Page 24 of The Holiday Exchange

Just as I’m contemplating whether to go get another cookie, I see my college friend Gracelyn approaching. She stops in front of us with a big smile, her eyes cutting to Trevor before returning to me.

“Hi, Kayla, good to see you. Is this your boyfriend?”

“Oh, no.” I shake my head. “He’s just a friend. Gracelyn, meet Trevor.”

“Hi, Trevor.” They shake hands and he returns the greeting. “How do you know Kayla?”

“I helped her with a project for work.”

“Really, are you a teacher, too?”

“No, I work at a hardware store.”

Gracelyn waits for him to say more, her expression open and interested, but Trevor stays silent. I nudge him. “Tell her about what you built for me.”

“Oh, yes, I’d love to hear about that.”

I wink at Trevor as I sidestep around Gracelyn and leave to go get that extra cookie. The look of trepidation on his face is comical. You’d think I left him to chat with a grizzly bear, not with a girl who is clearly interested in him. My gut twists a little at the thought. Am I jealous?

I have no reason to be jealous. He doesn’t belong to me in any way. I don’t think he’s even attracted to me. At least, he hasn’t shown it if he is.

And there’s still the promise to my mother to consider, even if he was interested in me. Now is the time to be focusing on my career and all the other things I’m committed to. Frankly, I don’t have time for a boyfriend. I certainly don’t need one.

But do I want one?

As I watch Gracelyn lay her hand on Trevor’s arm and laugh at something he said, I start to think maybe I do. And maybe I don’t want just any boyfriend.

I think I want Trevor.

I stand in the kitchen, mindlessly munching my cookie and turning over this revelation in my mind like a shiny coin. I like Trevor.

I like his quiet, thoughtful manner. I like how gentle and sweet he is. I certainly like how nice he is to look at.

But what should I do about it? I worry my lower lip with my teeth.

“Whatcha looking at?” Annie’s question startles me so that I fling cookie crumbs across the floor.

I frown at her. “Don’t sneak up on people like that.”

“Who was sneaking? I walked right up to you. You just didn’t see me because your focus was elsewhere.”

I won’t comment on that. “Looks like the party is going pretty well. Seems like people are having fun.”

“You don’t look like you’re having fun.” Annie crosses her arms and leans against the counter beside me, her gaze following mine. “On the other hand, Trevor and Gracelyn look like they’re doing alright. Does that have anything to do with you looking like you just sucked a lemon?”

I heave a sigh. “I like him, alright? But I don’t think he’s interested in me. I mean, look at him. He’s hanging on her every word.” I don’t mean to sound so disgusted, but I can’t help it.

“So why don’t you go over there and make sure he remembersyou?”

“I don’t want to be that girl.”

“What girl?”

“You know, the kind who throws herself at a guy. Especially since I told him I would introduce him to some people tonight, give him a chance to practice talking to people.”

Annie snorts. “Looks like he’s getting in some good practice.”

I clench my fists as Gracelyn leans in closer to him, presumably to hear him speaking over the music and conversation around them.

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