Page 54 of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage
“Thanks, Jordi.” Dani picked up her clipboard and checked something off.
“Is everyone still planning on going to your place tomorrow to get ready for the ball?” Jordi asked Dani as she picked up a stream of ribbon and tied it into a bow. Bronte grinned, seeing that Jordi’s bow resembled her lopsided bows more than Dani’s perfect one. “You too, Bronte.”
That was right. Jordi had promised she had a dress Bronte could borrow for the ball, but Jordi sounded like she was inviting her over for a party. “I thought I’d just swing by and pick up the dress you had for me.”
“Oh, no. I have so many that you should probably pick which one speaks to you the most, and we’ve planned a whole shindig. Besides us”—Jordi circled a finger that encompassed her, Bronte, and Dani—“it’ll be Mia, Lily, and Sadie—have you met Lily and Sadie yet, Bronte? You’ll love them. We’re all going to meet at Dani’s house to get ready. It’ll be like prom all over again.”
“I never went to prom.”
Dani’s and Jordi’s mouths gaped open.
“What?” Dani said at the same time as Jordi exclaimed, “Seriously?”
Bronte nodded. “I actually grew up in foster homes, and the week before prom, I had to move homes, which also meant moving high schools, and I didn’t really feel like going to a prom where I didn’t know anyone.”
“Then I’m really insisting,” Jordi said. “You have to come.”
“Yes. We’re going to have so much fun,” Dani chimed in. “Jordi has the best dresses. I might steal one from her stash as well. Oh, and I’ll be bringing snack food from the pizzeria. So make sure not to eat before you come.”
“I don’t know how you stay so skinny when you live above the pizzeria, Dani.” Jordi pinched her friend’s side. “I’d be eating there every meal.”
“You get used to it after a while.” Dani batted Jordi away.
“Why do you have so many dresses lying around, Jordi?” Bronte tried to think of her wardrobe back at home and was pretty sure she only had one formal dress that Lexi had made her purchase for a big awards ceremony a couple years back. She had worn it once and wanted to donate it, but Lexi talked her into keeping it for any other formal event she may, or may not, attend in her lifetime. A lot of good it was doing her now, sitting at home in her closet.
“I used to do a lot of pageants.” Jordi shrugged.
“Why’d you stop?” Bronte asked. She remembered Jordi mentioning her pageant days the morning she had met her.
“It was time. So, it’s settled then.” It wasn’t lost on Bronte that Jordi had skipped over giving them the real reason she no longer did pageants. “Dani’s apartment. Tomorrow at noon?”
“I can’t wait,” Bronte said, only a little surprised to find out that it was true.
* * *
“See you tomorrow! Thanks for all your help today,” Dani called as Jonah and Bronte left the Grand. Liam had offered to take them back on the snowmobiles, but Bronte had said she’d rather walk, hoping she’d be ready to sit and work for a while by the time they made it back to the Whites’ house.
“You did a great job on that ceiling. All those ornaments, they look so cool,” Bronte said, snow crunching under her feet, arms swinging at her sides.
“Why, I thank you.” Jonah mock bowed. “By the end, your bows weren’t looking quite as wonky.”
“Hey.” Bronte nudged his shoulder with hers. “Making bows is not as easy as it looks.”
They’d just made it to the first line of stores when the Fudge Shop on the Corner came into view. She stopped. It was still open. Good. She needed ice cream sustenance before a long writing session. “I heard there’s ice cream in this fudge shop.”
Jonah stopped next to her and they peered inside. Lily was wiping down the countertop, moving items back into their places, bopping along to unheard music. Declan came up behind her and snuck a kiss on her cheek. Bronte’s heart fluttered at the sight.
“There is, but they’re probably closing up soon. You look kind of cold for ice cream. Besides, shouldn’t we eat dinner first?” Jonah raised an eyebrow in her direction.
Bronte clenched her jaw to keep from shivering. “Gasp! Jonah White, I’ve already told you before, it is never too cold for ice cream. And it’s on our way home. Let’s go.” Bronte pulled him into the fudge shop, ignoring his mention of ruining dinner. Psh. They were adults. They could eat dessert before dinner. Maybe Bronte would steal a kiss as second dessert before dinner. She ducked her head at the thought, praying her face didn’t show how hot it felt.
They made their selections, with apologies to Lily for coming in so close to closing time, and headed back down the sidewalk.
“You know, someone else I knew used to like getting ice cream in the winter.”
“Oooh, like an ex-girlfriend?” Bronte teased, wagging her eyebrows.
Jonah dipped his head. “Yeah, I’ve really only ever had one.”
