Page 39 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms
“Yes, but stay in the yard and put on your coat.”
“I’m not cold.”
“At least take it with you.”
“I will!”
Annabel scurried outside, slamming the door behind her.
“I thought you might have been out getting a tree,” I said.
“Yeah, we were going to do that yesterday.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Pressing her lips together, she glanced away. She only did that when she had something to hide.
“What’s that look for?” I asked.
“What look?”
“That one. The one that means you’re trying to keep a secret from me.”
“I don’t have a look.” Her lips turned up. She was totally trying not to smile. “Or a secret.”
“Liar.”
She blew out a breath. “Fine. But don’t make a big deal out of this. Because it’s probably nothing, and I don’t want Annabel to think something is going on.”
It was hard to contain my impatience. “Tell me while she’s still outside.”
“Okay, so, there’s this guy.”
I gasped.
“I know, I know. There’s never a guy. Except now…”
“Now there’s a guy.”
“Maybe. I mean, there is. But I’m not sure what’s going on yet.”
“Who is he? How did you meet? Tell me everything.”
“He’s a single dad, and his daughter is in Annabel’s class. We’ve met at school stuff, so I’ve seen him before, but I didn’t know much about him. The other morning, we were both early for drop-off, and somehow it came up in conversation that we’re both single.” She tucked her legs beneath her. “I don’t know. It felt like we had a moment. But then it was time to go, and nothing happened.”
“I’m so invested in this. Go on.”
“Annabel and I went to Christmas Village yesterday, and out of nowhere, she shrieks and runs off. I was about to freak out, like where the heck are you going, kid? But she’d spotted her friend Lucy.”
“Let me guess. The cute single dad’s daughter? He is cute, right?”
“So cute,” she said on a sigh. “Anyway, yes, it was them. So we kind of hung out together all day. Never made it over to the trees.”
“Are you guys going to see each other again?”
“That’s the thing, I don’t know. We didn’t make any plans. He didn’t even get my number. So obviously, I’m doubting that he even likes me.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
