Page 28 of Resisting Fate
“Why don’t you try it without the shoes?” he asked.
She stopped and narrowed her eyes. “I’m trying to hurry. I have to buy tights, change, eat lunch, and be back in under an hour. In case you haven’t noticed, the mall is packed, and there’s sure to be a line at the Christmas store. I might even have to go to more than one store if they don’t have what I need.”
He held out his hand. “Shoe.”
She grabbed his arm for balance, taking one off. “Fine.” She took the other one off and held them both in one hand. “What’re you doing here? I thought you did your Christmas shopping at the craft bazaar.”
“That was Grandmom’s Christmas shopping.”
She continued speed walking, much faster without the shoes. “So you’re willing to brave the mall for…”
“Watch battery.”
“That’s too bad. Shoulda got it online.”
“It was a grandmom emergency.” Besides, the mall had a watch battery kiosk and was close to his house.
Missy smiled for some reason like maybe he’d been suckered.
It had been odd now that he thought about it. His grandmother had made a huge fuss over the watch not keeping the correct time, saying she felt “disoriented” and kept showing up places late, though she’d shown up at his place exactly on time this morning for breakfast. She liked to check on him on a weekly basis to make sure he wasn’t letting his house “go to pot.” Whatever that meant. He had a cleaning service. She’d had a weird dream too about him marrying a redhead. She often had bizarre dreams that he never thought twice about, but now that he was looking at the brunette he knew to be a redhead, he was beginning to get suspicious. This was the second errand he’d run for his grandmother where he also ran into Missy. Was Missy friendly with his grandmother? They did go to the same church, though his grandmother had a different last name than him, so Missy might not have known they were related.
He was about to ask when Missy suddenly slipped, hat and shoes flying, landing on her ass. She swore a blue streak.
He gathered her stuff for her. “Are you hurt?”
“Just my pride.”
He grinned. “Is that what you call your ass?”
She glared at him.
He tried really hard to dial down his smile. “Funny how we both fell on our asses in front of each other. You might say we’re falling for each other.” He winked and offered his hand to help her up.
She ignored his hand and slowly got to her feet. She took her hat and shoes back. “Don’t you have a watch battery to buy?”
He patted his jeans pocket. “Right here. I was about to head out when I caught sight of your elfishness.”
“Laugh it up.” She walked at a more sedate pace, probably a little sore from her fall.
He instantly felt remorse. “I’m sorry, I was being insensitive to your elf situation. Elves have feelings too. Here, let me hold your elf hat and elf shoes.”
“Could you say elf one more time?” She handed them over, seeming glad to be rid of them.
“Elf.”
She narrowed her eyes, the effect still adorable with her little green elf dress.
He bit back a laugh. “What? You asked. Let me buy you lunch to make up for all of my elf insensitivity.”
She gave him side eye. “You don’t have to do that. And I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone what you saw here today.”
“My lips are sealed.”
When they arrived at the Christmas store, she took her hat and shoes back. “So, um, bye. Please wipe your memory of this entire embarrassing time.”
“I’m not embarrassed at all.”
She threw her hands up.
