AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tommy couldn't help but chuckle. "It was great."
"Good to hear. More details would be nice, but whatever," Robin replied, one hand resting on her baby bump.
"Well," Tommy said, looking around for any sign of his higher-ups. He and Jack had to be in the briefing room in ten minutes, but he was a quick dresser. "We had dinner at The Hearthstone, then walked around town and looked at the Christmas lights. It was simple, but it passed the vibe check."
Robin lifted a brow, then leaned over to Jack and stage-whispered, "What's a vibe check?"
"It means they connected. They had a good vibe. Sometimes Tommy forgets he's not a teenager and repeats the stuff he hears on TikTok."
Robin snorted, and Tommy rolled his eyes. "Says one-half of the world's most boring married couple."
Jack shot a fake jab into Tommy's gut, but his friends knew him well enough to know he was kidding.
In reality, Tommy was a little jealous of Jack and Robin's relationship. They seemed to be so in tune with each other—even if they did sometimes argue over silly, little things that didn't matter in the grand scheme.
But honestly? That was probably normal. And he'd take that if it meant he could have a relationship without bigger conflicts.
And hopefully, someday, he would. He'd seen how Jack and Robin looked at each other when they thought no one was watching. Or the way Jack would reach out and take Robin's hand as they walked down the street, kissing the back of it like he was trying out for a part in one of those Hallmark Christmas movies.
But they weren't flashy or showy about their love… it was justthere. Constant, deep, hard to miss. Even for people who weren't as observant as Tommy.
"You're just jealous," Robin teased, causing Tommy to snort.
Was she a mind-reader or something?
"Caught me," he admitted. "Too bad the only girl on my mind right now is planning to leave in the next few days."
"Ah, yeah. That is a bummer," Robin agreed sympathetically as Jack winced. "But you know, maybe a brief Christmas fling is exactly what you need."
Jack laughed out loud.
"Hey, it's true!" Robin defended herself. "He's had such bad luck with women since he moved here. A little holiday romance could be good for him."
Tommy thought back to the string of failed dates he'd had since moving to Snow Hill, each one more disastrous than the last. But his date with Grace had been different. They'd clicked in a way he hadn't experienced before. He'd enjoyed every moment they'd spent together, so what would be the harm in taking what he could get?
"Maybe you're right," Tommy conceded.
"I'm always right," Robin said, giving him a wry smile. "Right, Jack?"
"Yes, dear," he deadpanned.
She pushed his shoulder with a laugh.
"Alright, I need to get in my uniform," Tommy said, nodding toward the locker room. "But, oh, Robin, my sister Sofia is in town until after the new year. I'm worried something's up with her. Not sure what, but I think it might have to do with the jerk she's been dating on and off since we were in middle school."
"Really?" Robin asked, her face full of concern. "That's not good. What's she doing today?"
"I'm not sure," Tommy admitted. "She might just be hanging out at the inn until I meet her there later for dinner."
Robin wrinkled her nose. "I can swing by the inn when I have time later. I won't pry into her business or anything, but maybe having a friend while she's in town will help?"
"That'd be cool, thanks."
"I'll see if Holly's around, too. Maybe she'll join us for coffee."
"Thanks," Tommy said, genuinely grateful. As he started to walk away, he turned back one last time to add, "And, uh, you might want to see if Grace is around too. Invite her to join you guys."
"Trying to make her fall in love with Snow Hill so she'll stay?" Robin goaded.
