Page 24 of Jingle Bell Jilt
I put the cool melt in the cart and then move down the aisle a couple of feet. I add a tube of Alene’s Tacky Glue. Evan picks it up. “You only mentioned hot glue. I did not agree to this one. I guess it’s a good thing we upped it to forty dollars.” His head drops to the side and he looks at me with sad, regretful eyes. “You’re welcome.”
I take it from him and drop it back into the cart. “Forty dollars in the craft world is like a hundred in the regular world. I got this under control.” I wave him away. “Don’t you have a decoration to buy or something?”
He picks the glue back up. “What are you using it for?”
I waggle my brows. “It’s for the glitter.”
He narrows his eyes. “I might have changed my mind on that.”
“Too late,” I say in a sing-song voice. I hold up a pack of elastic bands. “I only need one big one. Do you have one or do I have to buy this whole bag for it?”
He shakes his head. “I’m coming to realize I’m woefully undersupplied for crafting.”
“I’m not surprised. Nathan didn’t have any of this stuff either. And he never saw the reason for it.” I wait for the tears to well up in my eyes, but they don’t. There’s a small stab of regret in my chest, but it’s not as bad as I expected it to be. Maybe it’s just because there’s been so much that’s happened today. I’m sure when I have the chance to be alone, it will all come out again. But the last thing I need is to start bawling in front of Evan in the middle of the Walmart.
I move to the wedding aisle and Evan groans. “Okay. This is where I leave.” I try to avoid looking at things that specifically say ‘wedding,’ but I can’t help but notice them. The little bride and groom cake topper. The cake knife we should have used to cut our cake together. What happened to my big day? How had it all gone so wrong?
“Before I go in search of my winning decoration, I think we should decide what we want for dinner.” Evan moves to stand in front of the overtly wedding items.
I look up at him and smile. Were all rental hosts this kind or had I just lucked out? “Do you have any traditions? I think so far we’re only doing mine.”
“We used to have pizza every Christmas Eve.”
I smile. “Then pizza it is. But you’re going to have to choose the place because I have no idea where to get good pizza.” I tilt my head. “Are you okay with Thai Peanut noodles on Christmas Day? It doesn’t really scream Christmas.”
“It’s okay. I mean, that’s your tradition, right?”
I shake my head. “No. Our tradition is actually fondue. But that seems a bit much to organize away from my kitchen. So if you would rather do something else, that’s fine too. We can do anything you like.”
He strokes his stubbled chin like some villain in a cartoon movie. But even villainy doesn’t stop me from remembering the kiss we shared earlier. I slowly run my tongue over my lips, still feeling a slight tingling.
“How about enchiladas?”
I purse my lips. “Do you know how to make them?”
He frowns. “I kind of thought you might. I mean, you make Thai Peanut Noodles right?”
I shake my head. “Well, I do know how to make them. But I can’t believe you just assumed it. What if you were wrong?”
“There’s a frozen section here.”
I give him a slow blink. “We’re not eating frozen dinners on Christmas.”
He nudges me in the arm. “Then I guess it’s a Christmas miracle that you already know how to make them.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, the Christmas miracle will be if you win this competition.”
CHAPTERTEN
SHAY
“Let’s go grab the stuff for the enchiladas and then you can go find your decoration and we can check out separately and meet back at BR,” I say without taking a breath.
Evan nods. “Sounds like a plan.”
We hurry through the store, but as we pass the women’s section, an assortment of truly ghastly Christmas sweaters catches my eye. I pull to a stop. “Okay. It’s not truly Christmas in the Taylor house without an ugly sweater contest.”
“Another contest?”
