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“They’ll warm up,” I tell her. “Keep coming around, and Marilyn’ll be sharing her secret recipe for beer cheese soup before you know it.”

Lola chuckles. “Thanks for including me, Beth. It’s hard to meet people since I work so much, and sometimes I don’t feel like I really belong here or anywhere.”

Can relate.

“I get that,” I tell her.

She arches her brows high enough that they disappear beneath her stocking cap. “You? You’re, like, the town darling.”

I snort. “Hardly!”

“Yes, you are! You’re involved in everything. You know everyone and they all love you.”

My cheeks heat. “I dunno about that, but I do try to put myself out there, and I like to help.”

She sighs. “That’s what I was trying to do by commenting on the DDD. But it came off all wrong. Two comments removed. How can I come back from that?”

She looks so miserable, I reach over and pat her arm. “Guarantee no one else is thinking about it as much as you are. Well, except maybe Marilyn,” I tease.

She huffs out a laugh before sobering. “I hope you’re right.”

“Hey, you should come to the bookshop tomorrow. It’s craft night, and there’ll be plenty of people for you to meet,” I offer. I know what it’s like to feel unrooted, and I want to help her if I can.

“Really?”

I nod.

“Okay. That sounds fun.”

“Ladies! Positions!” Patrice calls from the front of the pack.

I look away from Lola to see we’ve arrived at the house I’ve been both looking forward to and dreading. The McKenzie bungalow. Elena has candles in all the windows and a string of white lights tacked to the roofline.

Anxiety and anticipation send icy fingers down my spine.

Or maybe that’s the chill in the night air.

I pull in a deep breath and will my heart to stop kicking against my ribs. I shouldn’t be having this sort of physical reaction to the prospect of seeing Gabe.

He’s my friend.

I just saw him on Friday at the Kells, so it’s been less than a week. I’ve gone years without much contact.

I’m waiting to hear from Cal about a date with him.

These are all the reasons I’m giving myself for why the nerves and longing sloshing around in my stomach are completely ridiculous.

“Gabe McKenzie lives here, right?” Lola whispers to me as we take our spots on the right side of the circle of carolers.

“His mom does, yeah.”

“But he’s in town?”

“I think so, yeah.”

Am I a little offended he didn’t reach out to let me know he got back safe? Yes. But that’s another ridiculous thought. Gabe doesn’t owe me anything. He might not even have my number anymore.

“Why?” I ask Lola.