Page 49 of Jingle Bell Jilt
He laughs. “I don’t think you’ll need to resort to tears this time. I have a season pass.”
I frown. “Then I’ll just have to eat the money for Nathan’s ticket?” My shoulders slump. “That kind of makes me want to cry for real.”
“Sorry. We can go and see if they’ll refund you.” He smirks. “Or maybe you should email them, they might not find your tears credible if you’re already bringing another guy along.”
He makes it sound like a date. A little tingle dances up my spine, but I shrug it off. “I suppose six hundred bucks is a small price to pay for dodging that bullet.”
“Ouch,” he grimaces and a shadow passes over his face but is gone just as fast. “Then you’re not sad that you didn’t marry him?”
I sigh. “I don’t think so? I don’t know. Maybe it’s too soon to tell. All I know right now is that I’m mad I wasted so much time on him.”
His brows raise, but I’m not sure if it’s because of what I said or the chair he’s currently running his hand over.
“Are you sure you have time?” I ask.
He lays aside the sandpaper and takes off the apron he’s wearing. It’s made of thick mustard-colored canvas, lest you’re picturing anything frilly. “Yep. I have all the time in the world.”
“Thanks, Evan. You’re probably counting the days until I’m out of your hair.”
His head shakes slowly. “Not even close.”
We go into the house. “Let me just grab my wallet and we can go.”
I stand in front of him so he can’t leave yet. “Do you mind if we take your car?”
His brow creases. “No, why?”
“I had to park in the oversized car section and it’s like ten miles away from the transportation hub.”
“Ten miles?” He twists his head to the side and gives me a look that says he isn’t buying what I’m selling.
I put my hands on my hips. “At leastten miles.
He chuckles. “Gotcha. I’ll grab my keys too.”
* * *
EVAN
We’re sittingon a bench eating our Mickey Mouse head chocolate-covered ice cream bars. Shay pulls off a sheet of chocolate and sucks on it. Is it creepy to say I envy that chocolate? Probably, so I’ll just keep it to myself.
“Thanks again for coming with me. This is much more fun than I was having this morning.”
I hastily swallow and grin. “My pleasure, Miss Taylor.”
She laughs and runs her tongue over her teeth. “You still have some chocolate there.”
I smile overly wide and exaggeratedly. Then run my tongue over my teeth. I mean it as a joke, but when the tip of her tongue peeks out between her lips and she subconsciously mimics my actions, a cold sweat covers my forehead.
“There?” I choke out. “Is that where it was?”
She lifts her hand and points, even though I can’t see what she’s pointing at.
I pull her sunglasses down off the top of her head and use them as a mirror. Closing my lips, I move my tongue around, trying to melt the chocolate between my teeth. I smile widely at her again. “Better?”
She swallows and stares at me.
My mouth snaps shut. Crap, is it still there?
