AllFreeNovel
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She shops while we walk, which means I end up carrying several bags of stuff before she realizes I need a hand to eat. We solve that problem by parking her on one of the hay bales while I retrieve food. I bring her back a variety—from apple fried doughnuts to potato pancakes and a small paper plate that overflows with toast and raclette—hot cheese scraped off of a wheel and topped with onions and spices.
“This is like a heart attack waiting to happen,” she says, a strand of melted cheese caught on her bottom lip. She licks it off.
“I’m not too worried about it,” I say. “We’ll work it off later.”
Kara laughs loudly, causing a couple near us to turn and look. Her cheeks are flushed, her hair escaping the bun on her head in tendrils. She eyes me and hums appreciatively. “You’re goddamn right we will.”
I lean over and kiss her. She tastes like cheese and salt and heat.
When I pull back, Kara’s eyes glint. “I like this smug and confident Peter.”
“Good. He likes you too.”
Kara takes another bite of the raclette. Her eyes dance over the crowd, the lights, the trees, the couples and families bundled up and having fun together. When she swallows, she brings up the question we’ve both been avoiding. “He likes me, even though I’m flying home tomorrow?”
Her job, her family, her life are back in New York. We’ve been in a snow-filled, isolated world. She’s leaving. I’m staying.
“Even though you fly home tomorrow.”
Kara hums and finishes her raclette. She dusts her hands off and rises to her feet. “Tomorrow’s coming pretty fast. We better put the time we have left to good use.” She offers me her hand, and I take it.
13
Kara
We findPeter’s family at an outdoor table. Everyone is bundled up and drinking a hot beverage, even Peter’s grandmother.
“You’ve shopped up a storm,” Juna comments, eyeing the bags we’re carrying.
“Yes, I have, and we’re going to head back to the house before I buy more and break my pack mule.” I pat Peter’s shoulder.
“Mama, darf i au göhe?” Noah asks. Peter and his sister share a look.
“No, you can’t go. We’re having family time.”
“But Peter and Kara are going back. And we do this every year.” His tone gets whiny.
Juna glances at us, and there’s a spark of laughter in her eyes. She holds in her hands the potential to cock-block us with her ten-year-old kid. “If you go back with Peter and Kara, you can’t do stuff with them. Kara has to pack for tomorrow. You’ll have more fun here. You haven’t even had a Grittibänz yet.”
“Mamaaaaaaa.”
“Noah, stop. Du bisch zu alt, um disch so zu benehme.”
Peter glances at me, raising an eyebrow and throwing me a look that saysKids? Whatcha gonna do?
“It’s fine,” I say quickly.
“No.” Juna is firm. “He stays with us. But thank you. Noah, you have to hang out here for thirty more minutes. Thirty. Minutes,” Juna reiterates while her gaze flicks between Peter and me. “Now try to fit as much fun as you can into that time, and then we’ll all go home.” Juna smirks at her own cleverness.
We say goodbyes, and Peter guides me out of the Christmas market, and as the noise and smells fade, he picks up the pace.
“Have I told you I love your sister?”
He chuckles. “I could guess based on the two of you reading together. She is pretty great.”
We cross the bridge over the river, and Peter braids his fingers through mine. We both have gloves on, but Peter’s hand is big and warm, even through the knitting.
“Should we set a timer?” I joke. “A sex timer?”
