Page 13 of Christmas In Love

Cadewalkedthroughtheperpetually revolving doors of the hotel lobby. Nat hadn’t been particularly forthcoming about when she’d be initiating plans for the carnival, but with enough pressing while he paid the rest of his balance that morning, she’d told him she was meeting a few people here this afternoon. After following the noise to a large room off the back of the lobby, he realized it was more than afewpeople.

The chaos rivaled his parents’ house, which he’d just left saying he needed to get his car washed. In retrospect, that was a terrible excuse. The snow hadn’t stopped falling since his arrival three days ago.

He found Nat beside a girl with mid-length, light brown hair and wildly gesturing hands. He recognized her after a few seconds. April—Nat’s best friend.

“April, wait, he did what?”

April stopped her waving and crossed her arms. “He dumped me, Natalie. Dumped me because I didn’t know the difference between a three-pointer and a… a… three throw?”

He thought he heard Nat snort a laugh as he stopped several yards away. He didn’t want to cut into their conversation.

“I think you mean a ‘free throw,’ April.”

April shrugged helplessly, and now Cade was also trying not to laugh. He busied himself by answering a few emails from coworkers. It was a miracle he’d even gotten three weeks off for the holidays, especially being his first year out of residency. He’d requested it, doubtfully, and been surprised when it was approved.

Actually, it was less of a miracle, and more likely that many of his colleagues chose to work over the holidays for double pay.

A week ago, Cade would have gladly chosen the double pay over Christmas with his family. But now, as he glanced up at Nat, who was patting April’s arm and nodding at something she said, he wasn’t so sure.

“Hey, I have the perfect idea to get you back on your feet!” Nat’s excited tone tuned him back into the conversation. Anticipating he’d be waiting a while, he walked a couple of feet to a table laden with tinsel and candy canes and sat down.

“What?” April asked warily.

“The mistletoe booth! I know for a fact Mrs. Smithson is looking for someone to man it—or woman it, I guess—and…” Nat cut herself off, laughing as April seemed to vacillate between horrified and angry. “Okay, okay,” she said, warding off April’s reaction with raised hands. “Not a good idea. In my defense, you wouldn’t actually be kissing anyone, just watching the booth, and maybe getting caught under the mistletoe once or twice.”

“And you call yourself my friend.”

“I am your friend, which is why I’m giving you the tough love. You gotta at least get back out there. There are a million more fish in the sea waiting for you. Get swimming!”

“It’s fourteen degrees out.”

“You know what I mean.”

April’s brows pulled together. “I feel like it’s the blind leading the blind here. When did you last go out on a second date?”

Natalie waved her friend’s words off, but Cade honed in on them. Somehow, knowing Natalie wasn’t giving other guys a chance at even a second date was a comfort.

“We aren’t talking about me here. Find a guy that’s totally different than what's-his-face. Go out with someone who isn’t your standard ‘jock.’ Hey, don’t look at me like that. Jocks aren’t bad, just your usual choice, and they haven’t been great to you. So…” Nat’s voice took on a new, sly tone. “I’m issuing a challenge.”

April groaned. Cade didn’t blame her—he remembered their ‘challenges.’ None of them ever went well. Well, except for that one where April challenged Nat to buy dinner for a stranger. Cade had been that stranger. Or, when Nat challenged April to stay overnight in a tent outside their apartment. Cade had really enjoyed the ensuing alone time with Natalie.

“Don’t groan. It’s a good one.”

“I highly doubt that,” April grumbled.

“April, I hereby challenge you to find a man the EXACT opposite of your free throw guy—and all the other guys you’ve been dating lately—and ask him out.BeforeChristmas.”

“Oh.” April looked thoughtful.

“Told you it wasn’t a bad challenge.”

“Well, I still have to find someone who fits the bill in a few days.”

Nat scoffed. “Come on, it’s two weeks...ish.”

Cade grinned down at the table. She was repeatinghimand what he’d said to her the night before.

“Fine. I agree to your challenge.” She held up a hand, stopping Nat from what would have been a premature celebration. “Butonlyif you find a guy and go with me.”

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