A Curvy Carol (A Curvy Girl Christmas #2)

26. Whit

26

WHIT

I was on the verge of thinking I should just head home when I turned around and saw her.

It was Carolynn. She’d come.

I couldn’t help but give her a wide grin and wave as she approached me wearing a thick red coat, black leggings, and a gray stocking cap. Her cheeks were red, and she had a tentative smile on her lips. As she stopped just a couple feet from me, relief flooded my chest.

I knew I’d missed her, but it wasn’t until that moment that I realized just how much.

“You came,” I managed, voice thick with emotion.

She nodded. “I got your letter.”

“I was hoping you would,” I told her.

“And your cross-stitch too,” she said, a smile on her face. “It did kinda look like a kindergartener made it, but it was sweet all the same.”

I clutched my chest in mock pain, making her laugh, and I was happy things felt like they used to. Her laugh was quickly becoming one of my favorite sounds.

“Seriously, though,” I said. “I spent hours on that. I just wanted to make it up to you.”

She sort of nudged me, and I liked the contact. “Like I said, it was sweet.”

I thought I might kiss her then, but Rudolph rang his bell a few feet away. “Who’s ready for a sleigh ride?” he called.

It was just me and Carolynn, the way I’d requested.

“We are,” I said loudly.

Carolynn turned to me, a puzzled expression on her face. “Where are we going?” she asked. The way her blue eyes sparkled had my heart skipping a beat.

I gently moved a lock of hair from her face. “I thought I’d show you all the places we’ve been together,” I said, my eyes locked on hers. “Tell you what it all meant to me.”

“Oh,” she said, her voice hardly above a whisper.

“That sound okay?” I asked her softly.

She nodded. “Yeah.”

We got into the sleigh, sitting side by side, and when Rudolph asked if we were ready, we both nodded.

He got the horses to go, and Carolynn and I cuddled under a thick blanket as we went past every place we’d spent time together.

Our journey began at the Garland Express and the mountains. We rode past the train station, admiring the view of the perfectly white snow.

“That’s where we made our list,” I said. “I’ll never forget it.”

I went on. “I thought you were great to talk to in the train compartment. And I can’t tell you how awesome it was to finally have someone to hang out with.”

The ride went on, and we reached the outskirts of town. We passed by Vixen’s spa, and I showed off my nails. “This was definitely in my top three. I might have to go back to get them redone.”

She grinned.

Next, we passed by the Santa’s Elves and the ice-skating rink. “Santa’s Elves was fun too,” I added. “Getting to know you more. Ice-skating had to be top two,” I told her. “It was a lot of fun having you teach me, even if I really sucked at it.”

Cocoa Corner was next. Where we first met, where I had my first cup of Garland hot cocoa. “I still remember the first time I saw you,” I told her, close to her ear. “You kind of took my breath away.”

Her gaze found mine, but she didn’t say anything at first. She just shook her head and glanced down like she couldn’t believe me. “Me?” she finally said.

“Yes, you,” I replied, wondering why she didn’t know how stunning she was. “I thought you were beautiful. Still do.”

Next was Scrooge’s. We didn’t go right past it, but it was close enough that we could see it. “Ah, Scrooge’s. Not my favorite, being tossed out on the street, but Scrooge makes a mean burger, I’ve got to admit.”

Carolynn began laughing, probably at the memory of Scrooge’s forehead vein pulsing like it might burst and me getting kicked out. The sound was so contagious I joined in.

It had been embarrassing as heck for me, but it was funny now.

After a while, we rode past A Wonderful Film, and somehow, Carolynn ended up snuggled next to me, under my arm. Probably the cold , I told myself. But I hoped it was also something else. Like wanting to be close to me, how I wanted to be with her.

We didn’t say anything for a while. I’d just point out every place that had been on our list.

Candy Cane Co.

Santa’s Bag.

The Nutcracker.

Even a glance at Mistletoe Hill, far off in the distance.

So many memories. With her.

Pretty soon, we’d been everywhere on the list.

We finished up back at the Garland Christmas tree, at Cider Center.

The sleigh came to a slow and steady stop. My arm remained around Carolynn. I wasn’t ready to leave, to separate from her.

I turned toward her, and she toward me.

“I never want to lose you, Christmas Carol,” I admitted.

Did she feel the same?