Page 86 of Holiday Hopefuls
“Why do you assume something’s wrong?”
John scoffs through the phone. “Gee, I dunno. Maybe because you’re calling me at six in the morning on Christmas Eve while you’re on a trip pretending to be a boyfriend in love?”
The morning landscape is breathtaking, but it doesn’t fully distract from the bitter cold of the winter dawn. Shuddering, I mentally curse myself for not bothering to throw on a hoodie, too.
Or socks.
“Spit it out, man.” John’s voice has officially transitioned into Dad Mode.
“You’ve always been too in tune with me, you know that? It’s annoying.”
Silence rings through on the other end of the call. When my best friend speaks again, the weight of his words nearly knocks me off my feet. “You’re in love with Callie.” John chuckles under his breath, trying to cover it with a cough. “Well … can’t really say I’m all that surprised, man.”
“Thanks for the marvelous insight. Can we try again, please?” I snap.
“Easy, Oliver,” he says, voice calm. “Tell me about how you’re feeling.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I exhale slowly. “I don’t know.”
“You do.”
I really hate it when he’s right. “I … I don’t want to scare her.”
“Did you bring yourFriday the 13thmask?”
A reluctant laugh forces its way out. “That was one Halloween, dude.” I sigh. “I haven’t seen that thing since I was seventeen.”
“Sure, but you still showed it to Candace Mason and she dumped her punch down your shirt at the school dance.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t my best work.”
Laughing, he says, “So, are you afraid she doesn’t feel the same way?”
Scrunching my face, I consider his question. “Not exactly.”
John hmms through the phone. “Do you think she does feel the same, then?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “Everything feels so natural between us. So real. If she doesn’t share my feelings, she’s a good actress.”
“The only way you’ll know is if you ask.”
“What if she feels pressured?”
John scoffs. “Have you met Callie? That woman has grown up under tremendous pressure and has become an incredible person in spite of it all. I highly doubt you telling her about your feelings will make Callie want to shove a cactus in your face.”
“I don’t want to make things awkward between us, though.”
“Had you planned to see one another anytime after the holidays?”
Scratching my second-day beard growth, I exhale loudly. “Not exactly.”
“Then what do you have to lose? If you tell her and she feels the same, then great. Welcome to your forever. If not, you don’t have to see her after these next couple days and then you can move on.”
“You make it sound so easy,” I snort. “Too bad I don’t think it’s quite that simple. And if you really believe that, then you’ve never felt like this.”
“Look,” John’s voice lowers to barely a whisper, “I didn’t think I would ever be able to feel anything again after Angela left.”
My heart drops in my chest. “John, I’m sorry man. I didn’t mean?—”
