Page 74 of Love on Tour
“Call Matt. And it’sMerryChristmas.”
“It’s a good thing I like you. I’ll call you later.”
Christine lost the nerve to call Matt but decided a quick text wouldn’t hurt. She texted,Hey, just wanted to say Merry Christmas.
She stared at the unsent text for five minutes. She double-checked the spelling, made sure there was nothing weird about how it sounded, and then berated herself for it. It was a simpleMerry Christmas. She hitSEND, then waited and waited.
Three hours later, she texted Julianna.He never texted back.
Julianna asked in a return text,When did you send it?
Three hours ago.
Another text came from Julianna:Give him time. Maybe he’s at the movies or something.
With Cait!!
Patience, my friend.
The next morning, Christine was drinking her tea and wrapping some presents when her phone chimed. It was a text from Matt.Hey, Christine. I forgot to charge my phone and it died. I got your text this morning. Whatcha doing?
She texted back,Wrapping gifts. You?
Getting ready to go shopping.
Yeah, I have some more to buy, too. Where ya going?
Galleria. You?
Same.Christine had no intention of going to the mall but would make the trip if Matt was going to be there.
If I don’t run into you, text me and let me know where you are. We can say Merry Christmas in person.
OK.
Christine took a screenshot of the conversation and sent it to Julianna with aneeek!Julianna sent back a thumbs-up.
Christine took a quick shower, put on makeup and her favorite sweater, and left for the mall. She said a quick prayer to the relationship fairy that Cait wouldn’t be with him and pulled into a parking space.
Christine didn’t want to seem too eager, feeling like a chance meeting would be better than texting him right away. She tried to think like a guy and figure out where he might be. Sportinggoods store, Hallmark, or one of the anchor department stores? The mall was a big place, and it was impossible to know. Forty minutes later, she was still wandering around aimlessly, not really shopping but trying to pretend she was.
“Christine?” She heard Matt’s voice and then saw him coming her way, shopping bags in hand.
“Hey. It looks like you’ve had a successful venture so far.” She pointed to his bags.
Matt glanced down at her empty hands. “You haven’t been so fortunate, huh?”
Christine berated herself. She should have purchased something so it looked like she was here for the intended purpose.
“Uh, yeah. I only have my mom left to shop for, and she’s always the tough one. A bit picky in her choice of clothes,” Christine said, embarrassed at the bald-faced lie.
“I was about to grab a bite to eat. Care to join me?”
“I’d love to,” she said.
They grabbed a table at the crowded food court and opted for slices of pizza.
“You’d think I get enough pizza on the road. It seems to be what every venue serves. But honestly, I just love pizza.”
