “I remember that was your motto back in college.”
I laugh at that and he puts his arms around me. His lips find mine for a warm kiss. “You’re kind of crazy, you know that?”
Crazy about him? Yeah, I know that.
