“Yes, Anna?”
“Will there be crafts after school this week?”
“There will be. I’ll have stations set up in the library for anyone that wants to come and participate.” This is actually one of my favorite activities to help with decorating the town. Not only do I get a ton of adorable decorations covered mostly in glitter, but I lure the children into the library. It’s two-fold really.
“Yay!” Anna wiggles in her seat.
“All right. I think that covers it. Let the holiday magic happen.” I give a small bow.
“And let’s take first place again!” Eve shouts from the back of the room again. Everyone erupts into cheers. I just shake my head at her.
“And have fun,” I say loudly, but I don’t think anyone hears me. They’re still in the midst of cheering. All of them except for the giant handsome man in the front row. He’s still staring right at me. Who the heck is this guy?
I make my way down the stairs on the side, intent on finding out who this stranger is without being too forward. My mom steps right into my path.
“I think the auction idea is brilliant.”
“Of course you do.”
“Why do you say it like that?”
“Cause you are trying to get me hooked up with someone.”
“Not hooked up.” My mom and dad were high school sweethearts. Their love for one another is adorable, but I know for a fact I’m not falling in love with anyone from my high school. Ever.
“Look at them.” Eve pops up next to my mom, her thumb pointed over her shoulder to where she put the sign-up form. I see half the single men from town lingering around, trying to see who might sign up. “This date thing will suck but might actually pull in some money.” Eve elbows my mom. “That will look really good for you. The mayor donating all this money to the hospital. I think I should get a raise.”
“Eve.” My mom gives her a hard stare.
“What?” She shrugs. “Just saying. I’m killing it at this mayor assistant thing.” Eve is teasing, but she actually is really good at her job. She only moved here for the position. I think her plan was to start in a small town to have a reference later on for a bigger city, which I hate cause that means one day she’ll leave.
I glance over my shoulder to see that the handsome man is now talking to a small circle of people who have surrounded him. No one stays a stranger for long in this town.
“Who’s that?” I nod toward the man, who glances my way. I quickly turn so I’m not busted staring. He towers over the people around him. He’s even bigger than I thought.
“He’s the person that’s staying in the old Smith place,” my mom says.
I’d completely forgotten someone was moving in there. I’ve been so wrapped up in getting ready for the holiday season that I haven’t had much time for the town gossip. I obviously need to catch up.
“That’s her new neighbor?” Eve asks, eyeing the man up. A weird sensation I’ve never felt burns in my chest.
“He’s handsome.” My mom gives voice to my own thoughts.
“You know what that means?” Eve asks.
“What?” Now I’m wondering if she knows something I don’t.
“That he’s an asshole. All the good-looking ones are.”
“You think he’s good-looking?” The burn in my chest spreads.
“Nah, his shoes are too shiny.” She shrugs as if that's a normal reason to turn down the idea of dating someone. The funny feeling in my chest fades away. I love how strange my best friend is.
5
CRANE
Liza stays behind to talk to townspeople, all of them buzzing with ideas for this year’s Christmas display.
I linger, which seems to serve as an invitation for people to come up and ask me questions. It’s not something I’m used to, but everyone seems pleasant enough.
“You’ll have to come over sometime this week. I’ll make you my famous scotch-spiced cookies.” A tipsy woman winks at me, her long faux lashes practically creating a breeze.
“All right, Dolores, let’s go.” Her husband pulls her away, an apologetic look on his face.
“You coming to the library for crafts?” Anna has managed to climb onto the railing by the steps and then higher onto a ledge that runs behind it.
“Isn’t that for children?” I glance around for her parents. They’re wrangling her siblings into a minivan.
“Sure, but grownups help, too.” She sniffs and puts her arms out to balance as she walks along the wall. “You could help. I bet you’re great at Christmas crafts.”
“You’d lose that bet. Hey, it’s icy out. How about you get down before you–”
She squeals, and her feet go out from under her as she tumbles backward.
I jump up two steps and catch her before she crashes into the concrete steps. “Shit!”