I pad into the kitchen, start coffee, and check my phone. No text from Cole. A pathetic little zing of disappointment shoots through me, so I stomp on it. Hard.
I grab my mug and head for the shower, rolling my eyes at myself. “You kissed him, he panicked, you move on. It’s fine.”
And if it stings a little? If there’s this low, stupid ache under my ribs because for a minute my dumb ass might have thought that it could be something? Well, I’ll just call it a hangover.
By the time I’m dressed, hair twisted up, and boots laced, I’ve checked my phone four times. Nothing. Just an empty notification bar and a weather alert telling me it’s going to be cold. No shit.
“Right,” I tell my reflection in the elevator mirror. “This is what it looks like when a man means what he says.” I square my shoulders. “Great. We love mature communication. We adore boundaries.”
My chest still pinches on the walk to work but at least I get to enjoy the city’s Christmas decorations.
Priya waves me over the second I get to my desk. “Morning, Denver’s newest IT woman.”
I snort. “Oh wow, I’m the new IT woman in town?”
“The hottest,” she says, then leans in. “All-hands in fifteen. Dillon’s going over the holiday volunteer shifts for the annual Denver Christmas Market.”
While I wait for my computer to load, I tap my phone awake again. Still nothing.
“Who are you waiting on?” Priya asks, way too perceptive, dropping into the chair beside my desk like this is girl talk o’clock.
I school my expression. “No one. Just checking the time. Don’t want to be late for the meeting.”
“Mm-hmm.” She gives me a knowing smile. “Well, come on. Let’s go have our yearly ‘we’re a good company who gives back’ pep talk.”
We crowd into the big conference room with the others. Ben and Zach are already there, arguing over whose fantasy football team is more tragic. A paper Christmas banner hangs crooked over the whiteboard, and someone drew a snowman with sunglasses and a martini.
Dillon, our boss, claps his hands together at the front of the room. “Alright, team, listen up. Quick one today. As you know, every December we volunteer at the Denver Christmas Market. This year, we’ve been assigned to the cocoa tent.”
A collective cheer goes up. Zach pumps a fist. “Hell yes, free cocoa.”
Dillon laughs. “Yes, but you’ll be serving it, not drinking all of it, so temper your excitement.” He clicks the remote, and the volunteer schedule pops up on the big screen. “We’re partnering with the downtown market for three days this week—Wednesday through Friday. We’ll need two people per shift. It’s a great way to give back, meet locals, and freeze your asses off in the name of holiday spirit.”
Someone from the back calls, “Do we get tips?”
Dillon deadpans, “Only warm feelings in your heart.”
A ripple of laughter moves through the room. I glance around at my new coworkers, people who seem to have built-in friends here, people who belong. I want that, and my hand shoots up before I can think when Dillon says “Who wants to sign up for Thursday evening’s shift?”
“I’ll take it,” I say.
Dillon grins. “Love the enthusiasm, Hailey. We need that kind of energy around here.”
“Yeah, until she realizes it’s below freezing,” Zach mutters, earning a few chuckles.
Dillon scans the room again. “Anyone else with Hailey for Thursday evening? Come on, don’t make the new girl man the cocoa tent alone.”
Priya sighs dramatically and raises her hand. “Fine, I’ll do it. But only if I get first pick of marshmallows.”
“Deal,” Dillon says, typing it in. “Thursday—Priya and Hailey.”
After the rest of the schedule is filled, the meeting wraps, everyone heading for the door with their cocoa jokes and holiday chatter. I hang back, clutching my notebook to my chest like it’s a shield.
Priya elbows me lightly. “Look at you, volunteering and everything. Maybe you’ll meet someone cute serving cocoa.”
“Maybe,” I say too brightly. “But knowing my luck, I’ll just meet a bunch of kids on sugar highs.”
“Both can be terrifying,” she deadpans. “At least you’ll be with me.” She winks as we walk back to our desks. “No way I was leaving you alone with one of the boys.”
