“A little.”
“You should have told me.”
I smiled. She was so damn cute. “I would have if we were leaving the house. But you’re cute with paint on your nose.”
Her cheeks flushed and she stumbled backward. “Yeah, well… I don’t want paint on me when we go to the Village. So, I’ll just go shower now.”
She went down the hallway and I let out a long breath, tempted to follow her into the shower.
The air was crisp as Penelope and I got out of my truck at Christmas Village. Hay bales, cornstalks, and pumpkins stood on either side of the bigCook Family Farmsign, and the transition from fall to Christmas decor was already beginning. Twinkle lights were strung along the walkways and six-foot candy canes flanked the entrance.
Penelope was dressed in jeans with boots and my Timberwolves hoodie. She’d basically stolen it at this point, and I had no desire to get it back from her. I liked seeing her wear it too much.
Kind of like she was mine. Although she wasn’t. Not like that.
We walked past the entrance and the scent of sugar filled the air. Congregated in an open space just inside was practically my entire family.
Mom had Garrett and Harper’s daughter Isla in her arms, and Dad was carrying Emily, Zachary and Marigold’s daughter. Both babies were bundled up against the cold with little knit hats on their heads.
Josiah’s daughter, Abby, was strapped to his chest in a baby carrier. She had a similar knit hat, as did my older nieces andnephews—Annika and Levi’s kids. Even Owen had one. I had a feeling Mom had made all of them.
I lifted my hand in greeting as we approached. “Hey, everyone. Do you all know my friend, Penelope?”
After a chorus of greetings, Marigold stepped in to give her a hug. So did Melanie. Luke gave me a knowing glance, but I ignored him. Zachary’s look was longer, and less subtle, but I ignored him, too.
Owen lifted a hand and gave her a shy smile. “Hi, Ms. Fallbrook.”
“Hi, Owen,” she said with a smile. “I bet it’s weird to see your teacher outside of school.”
“Wait, Penelope is Ms. Fallbrook?” Luke asked. “TheMs. Fallbrook?”
Owen’s eyes widened in alarm, and he shook his head at Luke. “No.”
Garrett grinned at his son, and I chuckled. Owen had once admitted to having a crush on Penelope when she’d been his middle school art teacher.
“What do you mean,theMs. Fallbrook?” Penelope asked.
Luke glanced at Owen and seemed to decide to take pity on him. “He just said you were one of his favorite teachers.”
“That’s sweet,” she said. “Thanks, Owen.”
Owen let out a relieved breath and Luke winked at him.
I just shook my head. Owen wasn’t the only one who got confusing feelings around Penelope.
“It’s nice to meet everybody,” Penelope said.
“Since we’re all here, should we walk around?” Mom asked.
Owen reached for his baby sister and took her from Mom. She giggled and batted at his face.
“Yes, please,” Annika said. Her son, Will, was jumping up and down in front of her. “I think someone needs to get his wiggles out.”
Our group started down the path, and Penelope settled in beside me with her hands stuffed in the pocket of my hoodie. We wandered past an apple cider donut stand and a booth selling local honey and jars of spices. The big kids ran around the adults, laughing and joking with their aunts and uncles.
When we stopped at a few of the little shops to browse the Christmas decor, I made sure to look carefully at the ornaments Penelope lingered over so I’d remember which ones she liked. Roommates could get each other Christmas gifts, right? That wasn’t weird.
Gradually, we separated into smaller groups as people meandered around. Annika’s kids wanted to see the reindeer and their guard donkey, Horace. I’d promised Pen hot cocoa and kettle corn, so we moved farther along the path to a booth selling both.
