Page 40 of Catch Yourself a Snowmance
She steeples her fingers and drums the tips against one another..
Then she looks at me. “Okay. Right. Totally no pressure. Whatever happens is fine. We’ll take it one day at a time.”
Chapter 11
Carson
At Christmas, all roads lead home.
~ A Christmas Story
Liam and I stand in the kitchen after everyone’s in bed, each holding a mug of the cider he warmed up. He’s grilling me about Alyssa, and I don’t mind. This is the very conversation I dreaded—the one that nearly held me back from pursuing Alyssa at all.
“So, how serious are you?” Liam asks. “I know it’s only been a few days. But I’ve never seen you so into a woman before.”
Alyssa was just in here, grabbing a cup of water and scurrying back down the hall as if she could tell Liam and I were having a man to man about her.
“I don’t have anything to really compare this to since I’ve been intentionally single for so long. And part of the reason I declared myself the perpetual bachelor was because I wasn’tmeeting women like her. You know. You had front row seats to those events.”
“I did.” Liam sips his drink and nods once.
“But, to answer your question,” I say. “I could see this getting serious. That depends on what she wants. I really like her. I feel like she and I had a crash course in getting to know one another, being cooped up for so many hours together, and then on the slopes. She’s fun, funny, kind, and thoughtful. We’ve talked about our families, our goals, our histories … Yeah. I really like her.”
Liam smiles. “I like her for you. There’s an ease between you that you can’t just manufacture. You two seem to really hit it off.”
“Yeah.” I smile into my mug. “I’m going to miss having her so close by.”
“As in the next few bedrooms in the same house?” Liam chuckles.
“Exactly.”
“Here’s where you learn how to work for it. Once we’re back in Waterford, you’re going to have to make an effort. If you want a woman, you pursue her. Don’t make her wonder where you stand. No games. We’re too old for that. You two are either going to make a go of this or not. If you aren’t, you can’t do anything to change that fact. And if you are, pursuing her hard won’t mess it up. She already likes you. Make sure she doesn’t have to guess whether you feel the same. You know how basic guys are? Like Mitch and Gage?”
“Feed them, they’re happy?”
“Pretty much,” Liam laughs. “Women are not simple.”
“I’ve got four sisters. I know.”
“Okay, but you haven’t dated your sisters. Trust me. A woman’s mind can go in one thousand directions, concoctingten thousand alternative stories about one situation in the length of time it takes you to tie your shoes.”
“Is this the part where you scare me to death?”
“This is the part where I save you from yourself. Always text her back. Always return her calls. Initiate. Reach out. Tell her how you feel, and don’t wait for her to ask you. Listen when she talks—especially if she seems upset or confused about something. And never take her for granted. This isn’t just a recipe for the period of time when you’re trying to win her heart. This is your recipe for life. Do you see Noelle complaining?”
“Does she ever complain? About anything?”
“Fair. But she doesn’t have to wonder what I think about us or how I feel about her. Make sure you do the same for Alyssa. It will pay off big time. Women need communication way more than men. They use ten times the words we do daily. That’s how they’re wired. Respect that difference and you’ll save yourself a lot of heartache.”
“And if this doesn’t work out between me and her?”
“Then I’ll miss you.” Liam laughs loudly and then subdues himself as if he momentarily forgot that most of the house is asleep.
“Seriously?”
“No. Not at all. You two are grown ups. If you try this and it doesn’t work out, we’ll all still be friends. Say she gets married to someone else down the road …”
My hand involuntarily clenches my mug. I don’t like the idea of Alyssa in another man’s bed or life at all. Not one bit.
