Chapter 3 #3
I’m about to point out how much Cancer and Scorpio have in common, but before I can casually work our astrological compatibility into the conversation, a familiar voice begins calling my name from afar.
“Bosleyyyyy!” I’d know those dulcet tones anywhere.
It’s Cash, my shaggy blond best friend whose inner radiance is matched only by his outer flair, currently evidenced by the Cooper puffer vest he customized with a flashy gold zipper and metallic stitching, all of which is glinting in the sun as he bounds toward us.
He screeches to a halt just before he tackles me.
“BB!” he says again, panting this time. “Been… trying… to…”
And then he notices I’m not alone, and stands up straight.
“Oh, and hello, new friends!” he says, his breath suddenly restored.
“Meet Eve and Hugo,” I begin introductions. “And this is—”
“Bennie’s best friend of all time,” Cash cuts me off, and sticks out a hand. “Cash. Like the money. Accept no counterfeits. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Eve says, shaking his hand.
He leans in so close, I think he might kiss her, but he just says, “Oh, your shadow is fuh-lawless.”
I shake my head at him, my fellow chaos Muppet.
“Thank you?” Eve says, but Cash has already moved on to her brother. He catches sight of Hugo’s suit and gasps.
“Uhhh, this hat !” he says. “Giving Christmas couture and I’m so here for it.”
Eve watches with an expression that is somewhere between amused and surprised, because that’s what Cash does to people’s faces.
He turns back to me. “Sorry to interrupt, Beebs, but we have an emergency. We’ve been blowing up your phone, and finally realized you left it at Diya’s table.”
“Oh my god, seriously?” I ask, but unfortunately, I’m notorious for this kind of thing.
I slap my pockets, hardly believing that I haven’t even looked for my phone since I left Diya’s station. I’ve been so totally absorbed by Eve’s gravitational pull.
Cash hands it to me now and a brief rush of relief is followed by a new panic.
“Wait, if you’re here, that means…,” I sputter.
It means that he isn’t at home with Naomi, which means Naomi is on the farm. And that means it’s time to move, now .
“Yeah, she’s here.” Cash nods. “She got waylaid by Bazaar setup, but we gotta shake it, sister! I got the ATV from Seichi. It’s faster than the tractor. Where’s Marley?”
“Um, I haven’t gotten him yet…?” I wince. Marley’s file is still rolled up and in my back pocket.
“ B . You cannot be serious.”
My stomach twists. So many people are involved in helping me get this gift, and here I am getting distracted, as usual.
But at least this time I have a good excuse instead of just daydreaming!
No one wants me to find love more than Cash, Izaac, and Diya (which I know because they tell me at least twice a day).
They will totally understand when I explain the hand of Fate literally delivered my soulmate to the farm, like a scene straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie.
Not that I can get into any of that in front of her.
I whip out the stained map and search for the coordinates, now streaky and faint but still legible. “He’s close,” I say. “Just around the corner up here.”
Cash rattles off a fab-to-meet-you-enjoy-your-stay to Eve and Hugo, then dashes toward Marley.
But I look back at Eve again. How can I possibly move in a direction that will take me away from her when it feels like the scene isn’t even close to over?
“I, uh…” is all I can choke out, when what I really want to say is, Can I keep you, please?
I shake my head and try to pull myself together. I need to make sure she and Hugo can at least get back, since I can’t keep playing tour guide.
“So, right. I have to run, but you can pick up the tractor where we got dropped off,” I say. “I’m so sorry I can’t take you there myself…”
“You’ve got a mission to accomplish,” she says, waving me off. “Gotta keep that gifting rep strong.”
“It was really great meeting you. Truly,” I manage to get out and when she says, “Same,” she somehow looks the tiniest bit shy, like she might not want to say goodbye either.
I take one last breath, then turn to run before I ruin it.
“Wait! Strudel!” Eve calls, when I’ve made it halfway to Cash.
My heart skips as I turn to see that she is actually chasing after me, jogging a little. She pulls a small white paper bag from her backpack and extends it to me. “Here. Cookies from the bakery where I work. My gift for your gifting help. And maybe some inspiration for that baking competition.”
The sparkles are multiplying at an unstoppable rate, and I can barely manage to keep them inside.
“Thank you,” I say, clutching the bag like it’s buried treasure. “Thank you so much.”
Eve nods, and I think she’s blushing too. “Merry Christmas,” she says, turning to head back to the tractor. “And don’t forget to look for our moon!”
“Our moon…,” I repeat in a whisper, really only to myself.
Cash is there now, pulling my hand, and I start to follow but then tell him to wait just a second, because the crucial words are still on the tip of my tongue: How can I find you?
When I turn back to say them to Eve, though, she’s gone.