Page 76 of The Tattered Gloves
I didn’t even wait for her to finish suggesting anything. I was already making a beeline toward the shower.
“WOULD YOU STOP fidgeting?” Addy said as I helped her finish setting the table.
“I’m not!” I argued, pulling at the sleeve of my shirt once more.
“Okay.” She laughed, setting a glass down at each place at the table.
Three spots.
Not two. Three.
Because Sam was coming here. To eat. With us.
I couldn’t wrap my brain around it.
Why would he ask my aunt to join us on Christmas? Why hadn’t he just asked me?
Why did he want to be here in the first place? This was the ultimate question.
It was a general law among humanity to not deliver bad news on major holidays, right?
Because the only reason I could possibly come up with was, he was firing me.
And he decided to do it over cinnamon rolls?
No, that didn’t sound right.
“You look like you’re about to make a run for it,” Addy commented as I checked the clock one last time.
“I just don’t get it. He asked you?”
“For the third time, yes. He called the salon and asked what our plans were for today. When I told him we didn’t have much going on besides eating and presents, he asked if I wouldn’t mind him dropping by. So, I invited him over for breakfast.”
“But he didn’t specifically ask?”
I knew I sounded nuts, but I just couldn’t stop.
She took a knowing breath, setting down the dish she had been carrying. “Willow, he called me, remember? He asked to come over.”
“Right, but maybe he just wanted to see you, you know? Maybe he wants to get a haircut or something?”
Her nose scrunched as she tried to contain a smile. “On Christmas?”
I huffed out a large breath. “I don’t know.”
“Well, I guess it’s time we found out. What do you say?” she said a mere moment before the doorbell rang.
I jumped, feeling the trembling shock waves of anticipation all the way down to my toes.
It is just Sam, I told myself.
Just Sam.
This little mantra did nothing to soothe my nerves because, although I might see him every day, sit behind him in class, and work alongside him, there had always been barriers and borders to our relationship.
When he stepped foot into this house… my house, everything would change.
I could no longer hide behind the guise that we were nothing more than classmates and coworkers.
