Chapter 12 #2
I roll my eyes, refusing to let his charm get to me. Shaking off the moment, I tighten my grip on my notebook and refocus. “Okay, I’ll put an article in the bulletin and do social media posts to create a buzz, but we need things for people to spend money on.”
“What about gift wrapping?”
“Good idea.”
Adrian nods, his gaze sharpening. “And have volunteers dressed as elves. Make it fun.”
I jot it down. “Christmas photos, too. Some with Santa, obviously, but maybe family portraits as well? Something people can keep. I’ll ask Violet if she wants to do it.”
“That’s a good idea.”
I scribble furiously, my fingers smudging the ink. “A gingerbread house competition? We charge for the base, then extra for decorations.”
“That’s perfect.” Adrian’s grin widens. “You love Christmas, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. There’s something about everyone being together.”
The ideas come faster now, tumbling over each other as we build on them. For a moment, I forget about everything else… the article, my mom, the expectations pressing down on me. Right now, it’s just this. A plan coming together.
I sip my coffee, and the thought of Genevieve sparks a new, exciting idea. “What about a bake sale?”
“Yeah. Christmas cookies, hot cocoa, gingerbread, candy canes.” He ticks them off on his fingers.
I tap my pen against the page. “We could sell sugar cookies kits for families to make at home. I could get Genevive to help with them.”
His gaze flickers with interest. “Craft stations, too. Kids could make Christmas cards.”
“Yes,” I say, practically buzzing now. “What about a Christmas basket raffle? Different themes… one for toys, another for food, one with decorations.”
Adrian nods, a rare softness in his expression. “I could take one to the hospital. For the kids.”
The thought makes my throat tighten, but I push past it, continuing to write notes. “We could see if some local business owners would be interested in adding gift cards too.”
The list grows once I pull up Pinterest. The options seem endless: Pin the Nose on Rudolph, Christmas karaoke, a snowball toss with white pom-poms. The usual games, but given a holiday spin. Duck pond, bean bag toss, balloon pop, face painting, spin the wheel.
By the time we finish, my fingers hurt from writing, but the satisfaction settling in my chest is clear.
I glance at Adrian, who looks just as caught up in the moment as I am.
“I think we’ve got something really good here,” I say with a big grin.
He nods. “We’ll have to start working on asking who can help with this so we don’t have to take it all on ourselves.”
“Agreed.” I chew on my lip, an idea forming. “We should meet up this weekend to start organizing the schedule, volunteers, the games and prizes, and coordinating the resources.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
For a moment, we just sit there, the forest wrapping around us, and his scent wafting over me when the breeze picks up. Eventually, I shift, glancing over at him. “How’s it going at Keith’s?”
“It’s nice,” he says. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’d like my own space. But it’s nice having company while I settle in.” He pauses. “I’ve started looking at properties online.”
He’s really staying. I shouldn’t care this much about his plans, but here I am, wanting to know more. “Where are you thinking?”
“Out of town a bit. With a big piece of land. Somewhere peaceful.” His eyes go distant, as if he’s already picturing it.
I look over the landscape. “That’s why I like coming here. My house, as you saw, is chaotic.”
He chuckles softly. “Just a bit.”
“But it’s nice, you know?” I say. “Having siblings.”
His gaze drifts to the ground.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters? I know this is personal, and usually, he shuts me down.
He shakes his head. “No.”
A lump forms in my throat. I nod slowly, his answer settling into my chest. I can’t imagine growing up without family, no one who has your back, who annoy you but love you fiercely all the same. The thought makes my heart ache for him in a way I don’t expect.
His phone rings, breaking the silence between us. He pulls it from his pocket, glancing at the screen with a deep frown. “It’s the hospital.”
I close my notebook and straighten. “We should get going anyway.”
As he answers the phone, we start walking back. His voice is calm, but I can hear the undercurrent of concern in the way he listens, the way his fingers tighten around the phone.
They need him to come in.
He agrees, his jaw flexing slightly before he tucks his phone away.
For all the confidence and strength he projects, there’s a vulnerability beneath it, one I don’t think he lets many people see, and I don’t think he meant for me to catch it.
I’m starting to realize that he’s beginning to trust me with a glimpse of who he really is.
He could’ve stepped away for the phone call or even lowered his voice, but he didn’t.
The familiar flutter of anticipation mixed with nervousness returns as we stop beside our cars, neither of us moving, the air between us thick with possibility.
Please don’t let this end awkwardly. I’m expecting him to put his wall back up and walk away.
“I’d better head off,” he says, running a hand through his hair.
Nodding, I grip my notebook a little tighter. “Thanks for meeting me. I’ll get started on announcing the fundraiser. Do you think a month is enough time?”
“Yeah, plenty of time to get it sorted.”
I hesitate, not quite ready to leave yet, but I know he needs to. “I’ll see you next week? Same time?”
“Sounds good.”
He slips into his car, and once I get to mine, I sink into the driver’s seat. The cool fabric is a welcome relief against my overheated skin. I grip the steering wheel for a moment before finally pulling away, heading back home with too many thoughts running through my head.