Page 41 of Maybe This Christmas
“You’re fine, Caleb!I was going to take a shower, but unless I’m nose blind, I don’t think I smell too bad.”
He cleared his throat.“You smell just fine.I think.I mean, I’m not close enough, really…” She had to wonder if he was thinking the same thing she was…
You can come closer if you want to.
She swallowed down a cheeky reply.She didn’t want to weird him out, especially after their earlier kiss.He was tentative, and she didn’t want to take advantage of that.“Good to know.Let’s eat, huh?”
They set up at the small kitchenette.Caleb had thought of everything, even bringing them both a couple of beers.And water.And soda.
He was so thoughtful she worried her heart might explode.
They settled into the small kitchen table.The space was so tight their knees touched.
“I should prepare you for bingo,” he said.“The biddies run their bingo games like they belong in a Vegas gambling hall.Which, on occasion, includes musical acts and scantily dressed waiters.”
Emma chuckled.“High rollers only?Do I need to stop at the ATM before we head over there?”
“C-notes only,” Caleb joked as he took the lids off their food.
“Ooh, that pot pie looks divine.”Emma reached her fork toward the container.“Thank you for remembering.You’re very thoughtful.”
“I try to be,” he said simply.
They fell into silence while they set out their food.She took her first bite and let out a low, pleased sound.
“Yum.”
She caught Caleb’s quirked eyebrow and nearly choked.“I’m sorry.My love affair with carbs is lifelong.”
He snapped open his beer can.“Same.I’ll toast to that.”
She opened her beer and clinked her can against his.“I had a really good time with you today, Caleb.I’m kind of glad the day isn’t quite over.”
He scratched at his beard.“Me too.I was worried you’d be sick of me after all day together in town.”
“I had the best day in like…a long time.December can be a tricky month for me.”
He cleared his throat.“Are the holidays hard for you, usually?”
Emma stabbed at a gooey blob of chicken and vegetables.“Yes, and no.I learned to set my expectations low.I’d usually visit Davis’ family wherever they were spending the holiday that year.It was rarely in Ottawa, where he’s from.They’re very upper-class.The type to discuss mathematical theorems and world politics over dinner.A bit much for a former foster kid.”
He cleared his throat.“I’m sure you’ve seen by now that my family is kind of a wild bunch.I wouldn’t have it any different, though.Even if sometimes I have to go sit in a dark room and breathe for a few minutes.They can be overstimulating.”
Emma smiled.“I get that.Life at the Hendersons was kind of nuts.There were us foster kids and the Hendersons had their kids and grandkids.I kind of miss it.Even though Aniyah—my foster sister—and I would sometimes ‘go for a walk’ to get away from the chaos.”She mimed holding a cigarette to her mouth.
Caleb laughed.“Oh, so we’re the same that way then.Mom would always fuss about how when my cousins and I would come back from one of our walks, we smelled like the devil’s lettuce.”
She brought her hand to her mouth to keep food from flying out.“I should’ve expected that from you.Wild middle child.”
He nudged her slightly with his elbow.“And to top it off, I’ve always been one more for natural remedies, if you catch my drift.My sister always says I smell like patchouli and nag champa.It’s just the soap I use.”
“You’ll have to tell me what soap it is.”
Their eyes met.He reached over to squeeze her hand.“These last couple of days have shaken me out of my winter blues.”
“And you’ve helped take my mind off of…” She pointed to her bare ring finger.She worried that she felttoohappy only days out of a long-term relationship.Clearly, she’d made the right choice.
His face softened.“I guess we’ve been good for each other, huh?”
