Page 87 of Hold Me Instead
“Another dating one?”
She held a finger to her lips.
“Did the experience not deter you from the relationship scene?”
Bella rocked between her feet, swinging her arms to keep warm. She stopped, head cocked. “No. If you’d asked a few months ago, it’d have been a different story. I dunno, the journey of the relationship is part ofthe fun. Even in such a compressed time, I learned things about myself and what I want in a partner. And for his many,manyflaws, there were moments when I was really happy. Pain and all, I’d rather go for it than regret not trying.”
“Bella!” The chorus shouting her name startled them, the power of five siblings plus.
Bella waved a wild hand. “Yeah, I’m coming!” She rolled her eyes. “It’s like we jump back twenty years when we’re all together. Okay, I promise we’ll grab food while we’re both home. I’ll text you!” She hugged him tight.
“Good to see you, Bella.”
She blew a kiss, then scuttled across the street, shouting indiscernible things to her family. A man, probably a brother, looped an arm around her neck in a loose headlock, and one of the little kids jumped on his back.
Zachary smiled at the mayhem, and the thought of Alex’s and Vivi’s faces watching the festivities lodged something quite uncomfortable in his throat. It seemed to grow in size as his family emerged from the Door County shop down the street. Vivi immediately sat at the curb to eat her fudge, with Alex wrangled by Jay to do the same. Sandra stood behind them, sipping a hot drink, and their mom came out of the store moments later and handed each kid something. He watched Sandra protest, but then she handed her a trinket and Sandra burst out laughing. Whatever she handed Jay next made his face light up like Alex.
Zachary didn’t want to watch from the sidelines anymore. He wanted to be up close to witness his mom’s glee as she spoiled her grandkids, see what old joke Sandra’s gift referenced, learn something his brother-in-law loved. He wanted to be there. In the thick of it.
Even if he and his dad stood next to one another in silence, he would make this time home count.
***
Zachary moved past clumps of people as they enjoyed the blocked-off Main Street like it was a special treat. When he spotted Charlie, alone, staring up at the tree, he maneuvered her way, stopping at her left shoulder. Bella’s words had echoed the entire night—“I’d rather go for it than regret not trying.”
“Hey.” He leaned close to her ear. Her breath hitched, and when she turned, their faces were inches apart.
“Hey.” Berry glasses today, to match her shoes. She looked back at the tree. “Well?”
“Good show. Though I’ll admit, Vivi and Alex were the most fun to watch.”Her too.How to say it without making her uncomfortable?
“I don’t doubt it.”
He lilted forward, his chest brushing her back. He grinned when she pressed to him. “It’s nice to see you,” he murmured. He looked down at her head as she stared at the tree and saw her cheeks perk into a grin.
“We just saw each other.”
“Yes, but out of the office.”
There was a beat, then “It’s good to see you too.”
He reached for her hand, threaded their fingers, and tucked them in the folds of his coat, hidden from everyone else. It had been years since he’d held a woman’s hand. He hadn’t realized the urge still existed.
He swallowed. “You’re freezing.”
“Forgot my gloves this morning.”
He warmed her fingers in his as they faced the tree. Her skin against his was his new favorite thing.
Gentle flurries fell, steady, as though on cue. Charlie chuckled and looked up, the snowflakes landing on her face, melting on her cheeks, her glasses.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” she murmured.
“What is it?”
“I mean, this is perfect timing.Magical.” She gestured up. “High-school Charlie would be freaking out right now.” She blinked rapidly, her smile freezing. Her eyes darted to him.
He chuckled. “High school you?”
