Page 15 of OMG Christmas Tree
Nick turned out of the store lot. “It’s on the way, in Crystal Cove town limits. Not far from your family’s house.”
“Stu’s house,” I corrected.
“Pardon my intrusion, but you’re going to have to get used to the Stu thing.”
“Pardon not accepted. My family isn’t any of your business.”
“Come on. Stu is a decent guy. My parents have known him for decades. His daughter made all-state track. She was two or three years ahead of me in school—”
“Good for her,” I cut in. Stu’s overachieving kids prickled my nerves. I wasn’t proud of my irritation, but I couldn’t help it. “Sorry. This is all new for me.”
“All I’m saying is give him a chance.”
Nick drove silent and steady until we reached a four-way stop. “I need to stop by this supplier to get the decorations.”
I tapped my phone awake, but no messages waited for me. Fine, then. I slipped the phone back into my purse. “Don’t you already have decorations?”
He let out a slow sigh. “Remember when I said I may have left some of the benefit planning to later? Well, the deal is you’re supposed to pick a boutique to supply the decorations and they get the credit and free advertising. It’s a whole thing. Obviously, my mom is great at it. She even gave me a list.” He signaled toward a crumpled piece of paper in the cup holder.
I grabbed the paper and spread the page across my thigh to de-crinkle. The names of floral and home decor shops were listed one through five with handwritten notes in a delicate, loopy script. Clearly, his mother’s handwriting. “So, which one are we going to?”
“I figured I’d start with the closest one on Barrington Road.”
“Start with?” I held up the paper. “Let me guess. You never followed up with them.” I looked at him, incredulous. “Any of them?”
A beat of silence told me everything.
“Nick.” I sounded far more exasperated than reasonably necessary given his emergency was not my problem. “It’s three days until Christmas. What, are you going to just walk into one of these shops and ask them to professionally decorate a tree with three days’ notice?”
“Actually, two days since Christmas Eve is the night of the benefit.”
I swatted him with the paper. It made an unsatisfyingfwopeagainst his shoulder. “What if they all say no? What if they’re already closed for the holiday?”
A horn honked behind us and Nick turned left. “They’re all still open today. I’m not that much of a Fail Hard.”
I wanted to believe him. He seemed like a decent guy, but it was like he expected life to fall in line around him. Life required effort. Work. Responsibility. Everything didn’t simplywork out.
I chose my words carefully. “The coffee shop where I work recently expanded to include event space. I’ve been the main contact to book musicians and private parties. So far, it’s been a great boost for business. We’ve had to turn down a few requests because people called too late. We need adequate staffing for an event. If we don’t have enough lead-time, it’s too hard to cover with our limited staff.”
“Makes sense.” He turned again, onto Barrington Road. A small white building with a parking lot beside it and a sign for Vilmer’s Floral came into view. Nick pulled in and parked. “I’ll take you back after this. You don’t have to come in. I’m sure you have people to message.”
He opened the door and got out. The truck door shut again, the sound reverberating inside.
I flung open my door and followed.
Nick turned to me stomping toward him in the snowy lot. “What are you doing? This is my mess. I’ll deal with it.”
“With what, your Bennington charm?” I folded my arms and waited.
His chest rose and fell. “Yup.” Only the yup wasn’t the confident response he’d had earlier. Defeat deflated his whole demeanor.
“I’m coming with you.” I breezed past him. “One thing I’m sure of. You need me right now.”
