Page 42 of The Holiday Grump
“You brought her to a bar.” Fredrik scanned the room.
Summer waved at us from behind the bar, and an older couple continued eating their pizzas. With no obvious predators in sight, he relaxed a little.
“It’s not like I’m buying her beer,” I said pointedly. “And we’ll have to go in ten minutes, so you can read in peace.”
To my surprise, Fredrik slid his book back into his bag, picked up his things, and moved to our table, sitting right next to me. “Is it any good?” He nodded at my food, looking hungry.
“It’s perfect! So creamy. Try.” I picked up a clean spoon from a holder and handed it to him.
“I didn’t mean—” He raised his hand to refuse the spoon.
What was all this uptight nonsense? We were supposed to be friends, not awkwardly polite strangers who couldn’t even share food. He’d told me our paths would cross and we needed to get along.
I scooped a spoonful of chowder and raised it to his lips. “Open up.”
He scowled at the spoon, then at me, lips sealed. I felt a flash of irritation. So, I was supposed to accept his help left and right, but he couldn’t accept a spoonful of soup from me?
I held up the spoon, not yielding. “I bet your mom had fun feeding you as a baby.”
Kailee giggled. “Let me try!” She reached across the table, but I blocked her with my elbow, giving her a cheeky look.
“Wait, I have an idea.”
I readied my spoon and looked Fredrik in the eye. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”
His mouth dropped open, and I stuck the spoon in. A little dribble ran down the side of his face, but he managed to swallow the rest, staring at me in utter horror. Kailee cheered.
“It’s good, isn’t it?” I smiled victoriously.
Fredrik grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth. “The chowder is great. You, on the other hand”—he gave me a long look, lowering his voice—“are playing cruel games.”
He stared at me for a moment, his eyes dark and thunderous, and I swallowed hard. “What do you mean?”
“I get that I’m nothing to you but a small-town curiosity, but you don’t have to make fun of me.”
“Make fun of you?” I frowned, trying to make sense of his words, panic rising in my chest.
“I know the idea of anyone falling in love with me is hilarious, but I do have feelings.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, suddenly feeling awful. “That’s not what I meant! I say the wrong thing all the time. It’s like my brain is broken.” I gestured to my head, blinking away tears.
“Can you both chill?” Kailee stood. “We need to go.”
I got up too, pushing the rest of my soup toward Fredrik like a peace offering. “Please, finish it for me. We’ll be late.”
He harrumphed, but as we gathered our things and headed for the door, I saw him pick up the spoon.
CHAPTER 15
Noelle
As Kailee opened the café door, a bout of raucous laughter rolled across the room. A large table at the back was piled with yarn, books, and wineglasses, with a huge plate of cookies in the middle. Around it, six ladies howled like it was male burlesque night on deck C. Kailee halted at the doorway.
I nudged her forward, raising my voice over the ruckus. “Hi! Are we in the right place?”
“My spawn!” Felicity shouted in delight. “And Noelle! I wasn’t sure you’d show up. I’ve been trying to get Kailee to join us for months.” She glanced at the other ladies. “She’s fifteen, so let’s keep it above board, okay?”
“I’m not a baby,” Kailee grumbled. “I know you read smutty books.”
