I finish packaging up the cookies and place the extra large bag on the counter between us. “Don’t eat them all at once. Nobody wants a stomach ache during Christmas,” I joke. Both of them give me small smiles full of pity for the lame joke. I feel like I’m in some sort of twisted twilight zone with the two of them standing here together. Never in a million years did I expect these two to ever cross paths. I can’t say this whole ‘both guys that broke my heart during the holidays would be hanging out together as I sold cookies’ was ever on my bingo card.
“Can I talk to you later?” Kevin asks quietly as he grabs the bag. He glances over at Spencer before he gets closer to me. “Please?”
I can’t help the small twinge in my gut that feels sorry for him. Which I know is stupid, he dumped me. But I loved him once, and I think that alone deserves five minutes of my time.
“Yeah, I’ll text you,” I tell him. “See you later, Kev.”
He smiles and gives Spencer a quick nod before he walks away from the booth and further into the market. I watch him until he fully disappears into the crowd and out of view, then I turn to Spencer to thank him for making this weird situation a lot more weird, but a lot less stressful.
“Good luck selling the rest of these cookies. I gotta go sell more trees if I want a shot at winning this one,” he says before giving me a wave and walking off.
I’m pretty sure my mouth is still hanging open as he disappears into the crowd himself.
What in the actual hell just happened.
Chapter Ten
Spencer
It’sofficial.I’mthebiggest idiot to ever walk the streets of Noelsville. I’ve been replaying the whole scene all day long in my mind.
Phoebe and Kevin.
Kevin with Phoebe.
Seeing them together, smiling together…I hated every moment of it. I knew the second that his fancy coat-wearing self walked up that he was someone from her past. She didn’t look thrilled to see him, which I didn’t mind. But when she didn’t immediately send him away…and the pet names…I couldn’t just stand there and listen to them.
So I left and took the giant seven-foot tree to the customer's car while she kept shopping at the market. When I came back I just happened to walk right past Phoebe’s booth and my traitorous eyes couldn’t not look over at her. How could I not? She’s always been beautiful, but today there was a glow about her that’s been missing since she got back to town. I don’t know if it was the spirit of the competition, or if she was really just having a great time slinging gingerbread men to customers, but something about her today was even more ravishing. Her snug jeans that accentuated every perfect curve of her, and the bright yellow turtleneck sweater that clung to her like a second skin…even the silly gingerbread earrings she wore didn’t distract from how stunning she looked today.
I didn’t expect to see her in distress when I walked by. She looked miserable and uncomfortable as soon as he stepped closer to her. I don’t know what came over me, but one second I was walking back to the tree lot, and the next I was slinging my arm around her waist like I owned her.
And calling myself her damn boyfriend.
Now I’m sitting at the Andrews’ family table for the second time today, waiting for everyone else to show up to get this ‘judging’ over. I know I’m in last place. I sold seven trees. I let the other volunteers take over most of the sales and tips while I busied myself with wrapping the purchased trees in the netting and helping the customers get them into their wagons. I only chose to carry that extra large tree myself so I could get a peek at everyone else's progress, but I got held up pretending to be a possessive asshat of a man.
I stiffen in my chair when I hear the front door open. It’s only 5:30, so everyone still has time to get here, but I clocked out early so I could get a quick shower in before stinking up this whole house. I may not have sold many trees, but I sure did all the heavy lifting. A shower was absolutely necessary before sitting down at this table with Phoebe again.
“Sup Spencey,” Piper greets me and takes a seat next to me. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Just us so far.”
“Oooh, wanna make out?”
I jump back in my seat and look at her incredulously. “What the hell, Piper!”
She cackles loudly and punches my arm. “I’m just kidding you big oaf! I wouldn’t let you near my mouth again with a ten foot pole.” She makes a gagging motion and then settles into seriousness. “For real though, I can see how much you still want my sister. You can’t deny that chemistry between the two of you, even all these years later.”
I roll my eyes at her. “Chemistry doesn’t mean a thing when our past is still tainted with secrets and lies that I can’t share with her.” Piper gets quiet and starts tugging at the holes in her jeans. This has always been her nervous tick, and I hate that my stupid comment is the cause of it. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” I assure her.
“No you’re right. If I could just stop being such a wimp…I’d make both of your lives a heck of a lot easier.” She tucks a piece of her dark hair behind her ear and refuses to meet my eyes. “Hell, it would make my life easier too if I could just be honest with my family. I’m just not ready to see them look at me with judgment and disappointment in their eyes.”
I reach over and place my hand on top of hers and give it a firm squeeze. Partly because she’s about to tear an even bigger hole in her jeans, but mostly because I want to comfort her and feel like an ass for throwing this in her face in the first place. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. You know I’ll be here when you are ready, but I’ll also be here if you never feel ready for that huge step. I’m here, Pipes. Always. We may not have talked over the last few years, but you’ve always been my best friend. I’m not going to let some stupid crush I have on your sister ruin that. Okay?”
“Besties for the resties my dude,” she jests and smacks my hand away. I’m glad her mood is bright again.
“Oh god, please don’t ever say that again. I don’t think I can cringe any harder than I just did.” I shudder mockingly and we both turn in our seats when we hear the front door open. My hopes drop when I see that it’s just Austin and Phillip.
“Hey, where’s Phoebe at? I thought she was getting a ride with you?” Piper asks her brother before the front door is closed.
