“Thank you, thank you!” Rosalie cheers, hugging me tightly. “Can you help me do the other computers before you leave?”
Sighing, I nod, and she follows me around to each small office to reset them manually.
We make our way back up to the front, but she stops rapidly, causing me to bump into her from behind.
Peering over her shoulder, Steven stares back at the two of us, curiosity plastering his face as his brow raises.
“I’m afraid to ask…” Steven comments. “I got a notification saying that something was wrong with the computer system.”
Rosalie doesn’t speak, leaving us surrounded by a cloud of awkwardness. “I can explain,” I chime up, stepping around her to face Steven.
I tell Rosalie she can go home now.
Before I finish my sentence, she grabs her bag and rushes to the elevator.
I hope I never need her help…
“Rosalie called me, freaking out because she broke something, but it was an easy fix. I reset the system, and everything is good to go.” I force an exaggerated smile, making Steven break his stern look at me to chuckle.
It’s always been a gift to make him break and laugh, so I like to use it when I find myself in a pickle with him. “Just don’t be mad at her. She’s trying, here.”
Steven shakes his head. “I’m not mad at anyone. It’s a mistake and you fixed it, problem solved.”
As my eyes glare into his, I can feel my internal heat rising fast. It’s a gift of his to get my body to react without even touching me, but I’ll never tell him.
“Well, you’re already here. Want to get some lunch before you head back home?”
As nice as that offer sounds, I already feel terrible that I took Damian away from the fun he was having and made my mom babysit.
“I’m not sure. I should probably get home. I have…some things I need to do.”
I need to get some better excuses if I’m going to continue turning him down.
“Come on, I insist. You’re already out. What’s another hour?” Steven flashes a sweet smile at me, one that makes it impossible to say no to him.
“It’s for work,” he adds.
Rolling my eyes, a laugh escapes my once-closed mouth. “Fine. For work.”
He has me follow him in my own car, and once we round the corner, I immediately recognize where he’s taking me.
Parking the car by the sidewalk across the street, Steven opens my door for me.
“This is where you want to have lunch?” I ask as we walk behind a crowd of excited kids and enter the festivities.
The entire public park is decked out with Christmas decorations.
Blown-up snowmen and decorated trees border the grass.
Food trucks and vendors selling homemade crafts line the walkway to the right, while the left walkway leads to a large, Christmas-themed fun house for the kids.
Straight ahead is the long line that leads to Santa, Mrs. Claus, and all their helping elves.
Kids hold onto their parents’ hands while excitedly screaming and jumping around, ready for their turn to sit on Santa’s lap.
This place brings me such joy, reminding me of my own childhood when my dad would bring me.
Of course, it’s far more fun now, which doesn’t seem fair since I’m too old for a lot of the activities.
