Page 31 of A Love Like Christmas Time
“Well, animals don’t crack their knuckles.”
“Touché,” Kieran replies.
I stop listening to the two of them bickering as my eyes jump to Nic and Lauren. Even though the two of them are deep in conversation, I catch Lauren’s gaze.
When I see the worried crinkle between her eyebrows, I give her a slight nod.
That’s new. People who are not Bobby are worrying and looking out for me.
I’m not sure how to feel about it.
Chapter 12
Caleb
“Caleb, I need your help.” Lauren’s voice suddenly pops up right behind me, almost making me jump out of my skin.
“Jesus,” I curse, clutching my chest right over my heart that’s pounding against my ribcage. “Where the fuck did you come from?”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Lauren shrugs, wringing her hands and glancing at me with wide, innocent eyes, but the twitch at the corner of her mouth makes me doubt her sincerity.
“First off, what are you doing behind the counter?” I narrow my eyes at her and point to the other side of it. “Out with you.”
“But-”
“Do you need help in a life-or-death situation?” I cock my eyebrow.
“I mean, no, but-”
“Then you can wait for me to finish up these coffees. From the other side of the counter,” I say pointedly.
“You’re no fun.” She purses her lips in a pout and crosses her arms in front of her chest. But I only narrow my eyes even more. “Okay, okay,” she says placatingly, lifts her hands dejectedly and saunters around the counter, holding my gaze as she climbs into one of the high chairs on the other side. She props her elbows on the wooden counter and fixes me with a pair of wide, pleading eyes.
“Better,” I mutter and finish up the coffee I was making for Courtney and Phil, the owners of the flower shop on the other side of the Main Square, pouring the frothed milk into their espresso in to-go cups.
“Here you go.” I push on their lids and slide them to them over the counter. As soon as the door shuts behind them, I direct my attention to Lauren. “Now I’m listening. What do you need help with?”
“So, as you are probably aware, the Christmas market is coming up and Ineedyour help,” Lauren explains as I get the machine ready for her coffee.
“I’m aware.” How could I not be? Not only is Henry still trying to convince me to participate, but Harry, a member of Wayward Hollow’s managing committee, hasn’t given up on me manning a booth either. I pour milk into a stainless steel pitcher.
“My first thought was to do a booth with Nic, but turns out we’re both too competitive for that and have a score to settle. So, she’s doing one with Henry. Now, my problem is that I’mextremelycompetitive, yet… let’s call it uncreative.” I angle the pitcher under the steam wand until the milk starts to hiss and swirl. “And I heard about this competition going on and—Caleb,” she says in a pouting voice, drumming the pads of her fingers against the counter, “are you even listening to me?”
“Oh, I’m listening,” I say as I tap down the milk pitcher, then pour it into what’s supposed to become her latte macchiato.
“Then I don’t think you’re grasping the gravity of this situation.” She leans forward, trying to catch my eye, but I’m too focused on not burning my hand and filling the glass without making it overflow.
“You’re right, I don’t,” I say offhandedly and put the pitcher aside. Where is the-? Right. I ran out of cookies. I turn around to grab another box from the kitchen. When I return behindthe counter, Lauren is waiting for me, lips pursed in a pout, yet with a spark in her eyes that promises mischief.
“Sorry, do go on.”
“Really? Are you sure that you don’t have, I don’t know, napkins to re-stock?” She pointedly motions towards the other tables that are painfully empty.
“I mean, now that you say it, I have to restock my coffee beans and get more milk from the back,” I can’t help but tease her.
“Caleb! This is serious business.”
“Okay, okay,” I say, lifting my hands in defense. “Go on.”
