“Sorry, Aella, I got a lot on my mind.” Not wanting to lose momentum, I power-walked to the back, returning with a tray of coarse sugar.
Aella hopped onto the counter, surveying the sweet treats I had on display. “No kidding. Normally, you wait longer to make sugarplums.”
“Tis the season, and all that.” I rolled the fruity nut balls in sugar, then set them on a porcelain plate with hand-painted holly around its edges.
Aella rubbed one of her small fawn-like antlers before she wagged an accusatory finger at me. “This is about a guy, isn’t it?”
Lunging, I shoved a sugarplum in her mouth to shut her cute little mouth up.
“Knew it,” Aella said, the words coming out muffled.
“I’ll have you know I’m making sugarplums early because they’re decorating the plaza today, and I figured I’d bring these to brighten the holiday spirit.”
Aella coughed and, without looking, I handed her a glass of water.
After guzzling half of it down, she made a loud gulping sound and hopped from the counter. “Syl, you’ve never helped with the decorating. And did you know your ears and wings are showing?”
My wings went taut as if they too were surprised, and I felt the tip of one ear, blinking in astonishment.
This had nothing to do with what Jack said. Nope. It didnot.
“Or maybe, I’m turning a new leaf. Ever think of that?” Satisfied with the positioning of the sugarplums, I snagged several cinnamon-scented pine cones I’d made earlier in the week and scattered them on the plate for decoration.
Aella’s face fell blank, and she folded her arms. “Who is he?”
“No one. Absolutely no one.” Hoisting the platter into my palm, I bolted for the door before Aella could further her interrogation.
She used her uncanny maenad speed to beat me to the doorframe, blocking me. “Then itissomeone. Name. Now.”
I wrung my hands on the plate, making panicked squeaking sounds. “Why are you so bossy right now, Aella?”
“Because you’re intrigued by someone, and for whatever reason, denying it even though I know you haven’t been with anyone since before I met you. This is a big deal, and as your best friend, I demand satisfaction.” Aella stomped her heeled boot against the hardwood for emphasis.
“Your satisfaction?” Smiling, I nibbled my bottom lip.
Aella let out her cute snorting laugh at that, but wiped a hand across her face to maintain her composure. “And don’t think you can distract me with naughty jokes.”
Sighing and fighting the urge to shove a sugarplum inmymouth, I relented. “His name is Jack. Happy?”
Aella’s hands fell from the door. “Jack? I met a Jack the other day.”
An inconvenient tinge of jealousy twisted in my stomach. More annoyingly, my first thought was that she couldn’t possibly be talking aboutmyJack. Growling it away, I pinched my eyes shut. “What did he look like?”
“Uh, really, really tall. Impossibly blue eyes and spiky, snowy blonde hair like yours without the blue.” Aella picked up some of my hair and examined it. “Like, exactly this color.”
My eyes crisscrossed as I stared at snowy white bangs hanging over my eyelashes. Huh.DidI match Jack?
Batting her hand away, I blew my bangs out of my eyes. “That’s him. But we’re not going to talk about it. He’s arrogant, self-righteous—” I trailed off because one, I couldn’t think of anyother negatives at the moment, and two, Aella was grinning like a devious jackal at me. “Whyare you looking at me like that?”
“Jack and Sylvie sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n—” Aella started to sing, but I shoved another sugarplum in her mouth and shimmied past her to the sidewalk.
When the sound of her heels clicking against the cobblestones soon followed, I kept my focus forward.
“Sylvie, I’m sorry,” Aella whined, catching up and walking sideways beside me. “I only want your happiness.”
“Please let it go.”
He said he was here for a woman who was clearlynotme. It was already doomed to fail, and that fact further irritated me.
