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She lifts a shoulder. “Maybe. We also need to figure out the details of the charitable donations to Santa’s Helpers.”
“Details like how we’re going to present the funds to them, right?” I ask, remembering something about that in all the paperwork we were given. I focus on my last bite of cheesecake. I’ll gladly pay for another slice.
“Yeah. I don’t know if it’s best to hand it over to them or to try to purchase a few toys or needed items with the money ourselves.” She gets down from her barstool at the counter and walks around to my table. She laughs as she points to my plate. “You didn’t eat the cheesecake the right way. You’re going to have bad luck.”
“Oh, right. Camilla’s superstitious thing about pies and cheesecakes.” I laugh, remembering the first time she said something about it. “Never a dull moment. Which is good, because Jesse can be dull.”
“That’s not what Camilla thinks.” Aria’s got her hands jammed in her back pockets, and her apron is stained with raspberry and cherry glaze. “Anyway, we have to figure out those details for the charity.”
I’d love to ask her out to discuss it over dinner, but I have a feeling if I say that, it will come off as being pushy. Or flirty. Or both.
“Let’s discuss then.” I lean back in my chair and thread my fingers together behind my head.
She gingerly takes a seat across from me. “Towards the back of the event tent, near the registers, the committee always puts up a large, four-feet-tall plastic Christmas stocking. It’s borderline hideous, but that’s part of the charm. There’s a slot at the top where people can insert cash and gift cards for charity. Anyway, I think a personal touch is always nice. Taking a portion of the funds and buying presents for the kids sounds fun.”
“I’ll gladly live out my childhood fantasies at the toy store,” I say. “We should try to get wish lists from Santa’s Helpers, so we can get things we know the kids will like.”
She nods, one brow cocked high. “Good idea. I can let the committee know we’d like to go in that direction.”
“That committee, man,” I say with a low whistle. “It’s like an alternate universe.”
She offers a gentle puff of a laugh. “I didn’t know what I was getting into.”
I rest my elbows on the table. “If you’d known, would you have said no? Do you regret being tied to me? Having to work with me?”
Her large brown eyes take me in. “I don’t regret saying I’d join the committee. It’ll be a good experience. A good chance to give back and learn a lot.”
She didn’t answer the question about me—and I hadn’t meant for it to sound so needy.
We’re saved from the awkwardness by Camilla, who enters the room in a rush.
“Good news, my friend! My uncle says you’re free to stay at the apartment upstairs.”
I look at Aria, who gives a cautious smile to Camilla. “Thanks. I don’t think it will be for long. I can send your uncle a deposit and first and last month’s rent. Whatever he needs.”
“Since you’re my friend, he said you’ll only have to pay a deposit. Refundable when you move out, of course. No first and last month’s rent required.”
Aria lets out a breath. “That’s great.”
“What’s happening? You moving in?”
“Well. Sort of.” She swallows hard. “My grandpa’s coming to live with my parents, so he needs the room I’ve been staying in.”
I grin. “You live with your parents?” I knew she had in the past; I didn’t realize she still did.
She shrugs. “After I graduated and came back to help Camilla run Shorty’s, there weren’t many options of places to live. I would have lived with Camilla, but at the time, her sister lived with her, and then a different roommate so they could split the rent. Besides, Rob was my social life. I didn’t need any more of the college lifestyle, you know? And it’s been okay to live with my parents.”
“Ah. Rob. The boyfriend. Silent and unseen.”
“What?” Her mouth bunches up as she raises her chin. “What about him?”
I chuff out a laugh. “I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting him.” A flare of jealousy threatens.
“Too bad,” Camilla says.
I don’t miss the look she shoots me. Camilla doesn’t like him, a fact that I greatly enjoy.
“Tell me about Rob. I’ve been dying to discuss him.” I lean even more of my weight on the table. Call me weird, but I actually have been dying to run it by her. I have a sick fascination with seeing exactly what kind of read I can get on her relationship with this guy.
