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She looks over at me and I see her chest rise and fall with each breath she takes.
After what feels like forever, she says, “Okay, that works for me. I can order one now while you pay the tab.”
“Are you kidding? I have to go with justDom?” Sally rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest.
I can’t help but laugh at her pouting. It reminds me of one of Nora’s fits.
“Oh come on Sal, you know you want to ride back with me.” Dom puts his arm around her shoulders, and she immediately pushes him off.
“I’ll sit in the front, you sit in the back. Great, it’s here. Let’s go, Dom.”
Sally gives me a brief hug before kissing Penelope on the cheek.
“Why can’t I sit in the front?” Dominick asks as he hugs Penelope and smacks me on the back.
As they walk away, I can hear them bickering like an old married couple.
“Those two crack me up,” Penelope says, pulling me from my thoughts. I stride to the bar and pay the tab without introducing Penelope to Alex, because I just want to get out of here. “The Uber will be here in a minute, it’s just around the corner.”
“Perfect, let’s head outside and we can meet them,” I say. We start walking to the front door. “I have an idea. What do you think about making some hot cocoa and driving around to look at Christmas lights?”
“That sounds amazing.” She stops in her tracks. “I used to do that when I was a kid, and it was one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season.”
Her eyes mist over, and I can tell she’s reminiscing about her childhood.
“Perfect, we can make cups at my place then head out. I nursed that one beer all night so I’m good to drive as long as that’s good with you.”
“Yep, I trust you.”
I open the door and hold it for her, letting the cold air rush in. The car pulls up and we both climb into the back seat. Sitting closer than we probably need to, I rest my hand on her thigh, and she places hers on top of mine. We ride like this back to the inn, and when we get out, I can’t stop glancing at her.
I’m more excited for this than I want to admit.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Penelope
AssoonasBrentsuggested going to look at Christmas lights, I tried to hide the joy that threatened to consume me. When I lived with Gran, we used to go to Dunkin Donuts to get hot chocolate, and then we would drive around the suburbs and admire the lights strung up on the houses.
I haven’t done that since she passed, but when Brent had the idea, I immediately wanted to do it. We haven’t had alone time since that night at his house anyways, and the thought of being with him makes my insides bubble with giddiness.
The inn is pitch black and it seems like everyone is asleep.
It’s a clear night, and when I gaze at the sky, I can see an endless amount of stars.
In the city, there’s too much light pollution to see the stars. But here in Winterberry, on cloudless nights, the sky stretches on forever, glittering with a billion stars.
A hand lands on my shoulder and I can’t help but smile to myself before turning to face Brent.
“Ready to get some hot chocolate? I have a blanket you can wear, too, since I know how much you love that.” He laughs at himself.
“You're never going to let me live that down, are you?” He shakes his head as we make our way into his house, where it’s warm and cozy.
I sit at the table while Brent starts boiling water and takes down travel mugs.
“Do you want to use the bathroom or anything before we go?”
“That’s a good idea.”
