Her hand tightened on his. "Run!"
They fled the scene and fetched up by the shore of the lake. They were alone there. Everyone else was probably gathered around Santa, now thankfully out of sight.
Annabeth grinned at him. "Excellent movie reference.Die Hardis the one Christmas-related thing I actually still like."
He remembered what he’d meant to suggest before they’d been distracted by hot cider. "You know, Annabeth, I bet you could find a non-barista job. There might even be something at the Natural History museum. I could ask."
Her beautiful green-brown eyes widened. "Oh, Norris, that's so sweet of you. It would be great if you could. But honestly, I don't mind being a barista. It can be a little stressful, but it's really fine. I mean, it's fine anytime of the year but right now."
"But that's the thing," he said earnestly. "It's ruining winter holidays for you. All winter holidays. Are the flexible hours really worth it if it ruins an entire time of year for you—a time of year that ought to be joyful?"
She stared at him for so long that he felt like he must have done something wrong. "Never mind. Forget that I said that. It was pushy."
Annabeth slowly shook her head. "No. It was a natural thing for you to say, but that’s because I misled you. I let you think I hate winter holidays because my job burned me out on them. But that's not true."
CHAPTER 5
Annabeth gulped. Herhead told her that the second date was also too soon to talk about exes. But her heart said,Forget the rules. Norris is special. You need to be honest with him.
She began, "I know you're not supposed to talk about ex-boyfriends on the first date. And probably not on the second date either. But –"
Norris snorted. "Forget the date rules. What’s even the point of them? Are we supposed to pretend we’ve never dated anyone before? Come on! We’re both grown-ups. I’m not a virgin either.”
She giggled. “I hadn’t thought you were. But this particular dating rule is actually about not talking about breakups, so you don’t seem bitter or angry.” She stopped herself before she could add,Because no man likes an angry, bitter woman.
Norris put his hot chocolate on a nearby rock, took her cider and put it beside his, and clasped her hands in his. It made her feel warm and protected and safe. “You can talk to me about anything you want. Any time you want. And if you are angry or bitter, that’s okay. I bet you have a really good reason for it.”
Annabeth was thunderstruck. Very few people had ever told her it was okay to be angry, and no one had ever told her it was okay to be bitter. But he clearly meant it. And that made her feel even safer than the strong hands that enveloped hers.
"Okay. Let me tell you the real reason I hate the winter holidays." She picked up her hot cider, then remembered that she hadn't offered any to Norris. She held out her cup. "Hot cider?"
He took it and offered his. "Hot chocolate?"
They traded cups and drank.
“I have to start you off with some background,” she said. “I'm the youngest in my family. I have three older brothers who are even taller than me. My family nickname is Bug, because they say I’m little and cute as a bug in a rug. It’s okay, I like it.”
