Page 78 of The Tattered Gloves
His head shook back and forth. “Why not you, Willow?”
I bit my lip, searching for the right words. “There are plenty of girls at school, Sam, most of them willing to give you their undivided attention.”
“Most of them?” he joked as the corner of his lip twitched.
“You know what I mean.”
“I do, yet I’m still here. Do you know why?”
“My aunt’s cinnamon rolls?” I joked.
He gave me a brief smile. “I’ve dated a few of those girls you mentioned, and it was okay for a while. Like that girl you keep sending death stares to in History? Valerie?”
My mouth dropped open. “I do not send her death stares.”
“Let’s agree to disagree on that one. Anyway, Valerie and I went out a few times — movies, football games — and I even asked her to the homecoming dance.”
“I didn’t see you with her at the homecoming dance,” I blurted out. “Not that I was looking.”
“You really need to stop doing that,” he said.
“Stop doing what?”
“Pretending that you don’t like me. It must be exhausting,” he replied, a cocky grin on his stupid mouth.
Breathing loudly, I muttered, “Jerk,” which only made him laugh.
“I’m not pretending anymore and see how much happier I am?”
But I barely noticed. I was still stuck on his words.
“You like me?” I found myself saying softly.
“I thought we’d already figured that out, Mittens. Why else would I be here, on Christmas Day, in the freezing cold? Yesterday, I thought we’d finally gotten somewhere when you opened up to me. I thought I’d found my chance to tell you and then—”
“I ran off,” I said, finishing his sentence.
“Exactly. I thought about giving you some time to figure it out, but I’ve had some time of my own — about four months or so — to learn how this works. And, if I know you well enough, I know you would have returned to work tomorrow, as if nothing had happened.”
He was so right.
“So, I made the call. And here I am.”
“Here you are,” I repeated, still in shock.
“My dad isn’t much for Christmas morning anymore. Ever since my mom left, he hasn’t been much on holidays in general, but Sophie tries. Breakfast was probably the only unburned food I’ll eat today.”
“I’m sure Addy will send you home with leftovers.”
Silence fell around us as the snow flurries picked up.
“Are you going to say anything? Or did I completely blow this by showing up this morning?”
“Why?” I asked again. “I just don’t understand. Why me?”
“And that’s part of the reason I’m here.” He paused for a moment, searching down the street, as if the words would suddenly appear. “When you look at me, what do you see?”
I instantly blushed.
