Rory catches my gaze as I stride to the delivery truck.
The dirty memories she whispered to me last night slam to the front of my mind.
It’s good that she has plans with her sisters.
If she didn’t, I’d find a way to drag her out for this delivery with me, and find an abandoned lane to park in. See if she can still ride my thigh the way she used to, back when she wasn’t sure yet about going all the way, but we both wanted to get off together.
I sling the tree into the back of the truck, then go back to the sales hut to grab my vest and the keys.
Jules and Cassie are already debating what treats to buy at the market.
“Hey,” Rory says sliding up against me. “Thanks. You know, for being here. For helping. For…” She gestures to the truck. “That’s nice, what you thought of for Emma with the tree.”
“She was real worried about ruining her mom’s Christmas plans, you know?” I shrug. “Did you get theirnumber? Maybe I can send them a photo of the tree on their porch.”
“Yeah. I’ll text it to you.”
“Thanks.”
She goes to say something else, then stops. Bites her lip and then shakes her head.
I lean in and brush my lips against her forehead. “Don’t worry, Roar. I’m right where I want to be.”
And despite all the pretending, the complications, and everything that remains painfully unresolved between us, I mean it with all of my heart.
Chapter 14
Rory
The Christmas market on Main Street is jam-packed when we pile off the wagon. Competing strains of Christmas music come from opposite ends of the street, and the unmistakeable scent of cinnamon sugar wafts out of Jules’ favourite store on Main Street, the bakery enthusiastically namedBake Sale!
And because in Pine Harbour everyone is related to someone, the baker is Garrett’s cousin-in-law.
“All right, let’s divvy up our shopping list,” I say, pulling out my phone to check the list Garett sent me. “Fancy crackers, cheese, crusty bread, apple cider donuts.”
“That would be at the cider shack which is usually at the far end.”
“Okay, let’s head down there,” I say, scanning the rest of what Mom needs.
As we start moving, a new message appears.
Garrett
Tree delivered. How’s the market?
Rory
Over the top festive, you’d hate it.
Jules grabs my phone. “No texting boyfriends during sister time! Bechdel Test!”
“Fine.” I snatch it back. “But the list is in the text messages, so the best you get is a promise to ignore anything new he sends me.”
We dive into the crowd, immediately getting separated by a gaggle of pink-cheeked kids in snowpants and toques chasing someone in an elf costume with candy canes in his pockets.
Jules snatches one of the candy canes and hands it to Cassie. “For you, Middle.”
“Aw, thank you.” She breaks it into three pieces and hands us each a part of the peppermint candy. “Hey, there’s Rafe!”
