His sudden, bright smile nearly takes my breath away. “I’d love to come. I was supposed to have one last meeting tonight before I leave town, but I called and told them I’d have to reschedule because I had an important holiday engagement to attend. Then I prayed you’d give me a second chance and issue the invitation again. Although I suppose by now I’m on my third chance where you’re concerned…”
I wave off his words. “I’m not the type to keep track. Friendship is all about giving more chances, right?”
“Friendship, yes,” he says slowly. “Hollie, I’m very much interested in—”
“Hol, are you coming back inside anytime soon?” Jordy calls from the doorway. I swallow a groan at the interruption. I love the kid, but she’s as bad as Spencer’s ever-ringing phone. “Oh, hey, Spencer. Are you here to help with dinner?”
“Can you use another set of hands?” Spencer asks me. “I’m free for the rest of the day.”
“How do you feel about peeling ten pounds of potatoes?”
CHAPTER TWENTY
My house is full of noise: voices, laughter, Christmas music, the banging of pots and pans in the kitchen. Accompanying the din is a variety of mouthwatering, savory scents. It’s a beautiful, joyful mix that keeps me going despite the weariness that creeps up on me every once in a while.
After hours of prep, Spencer went home to shower and change, since his clothes—along with his face and hair—were covered in bits and pieces of our prep work. My friends arrived shortly afterward and offered to keep an eye on everything while Jordy and I got ready.
I’m about to enter the kitchen, freshly showered and dressed, when the doorbell rings. I veer toward the front of the house, calling out to the others that I’ll get it.
Even though I just saw him an hour ago, a smile overtakes my face at the sight of Spencer standing on the doorstep. The three of us had a blast doing dinner prep; it likely took twice as long as necessary since we kept talking, laughing, and dancing around the kitchen, but I’ve filed those memories away in the ‘Keep Forever’ section of my brain.
“I stopped to pick up these on my way back,” Spencer says, offering me a box. Through the clear plastic lid, I see a set of a dozen Christmas crackers decorated with holly leaves, berries, and robins. “I thought I’d carry on with the British theme you’ve had going recently.”
“That’s so thoughtful,” I say, accepting the box from him. “These are beautiful, Spencer. Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome. I was wondering if I might—”
His words are cut off by the arrival of Fergus, who approaches the front door carrying two folding card tables under his arm. “All right, you two?” he asks, which I’ve come to realize is a popular greeting among Brits and Scots. “Louisa rang to ask if I had any sort of extra tables I could bring. I borrowed these from my cousin, Hugh.”
“You’re a lifesaver, Fergus.” I pull Spencer inside and move us out of the way so Fergus can enter. “I was wondering how all nine of us, plus a feast, were going to fit around my six-seater dining table.”
“Happy to help.” Fergus kicks off his boots and bends to kiss my cheek. “I have bottles of wine in the back seat of my car if you’d like to bring them in for me. I’ll follow the sound of laughter and find my way with these tables.”
Spencer waits while I put my boots on and then we head out to Fergus’s car. He gently stops my hand when I reach to open the back door.
“I know the timing of this isn’t ideal, but I’m afraid if I don’t say it now, I’ll lose my nerve,” Spencer says. Stunned, I nod for him to go on. “You said earlier that friendship is about giving each other chances, and I hope that extends to what I’m about to say.”
My stomach drops at his words. Before my mind has a chance to get carried away with what he might be about to say, he continues.
“I don’t only want to be your friend, Hollie. I’ve been trying for weeks to deny my growing feelings for you, but there’s no use. I’m smitten with you. Your big heart, your generosity, your sense of humor, your beautiful smile—all of you. I know my timing is terrible since I’m leaving for several weeks, but I’d like to return to our roots and try messaging each other while I’m away.” He takes a shaky breath and gives me a nervous smile. “And then when I return home, perhaps we could take our relationship beyond friendship. If that’s something you’d be interested in, of course.”
“It is,” I say immediately. Spencer’s answering smile is tinged with relief. The relief is short-lived when I add, “But I need you to be sure about this, Spencer. I don’t want to keep going back and forth, wondering if we’re just friends or headed for something more. I’m not asking for a commitment right this second because I know that’s unrealistic, but if we’re going to do this, I want to do it for real.”
“I will,” he promises. “All those weeks ago when I opened our chat on LoveLinks and thought you had blocked me, I was gutted. Chatting with you and getting to know you was a highlight for me. It filled me with hope that I’d finally found something real with someone incredible. Thinking I had missed my chance with you filled me with so much regret, even though it was unavoidable. Meeting you again, especially in such a random way, felt like a miracle, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Still, I should have done better in conveying my feelings for you and not being so…wishy washy.”
The way he wrinkles his nose as he says that last part makes me laugh. “None of that matters now,” I tell him. “We can’t go back, but wecanstart fresh right here and now, and see where things may lead in the future.”
“I like the sound of that.” His face softens into a smile that makes me forget I’m standing outside in December without a coat on.
“AndI’dreally like for you to kiss me right now,” I tell him.
He takes a step closer and reaches for me, but before we get any further, Wesley’s car pulls into my driveway. As he and Leland climb out, Spencer takes my hand and squeezes it. “To be continued?”
“I look forward to it.”
*****
Dinner is a bit chaotic, but in the best possible way. Hosting this many people is even more work than I anticipated. Much like a ship at sea, I’m nothing without my crew, who jump in to help at every turn. At the end of the meal, filled to the brim with love, gratitude, and delicious food, I decide I like my house like this: full of noise and laughter, music and food. As I help my friends clear the table, I make a promise to myself to host more gatherings in the new year.
