“Huh.”
“Why that reaction?”
“It’s the same with me,” Aspen said.
“What luck.” I smiled, noticing the muscles under his sweater relax.
It wasn’t that I didn’t feel the tension, too, I simply showed it in other ways, like offering to sleep on the couch, and to share my snacks. I could become overly generous to a point of annoyance for others when I was stressed or nervous.
“I also don’t play loud music. Or smoke. Or toss chicken bones over my shoulder,” I added.
Aspen bit his lower lip against the beginnings of a grin. “Me, either.”
“Fortuitous,” I said. “So far.” I raised an eyebrow at him.
He let the grin expand. “You’re kind of funny.”
“Hopefully in a good way?”
“Yeah. Hopefully.”
I laughed.
“Do you mind if I make a fire?” I asked.
“No. That would be good.”
The wood cupboard by the hearth was stocked full. But the fireplace itself was already laid out. All I had to do was light a match to the starter. Soon, tall flames lively danced. The wood snapped and crackled.
I grabbed my laptop and seated myself on the couch. I heard Aspen moving about behind me. Instead of feeling self-conscious, it was strangely natural. Like he belonged. Here. With me. The room was quiet the way I liked. The way he liked.
Maybe this was going to work out just fine.
But would he feel obligated to have meals with me? Would I be rude not to invite him when I went to the lodge restaurant? As I thought about it, I realized having company was not a bad thing. Nor an interference. I liked the idea.
I had already promised myself I wouldn’t look at any work-related stuff between now and New Year’s, but I did check my email and scrolled some social media.
My stomach growled, reminding me the burger I’d had was hours ago. Dinnertime was here. I glanced at the coffee table. Snacks would not be enough.
I closed my computer and set it aside, stretching my arms over my head.
“Hey, I’m going to the lodge restaurant.” I turned to see Aspen leaning against the headboard with lots of pillows. He had his laptop out, too.
"Okay."
"Are you hungry? Wanna come?” That sounded innocent enough. Not intrusive at all.
Aspen nodded, shutting his computer. “I could eat.”
“Great.”
I was falling more in love with the idea of not wandering the grounds alone or having to sit at a table for one. My stomach agreed, growling again as if to tell me to hurry. We needed food.
We got into our parkas and scarves and snow boots and left for the lodge. I expected full darkness, and had my cell flashlight app on, but when we stepped out I saw the whole place was lit up with Christmas lights. The snow reflected the light making everything brighter.
The path to the lodge had been freshly shoveled, and we got there in less than five minutes.
As we entered, I saw people still hanging out by the front desk, but a lot of the crowd had dispersed. Hopefully, they’d all gotten paired up and were now settling in.
