Chapter 4
Chapter Four
AVERY
Aparade of lights pass us on the highway, lighting up the otherwise blackened road.
Cars rush by us as we make our way out of the city and into the valley.
Matthew hasn’t said a word to me since we loaded the car with our luggage, and I’m not sure what to make of that.
I mean, who drives for an hour without saying anything to their passenger?
Not that he owes me anything. I’m well aware that I owe him everything.
That I imposed on his road trip, but it would be nice not to spend the next four hours in complete silence.
I mean, he hasn’t even turned on the radio. Who drives without listening to anything?
Have I been too pushy? Maybe. Well—the answer is yes, most definitely. But I needed to get out of Vancouver and fast.
When I learned that I was being sent to the city for the convention, I thought it would be the perfect excuse to surprise Maxwell, the man I thought was the love of my life.
The conference itself had been magical. I connected with so many other elves across the country as we learned how to reach more families and bless more children with the best Christmas they’ve ever had.
Some people question why we do it so close to Christmas when most of the planning has been done, but really, it also doubles as our Christmas party.
Even elves need to celebrate every once in a while.
But unfortunately, the party ended in a nightmare when I showed up at Maxwell’s apartment.
Looking down at my red and white striped leggings and red-trimmed green skirt, I think I should have at least changed when I got to the airport. In my frazzled, heartbroken state, I didn’t think about it.
At least I wasn’t wearing my matching green booties.
Unable to stand the silence any longer, I reach over and push the radio button, bringing the speakers to life. A catchy holiday pop song blasts through the speakers. While not my usual choice in holiday entertainment, it’s better than the deafening silence we did have.
“No. Absolutely not,” Matthew says as he clicks off the radio.
“You have to give me something.” I turn in my seat as I cross my arms over my chest. “We can’t spend the rest of the time in silence.”
He glances over at me for a moment, lifting his eyebrow before turning back to the road. If ever there was a ‘watch me’ look, it was that.
“Fine, but if you won’t turn on the music, you have to tell me about you.”
“There’s not much to tell.” His tone lets me know he wants to talk about himself less than he wants to listen to Ariana Grande.
“Why are you on your way to Kamloops?” I ask, settling in for what I’m sure is going to be a thrilling conversation.
“I’m not,” he replies flatly.
“But you were about to get on a plane going there. “
Matthew sighs and sneaks another glance at me. “I’m heading to Gingerbread Grove. Kamloops is the closest airport.”
“Gingerbread Grove?” I sit up, fascinated with where the conversation is going.
“I’ve wanted to visit there since they changed their name.
I’ve heard about the hotel that’s opening that looks like an actual gingerbread house.
It’s fascinating.” To say I was thrilled when I heard about Woodland Springs officially changing their name a few years ago and completely overhauling everything to be a Christmas tourist destination similar to Candy Cane Creek is an understatement.
I didn’t think anything could beat their rival holiday town with the festivals and events, but from what I’ve heard, they are doing their best to be the Christmas hot spot.
Unfortunately with Christmas being my busiest time of the year since becoming Head Elf of the Interior BC region (yes, that’s my official title), I haven’t had a chance to go during the height of the holiday season.
“Yup. Fascinating,” he replies flatly, as if finding it anything but.
“You don’t sound like you want to go there.
” I can’t help but prod him. Every answer from him is like another piece of a Christmas jigsaw puzzle.
A handsome city guy going to a small town that not many people know of.
Especially a holiday-themed town when he doesn’t seem interested at all in Christmas.
“And you sound like someone that asks a lot of questions.”
“If I’m going to be in a car with someone for a long period of time, it would be nice to get to know them.” I can’t help but get my defences up, seeing that maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to get into a car with a complete stranger.
“Maybe I should install a ‘no talking’ rule,” he says under his breath.
I huff, leaning back in my seat and looking out at the road in front of us.
The road is cloaked in complete darkness except for our headlights reflecting off the rapidly falling snow.
As we pass through what I’m assuming is nothing but farmland, there’s nothing but us, the road, and the snowy night sky.
This isn’t how I saw my day going. Or my week.
“I’m sorry,” Matthew says, not taking his eyes off the road. “It’s just been a really long day.”
“I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have asked you all those questions. I shouldn’t have even asked you for a ride, but I didn’t have any other choice. I just…” I take a deep breath, fighting off the tears welling in my eyes. “I just couldn’t stay there.”
“You’re not in trouble, are you?” He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, wiggling around like he can’t get comfortable.
“Define trouble.” I play with him.
“Is someone after you? Were you hurt?”
“No, nothing like that,” I say. Not physically, anyway. Emotionally? I’m more damaged than I care to talk about right now.
“And legally? I mean, you have knowledge of those true crime things. I’m not going to be your next victim, am I?” he asks, sneaking a glance my way with a smirk as he stops squirming.
That smirk makes my stomach fill with butterflies. Butterflies I have no business in feeling, especially after my fiasco of a weekend. Even more so for a man I won’t see again by morning.
“No, I’m not in that kind of trouble. As for the serial killer part, I haven’t decided yet.
It depends on how the next hour goes.” I tilt my head and study him, trying to give him my best ‘I’m-still-deciding’ face, but I know it comes off as nothing but hysterical as Matthew laughs, filling the car with his rich tone.
It’s a sound that I could get used to, or even find myself craving. I get the impression he doesn’t give laughs freely, which makes me feel a sense of pride at earning one.
“Well, I guess I’ll be on my best behaviour, then. But, seriously, are you in trouble? You seemed like you’re in a hurry to leave the city.”
I sigh. I don’t know how much to tell him. Or maybe it’s good that I won’t see him after tonight. I can spill everything to him and not have the embarrassment of having to face him ever again.
It would be nice to tell someone. I haven’t even told my sister, and I tell her everything. But I know her feelings on my now-ex, and I’m not ready to face all the ‘I-told-you-so’s’ that will be coming my way.
“Do you promise not to laugh?” I ask, still not entirely convinced I’m making the right decision.
“I promise,” he answers, and for whatever reason, I believe him. I don’t know why. He’s a stranger, but there’s something about him that makes me feel like I’m safe with him.
“I had a boyfriend in Kamloops. He moved to Vancouver in the fall for work. I couldn’t leave right away because of my job and the ramp up to Christmas, so we agreed to stay long distance until I could figure out a way to transfer to the city.
We never planned on it being for a long time.
Heck, we even talked about getting married once I moved. ”
“So, what happened?” He keeps his eyes on the road, but I notice how his hands tighten on the steering wheel, like he’s bracing for the impact of what I’m about to tell him.
“I was really busy with work, with it being the holidays and all. I didn’t think that I was going to be able to get down to Vancouver to see him for Christmas, and he said he couldn’t get the time off from his new job to fly back home.
The conference at work came up, and I thought it would be a perfect time to get some training and surprise him. And it was a surprise, all right.”
“What did he do?” he asks, gripping the wheel even harder, making his knuckles turn white in the soft light from the dash.
“He’s dating someone else.” I can’t stop the hurt from filling my voice.
I’m so embarrassed to think of what Maxwell did to me—that I believed we could make it long-distance.
That he loved me. I believed him when he said I was the only one forever.
How could someone tell one person they wanted to marry them while spending time with another?
Most importantly, how could I be so much of a fool to believe that he would love only me. The elf from Kamloops compared to all the beautiful city women he’s surrounded by.
“I’m sorry.” Matthew’s words are soft, but I can hear the anger behind them.
“Thank you.” I nod, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.
“I thought it would be fun to surprise Maxwell since I was going to be in town for work anyway. We haven’t seen each other since the end of September.
We mostly text, not really finding the time for calls or video chats.
But when I showed up at his door—hoping for a warm welcome—I was met with him having dinner with his new girlfriend. ”
I angrily wipe at the tears falling down my face, thankful for the darkened car around me. I hate that Maxwell made me cry, and I hate it even more that I’m doing it next to Matthew.
I take a deep breath and sneak a glance at the stoic and silent man next to me. His hands continue to grip the steering wheel tightly. The reflection off his glasses make it hard to see the expression hidden behind them, but I can tell by his clenched jaw that he has an opinion on it.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” I ask, nervous about what his response might be.
The silence filling the car makes me regret saying anything in the first place.
I was so na?ve to think that Maxwell would wait for me while he was in the city.
Looking back, I can see that I had always been more invested in the relationship than he was.
He had been the one to put the distance between us when he moved.
He was too busy for the calls. He had excuses as to why we couldn’t video call.
I just didn’t want to see it, and that leaves me feeling heartbroken and embarrassed.
“I’m trying to think of something to say that would be appropriate.” He sucks in a breath, not taking his eyes off the road. “Mostly, I want to say I’m sorry that he put you through that.”
“Thank you, but you don’t need to apologize for him,” I whisper.
“I know, but…” He takes another deep breath before continuing. “I know what it’s like, and no one should be put in that position. So for that, I’m sorry. I’m also sorry that he wasn’t man enough to tell you how he felt instead of leading you on.”
For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m truly being heard and understood. As I sag back into my seat, I feel as if an enormous weight has been lifted off of my chest. Maybe telling this stranger the most embarrassing story of my life might not have been the worst thing to do.