CHAPTER TWO #3
“A gift? For me?” he asked.
“I made them myself. The box is lined with foil, so I think maybe they’re still a little warm.”
Across the street, the workers decorating the bookstore window exited the shop, and the bell atop the shop door rang clear and bright on the otherwise empty avenue.
“Miraculous,” Louis said, shaking his head. He reached his hands forward to accept the box from Avery. His fingers met with hers. He looked down to where their hands touched and smiled before slowly withdrawing the box from her grip.
Avery’s heart grew at least three sizes and threatened to burst.
He opened the lid and took a whiff. “Oh, Christmas,” he moaned, closing his eyes, until a rustling sound on the branch directly above his head made him jump. “So sorry, I have to go!” he exclaimed, hurrying away from the tree and brushing something out of his hair.
Avery stood under the tree and watched him as he walked briskly away. She saw him pause under a streetlamp up ahead, open the box, inspect a cookie, and take a bite.
“Good grief!” she heard him yell. He leaned against the lamp pole for support.
Avery was deeply satisfied that someone was finally reacting appropriately to her baking. “Merry Christmas!” she yelled after him.
Louis looked over his shoulder, swatted at something above his head, and broke out into a run.
Avery had never been so flattered by someone sprinting in the other direction. He was a bit odd, but then again, so was she. And he liked her. That much was clear.
Putting on her headphones, Avery found the White Christmas soundtrack on her phone and floated down the city sidewalks back to her apartment to the sound of Danny Kaye singing The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing.
She even allowed herself a dramatic twirl when she was sure no one was looking.
Avery was officially smitten and wondered where Louis was staying.
She was glad she didn’t know, fearing she might show up unannounced to throw herself at him.
She’d never felt chemistry with anyone like that before.
And she’d never met anyone who loved Christmas as much as she did.
Plus, he was charming, successful, and had a British accent.
And he loved her baking. What more could a girl want?
As she approached her block, her phone chimed. A text from Louis. Her heart leaped.
“Dear Avery,
Thank you for joining me for a lovely dinner. Here is a direct link to the application. Read it carefully. On behalf of myself and, well, everyone, I do hope you’ll submit.
Sincerely yours,
Louis
P.S. Thank you for the cookies. They were life-changing.”
She shimmied her shoulders in celebration and clicked the link as she continued her glide home.
The application was mercifully pre-filled with her personal information from the résumé she’d already uploaded.
Before she could click “submit,” she had to review the terms and conditions, which included a lengthy, but seemingly boilerplate, non-disclosure agreement.
She noted with some amusement that whoever had written this document had taken the time to infuse it with Christmas terminology, probably to see if anyone was actually reading.
But Avery felt her attention waning as she waited at the crosswalk for the light to change.
Her eyes roved over the NDA. How many of these had she read in her life?
Probably thousands by now. She flicked her thumb upward against the screen as she crossed the street, scanning the paragraphs until she reached the bottom and clicked “I Accept.”
A prompt appeared on the screen, with two buttons:
THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION?
YES
OR
LET ME READ THROUGH EVERYTHING ONE MORE TIME
Avery unlocked the front door to her building while reading. She chuckled, tapping “YES.”
Yet another prompt appeared as she got on the elevator and greeted her neighbors:
ARE YOU REALLY SURE?
I’M REALLY SURE
OR
MAYBE I’LL SLEEP ON IT
Avery scoffed, pushing the elevator button for her floor and clicking “I’M REALLY SURE.” These people had a sense of humor.
An animation appeared on her screen of Santa’s flying reindeer pulling his sleigh silhouetted against the moon, with the caption:
Excitement thrummed in Avery’s veins as she dashed out of the elevator and into her apartment. She kicked off her shoes and threw down her purse and coat as her phone dinged again. Another text from Louis:
"We are thrilled to have received your application. We’ll speak soon. I’m very much looking forward to seeing you again, Ms. Hoarfrost."
Avery let out a little squeal. She decided she now had two goals: nail the interview process to get this job, whatever it was, and make Louis fall in love with her.
Easy.
She responded:
"The thrill is entirely mine, Louis. And call me Avery."
After powering down her electric Christmas wonderland, she pranced her way to bed. She fell soundly asleep in her favorite silk pajamas, while visions of kissing Louis under the mistletoe danced in her head.