Page 73 of Saved By Noel
I narrow my eyes at her but don’t respond.
“First, Clara left early last weekend, citing some emergency at home that she never gave details for. She avoided texting me all week. Now, she finally texts me that she won’t be here this weekend because of some ‘work thing’ that came up,” she huffs. She mimes air quotes to show how much she believes Clara’s excuse.
“This festival is her baby—there’s no way she’d let some ‘work thing’ keep her from the final days.” Extra exaggerated air quotes this time. Syd’s turned feisty, and I need to get out of her line of fire. Unfortunately, I’m exactly the right person to blame.
Syd pops her hands on her hips and stares down my silence. “Don’t make me get Davis.”
I groan, rubbing a hand down my face and across my beard. “Fine. Last weekend, Clara may have said something to me about having feelings for me that went beyond friendship. And I may have reacted in . . . not the way she was hoping I’d react.”
Syd full-on punches my biceps with a mean right hook. “Ow!” I say, rubbing my left arm.
“Don’t be a baby in addition to being a complete fool,” she glowers at me. “Clark, youobviouslyreciprocate Clara’s feelings. Why in the world wouldn’t you tell her? You’re not making any sense!”
I sigh, rubbing my arm. It still stings. Syd could apparently also have a future as an MMA fighter if the children’s librarian or voice actress gig didn’t work out.
“Even if I was attracted to Clara, that doesn’t mean a relationship would work out between us, Syd. I’m just . . . not starting something that I know we couldn’t finish.”
“But why?” Syd jumps back in. “Is it the distance? Because there are plenty of people who have made long-distance relationships work until they figure out what they’re going to do long term.”
“No, Syd, it’s not the distance. I need you to just drop it, okay? I don’t want to talk about Clara anymore,” I say.
“If you won’t talk to me about this, find someone you can talk to, Clark. And then talk to Clara and fix this! Because you made a mess of things with my new best friend, and I’m not going to let you get away with that.” Syd’s eyes are shimmering with moisture in addition to the rage. Her emotion cuts through my defensiveness.
“I promise I’m trying to patch things up, at least make it to where Clara can still come to town and just avoid seeing me.”
“You’re trying how hard?” Syd questions.
“I’ve texted her a few times this week, and when she wouldn’t respond, I tried calling her a few minutes ago.”
Syd sniffs. “You tried an actual phone call? Like, talking with your voice through the phone?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, Syd, I tried a real-live phone call. She didn’t answer, but I’ll keep trying. I’ve never intended to hurt her.”
She studies my face. “Maybe. But sometimes the impact matters more than the intention, Clark.”
Ouch.
Syd stalks away, but whirls around to face me again. I brace for another sucker punch.
“And go check on Clara’s plants! She asked me to do it, but the last thing we need is me killing off her favorite plant and giving her one more reason to abandon Noel!”
The First Noel is officially over, and I’ve never been more grateful for the end of something. We’d decided not to extendthe festival into the week before Christmas so that everyone could enjoy a quiet holiday with their families.
I work Monday and Tuesday to take apart some of the larger festival booths that are no longer needed, but we’ll leave the decorations up until after Christmas. On Tuesday afternoon, Davis tries to bring up Clara with me as we work alongside each other.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I cut him off.
Davis gives me a look that’s not quite a glare. More in the neighborhood of concerned disappointment. It makes me uncomfortable.
“Look, man. I know Syd laid into you the other night. And I agree with every word she said, for the record. I won’t pile it on, but you need to know that I’m worried about you,” Davis says. I swallow hard and avoid eye contact as he continues. “You’re my best friend—nothing’s ever going to change that. I know every circumstance of your past that’s rolled into how you tick. Been there with you through every hard thing. And I love you like a brother.”
Davis pauses, and I swallow even harder. He claps a hand on my shoulder. “I’m worried aboutyou, Clark. I just want you to talk to me if you need to.”
After a long pause, I manage to reply. “I appreciate it, man. But I’m not ready to talk right now. Can we put this off a little longer?” Davis nods, and we continue working in silence.
Maybe if I put off talking long enough, everyone will forget and leave me alone.
Unlikely.
