“He may have had some guidance from his human GPS.”
Tasha laughed. “I’m happy to see you. Does this mean we can have lunch together?”
“I have two egg salad sandwiches in the fridge and curly fries in the oven waiting for us at home.”
Her stomach fluttered. The flutters had nothing to do with her favorite lunch food and everything to do with hearing Elias useusandhomein the same sentence.
Uh-oh. That could be a problem.
Only if you let it be one.
Bottom line, on December thirty-first, she would say goodbye. Whatever they said or did would be over then.
Might as well enjoy being with Elias until then.
“If you’re not finished skating, I can drop yours off at your place,” he added.
“I’m ready to stop.” She grabbed the skate guards from her sweatshirt pocket and placed them on the blades. “This might be the last meal I eat until later tonight.”
“Practice?”
As soon as she stepped off the ice, Higgins greeted her. She patted him. “Yes. We’re trying to squeeze them in between the public sessions.”
“The kids looked great the other night.”
“They’re doing so well.” Would the performance be flawless? Not a chance, but the kids would do their best, and that was all that mattered.
Sitting on a log, she removed her skates and put on her boots. “The kids keep improving. I’m thrilled with their progress. The high school choir director is working with the singers.”
“I didn’t know that. How did that happen?”
“Belle, who’s playing the angel, and Gigi, one of the shepherds, asked him. It was as simple as that.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Belle and Gigi are big fans of Selena’s T and go for what they want.”
Tasha stood. “Let’s get lunch.”
“Someone’s hungry.”
Tasha headed for the path. “Yes, and hangry me isn’t a pretty sight.”
Laughing, he followed her. “Guess this means I should bring you dinner.”
Her heart stumbled. Better an internal organ than her feet. “Are you serious?”
He nodded once. “Do you want to choose, or should I surprise you?”
Tasha wasn’t big on surprises because most never turned out well. But she trusted Elias. “Surprise me.”
“Okay, I will.”
Being with Elias was so easy. She stopped and faced him.
Higgins examined a tree.
Elias’s forehead creased. “Something wrong?”
“No, everything’s fine, but I want to say thank you. My December in Berry Lake would be much different if I didn’t meet you.”
