The Holiday Switch(32)

Lila: How are you texting me?





Teddy: I called my phone from yours the other day, remember?

What are you doing tonight?





Lila: Stuff





Teddy: I need to see you. Please.





I gape at the word need.

What follows is the vision of shirtless Teddy climbing. Heat climbs up my neck in a sudden rush, and I push the thought away and stomp it down with my imaginary boots.

I can’t think of him this way, not in the slightest bit.

First of all, while I’m all about crushes and book boyfriends, real ones have no room in my schedule. And second, this is Teddy. Teddy who I clash with. Who blackmailed me.

Lila: What do you need that you can’t text?





Teddy: This needs to be said in person. The train depot. 7pm?





Lila: Bossy much?





Teddy: 7pm then





I frown, intrigued. He’s serious. This must be about his secret, and therefore, mine.

Lila: Okay





Something is up with Teddy Rivera, and I don’t know if I can wait till seven to find out what that is.





The train depot is a highly sought after location in Holly for pictures, and today, a group of tourists jam themselves in front of the depot sign, all wearing various ugly Christmas sweaters. I stand at the corner, far enough away not to accidentally photobomb their selfies, but close enough so their voices reach my ears.

Half of them are complaining:

“I should be the one in front since I’m the shortest.”

“It’s so cold—who thought this was a good idea?”

“Ugh, this thing is itchy.”

“I’m so tired. How long are we staying out here?”

The people smile through gritted teeth. Some with cocked hips, others with dipped shoulders. Before my eyes, I imagine this scene transforming into reality TV drama. One of them says something uncouth, a little too loudly. Another acts shocked at the other’s bad behavior. Someone takes off their scarf to defend their alliances, another removes their blinking Christmas balls earrings and— “Lila.”

I spin; Teddy’s a foot away from me. He’s wearing a puffy coat, and a knit cap covers his head, though wisps of his dark hair peek out from underneath. He’s holding two to-go cups and hands me one.

    “Oh, wow.” Surprised, I accept the cup stamped with the delicate gold-outlined logo of Blitzen Chocolates. It’s warm even through the paper sleeve and my knit gloves. Steam escapes from the tiny hole on the cover, and all at once my mouth waters. Hot chocolate—my favorite. “That’s…You didn’t have to.”

“I know. But it’s one of the things on the list of things to do in Holly.”

“That’s right, you know,” I grunt.

“I looked up the entire list. Can we sit over there? Might as well check off number nine while we’re here.” He gestures to a hidden table behind the depot, which is remarkably free, painted with the alternate black and white squares of a chessboard top, with chess pieces set upon it randomly.

I sit down and cross one leg over the other, both hands around the cup. I’m warmed by Teddy’s thoughtfulness for this entire outing, despite my best efforts to stay mad and suspicious over why we’re here in the first place. “So…what’s up?”

“I wanted to…” The last of his words is overtaken by the sound of the trolley’s bells. I look to the right; it rolls by, carrying singing carolers, some hanging from its entrance.

“Excuse me…what?”

“I said I’m sorry,” he shouts.

My mouth hangs agape. Teddy has never, ever apologized or acted remorseful, in all the days I’ve known him. (Which, okay, has only been about a week.) As the singing carolers fade in the distance, he leans slightly forward in his seat.

“The way I acted yesterday, pitting your secret with mine—I was a little overzealous. And honestly, I can’t keep working like this, with you angry at me. Yesterday was tense.”

    A snowflake flickers down to the top of the chessboard. “You blackmailed me.”

He nods gravely. “That wasn’t my good side. I didn’t know what to do.”

Call me a pushover—I read once that reading teaches people empathy—but in this moment, I feel for Teddy. “I would have kept the secret for you, you know. Even if you are…” I pause, mulling over my words.

“Stubborn?”

“At least. More like infuriating.”

He throws his head back in a laugh. “Don’t hold back now.”

I grit my teeth into a smile.

“I do appreciate your honesty. You might not believe it, but you have been one of the best parts of this break.”

I cough into my cup. “You’re right, I don’t believe it. You called me your nemesis.”

His eyebrows lift in surprise. “Oh my God. You read that?”

“I did.”

He winces. “I guess I did say that. I was intimidated by you at first. You’re so…on it. But that was before I realized how on it you are with everything. Straightforward. Hardworking. Honest. It makes me want to be honest with you too.” He readjusts his knit cap. “I’m starting to get tired of keeping it a secret from everyone.”