Page 11 of Catch Yourself a Snowmance
~Clarence Odbody, It’s A Wonderful Life
Carson and I unload the groceries in silence. It’s the kind of silence I share with some of my closest friends—which feels weird since before yesterday I imagined Carson to be the missing link, falling somewhere between the original cave dwellers and actual men who can hold both a meaningful job and a conversation.
I admit I judged Carson harshly. He’s not only cute, he’s funny … and attentive. But I still don’t fish in the same pond as my friends, so he’s effectively off limits. I’m glad we got through the whole misperception I had of him. I’m not so proud that I can’t admit when I’m wrong. And I was grossly wrong. Noelle will be thrilled when I admit I actually enjoyed Carson’s company.
“Mitch! Gage! There are more bags in the car. Earn your keep!” Carson shouts into the house as we set our bags onto the counter.
I shoot him an impressed look and he brushes his knuckles across his shirt in a mock brag.
Mitch comes into the kitchen, shirtless. It’s got to be in the 30s or colder outside. He’s only wearing tennis shoes and sweats.
“Whatcha need, man?” Mitch asks Carson.
“I need you to get some of the groceries.”
Gage walks past us. “I’m dressed. I’ll go.”
Mitch looks down at himself and back up at Gage. “I’m dressed.”
He honestly looks baffled. Then he follows Gage out to the car.
“He runs hot,” Carson explains to me.
“I guess so.” I chuckle.
Out the window, I watch Gage and Mitch grab bags and carry them in.
Carson asks, “How about some cocoa?”
I turn back toward Carson. He grabs down two mugs and moves to grab out a pan from the lower cabinets. He’s making me cocoa. Besides Noelle, I can’t remember the last time someone made me anything.
Noelle and Liam walk into the kitchen.
“Need some help putting groceries away?” Liam asks.
“Sure,” Carson answers, setting the pan aside.
Noelle walks over to the kitchen bar where I’m standing. “So, how was it going shopping?”
Her voice is slightly conspiratorial and hushed.
“Surprisingly fun,” I admit.
“Mm hmm. Okay, then.”
“I’m big enough to acknowledge when my first impression wasn’t complete.”
She just smiles at me. “That’s what I hoped.”
“He’s nice,” I add, even though I don’t have to.
“Liam wouldn’t hang out with him if he weren’t.”
“I guess I should have figured that out. But, you know. Sometimes people can have a certain taste in friends. It doesn’t mean that the person is bad … just not … I don’t know. I was wrong. Let’s leave it at that.”
Noelle smiles and places her hand on my forearm. “I’m just glad you like him. It means the world to me.”
Gage and Mitch come in laughing loudly. Mitch doesn’t even look cold.
