She was adorable. I gave her a big smile and a heartfelt thank you.
“Go change your shoes, sweetie,” Eve told her daughter. And then she turned to me. “I know it’s last minute and a lot to ask, but I’d be thrilled if you took over the next three nights. On the one hand, I don’t want to impose on your holiday vacation. And on the other, I’ll be grateful that the girls get the practice. The Christmas Extravaganza will be here before we know it.”
“I’m flattered. And…” I glanced around the dance studio. It held many fond memories for me. “I’d be happy to do it.” What was three nights, after all? And she’d offered to pay me. Between the café and the dance studio, I was going to be able to buy Christmas gifts plus be able to afford a bus ticket to wherever I was going to next.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Eve hugged me, baby bump and all.
And that was oddly joyous, too.
I left Eve and Ivy to lock up. Nick was waiting in the parking lot with the truck engine running. He leaned across the bench seat and opened the door for me, releasing a welcome wave of heat and filling the air withAll I Want For Christmas Is You. He wore his jacket over a tan sweater with a Christmas tree pattern.
“I was going to walk,” I told him, even as I climbed inside and stowed my dance bag with my shoes on the floor. Snow was falling, and the frigid temperature had greeted my toes with a quick and frosty bite, despite my boots and the short walk from the studio to his truck.
“My family is monopolizing your time. Giving you a ride is the least I can do.” Nick spared me a glance. “You look happy.”
“This is the way dancers look after a fun dance session.” I stretched my arms to the ceiling, bending them at the elbows because the roof was in the way of a full extension. But I was so full of joy and optimism, I didn’t care that my range of motion was limited. “I could have danced all night.”
“I know a place.” Nick slowed and executed an illegal U-turn.
“What are you doing?” But I didn’t give him a hard time because I didn’t want this feeling of rightness to end, which it certainly would the moment I walked into my childhood home.
When I’d told Mom what I was doing tonight, she’d told me the Stockings were taking advantage of me. I disagreed but since I’d wanted to avoid a fight, I hadn’t disagreed loudly. The more I let her bulldoze me, the more frustrated I became.
Nick smiled at the road ahead. “It occurred to me this morning that we missed out on a lot of traditions during high school, both high school things and town things.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, the high school traditions were missed on purpose.”
“I think we should do a little catching up.”
Intrigued, I sat up straighter in my seat. “What did you have in mind?”
He was heading for the ski resort. That area had lots of little side roads where teenage kids were known to park and make-out. I may have kissing on my mind every time Nick looked my way, but I didn’t want to risk our friendship by taking his lips for a test drive.
Did I?
Yes.
No.
Um…
I swallowed thickly, acknowledging to myself that I was in a poor place emotionally to make decisions of any kind. “Nick, I know we’ve drifted apart these last few years but…”
He drove past the road that led to the ski resort.
Without thinking, I glanced over my shoulder.
“Was there something back there you wanted to see?” He checked his mirrors.
“I thought I saw something,” I fibbed. “A raccoon or possum. Where are we going?”
“To Halloran’s Burgers and Wheels.”
“Halloran’s what?” I’d never heard of it.
“It’s all the rage with teenagers in town.” Nick slowed as we came upon a glowing roadside restaurant nestled between snowy pines.
It looked to be one of those drive-up-and-order-from-your-parking-space fast food restaurants. But the interior island didn’t have tables for dining and was lit only with twinkle lights. And couples – teenagers – were dancing to the music booming from speakers.