Chapter 8
8
THANKSGIVING
B y the time the Thanksgiving 5K rolled around, Emily had begrudgingly accepted her fate. She wasn’t much of a runner, but Lila’s relentless optimism—and the promise of post-run pancakes—had worn her down.
The morning dawned chilly and bright, with a clear blue sky stretching over Mistletoe Hollow. The town square buzzed with energy as runners gathered near the starting line, bundled up in colorful scarves and hats.
Emily adjusted her knit beanie, tugging it lower over her ears. “Remind me why I agreed to this again?”
Lila grinned, bouncing on her toes to keep warm. “Because you love me. And because it’s for a good cause.”
“Right,” Emily said dryly. “Next time, remind me to write a check instead.”
They joined the crowd at the starting line, where Doug was handing out water bottles and Noah was directing traffic near the barricades. Emily caught his eye as she passed, and he tipped his head in a subtle greeting.
“Is he volunteering?” she asked Lila, trying to sound casual.
“He’s on the planning committee,” Lila replied with a knowing look. “You didn’t know?”
Emily shook her head, feeling an odd flutter in her chest. “I guess I missed that memo.”
Before Lila could reply, the starting whistle blew, and the crowd surged forward. Emily jogged along at a comfortable pace, focusing on the rhythm of her steps and the crisp air filling her lungs.
By the halfway point, Emily was panting, her legs burning with every step. Lila had disappeared somewhere ahead, her energy seemingly boundless. Emily slowed to a walk, trying to catch her breath.
“You’re not giving up, are you? ”
She turned to see Noah jogging up beside her, his breath visible in the frosty air.
“Not giving up,” Emily replied between gasps. “Just… reevaluating my life choices.”
Noah chuckled, falling into step beside her. “You’re doing fine. Better than I expected, honestly.”
“Wow,” Emily said, raising an eyebrow. “Is that your version of encouragement?”
“Just calling it like I see it,” he said with a smirk.
Despite herself, Emily smiled. They walked together for a few minutes, the conversation light and easy. But as they reached the last stretch of the course, Noah glanced at her, his expression turning serious.
“So,” he began, “any updates on the Derek situation?”
Emily sighed, the weight of his question settling over her. “Not really. I haven’t seen him since the café. Which is probably for the best.”
Noah nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “You seem more at ease.”
“I am,” Emily admitted. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said. About not owing him anything. It helped me see things more clearly. ”
Noah looked over at her, his expression soft. “Good. You deserve clarity.”
For a moment, their eyes met, and Emily felt a warmth spread through her chest that had nothing to do with the brisk pace they’d set.
The finish line came into view, lined with cheering townsfolk holding signs and cowbells. Emily squared her shoulders, determined to finish strong.
“Come on,” Noah said, picking up the pace. “You’ve got this.”
With a burst of energy, Emily pushed forward, crossing the finish line to a chorus of cheers. She bent over, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath as Lila bounded over with two cups of hot cocoa.
“You did it!” Lila exclaimed, handing her a cup.
“Barely,” Emily muttered, though she couldn’t suppress her smile.
Noah lingered nearby, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he watched the scene unfold.
Lila leaned closer, her voice low. “ So… are we just going to pretend there wasn’t a moment back there?”
Emily glared at her over the rim of her cocoa. “What moment?”
“You know,” Lila said, winking. “With Noah. Don’t play dumb.”
Emily groaned, but the warmth in her chest lingered.
After the race, Emily headed to the Holly and Hearth Café, hoping to warm up and savor a latte. The café hummed with post-race chatter, but Emily spotted Evie behind the counter, her usual cheerful smile replaced by a distracted frown.
“Hey, Evie,” Emily said as she approached. “What’s up? You look like you’re a million miles away.”
Evie sighed, glancing toward the corner table where Will sat, hunched over his laptop. His fingers flew across the keyboard, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“It’s nothing,” Evie said quickly, though her eyes lingered on Will .
Emily raised an eyebrow. “It doesn’t look like nothing.”
Evie hesitated, then leaned closer. “It’s Will. He’s been coming in almost every day lately, working on his book. Which is great! I mean, I love that he’s here. But… he barely looks up. I feel like I’m invisible.”
Emily followed her gaze to Will. His face was lit by the glow of his laptop screen, a cup of coffee forgotten beside him. “Have you tried talking to him?”
Evie flushed, twisting a dish towel in her hands. “About what? ‘Hey, Will, I noticed you exist. Wanna notice me back?’”
Emily smiled, resting her hand on Evie’s arm. “It doesn’t have to be like that. Start small. Find a way to connect. Maybe something outside the café.”
Evie frowned. “Like what?”
“We’re organizing a community garden cleanup next weekend,” Emily said. “It’s a great way to pitch in, and it might give you a chance to chat with him—away from his laptop.”
Evie’s eyes brightened, a spark of hope breaking through her uncertainty. “You think he’d come? ”
Emily shrugged. “You won’t know unless you ask.”
Evie smiled, her shoulders relaxing. “Thanks, Emily. You’re the best.”
“Anytime,” Emily said, watching as Evie returned to the counter with a renewed spring in her step.
Later that evening, as Emily sat on her couch, wrapped in a blanket with a plate of leftover pie on her lap, her phone buzzed with a text.
Nice job today. Hope you’re not too sore.
It was from Noah.
Emily stared at the message for a moment, her heart doing an annoying little flip. Then she typed back: Sore, but still alive. Thanks for the pep talk.
His reply came quickly: Anytime.
Emily set her phone down, a small smile playing on her lips. He really was sorta amazing.