The Holiday Switch(58)

“Yes. Mom’s got the tickets in our safe.”

Ms. Velasco laughs.

“You’ll see her before then, because she’s working for me on the thirtieth. Remember, Lila?” Teddy says.

“That’s right, I am.”

“Why can’t you take your shift, Teddy?” Ms. Velasco’s forehead crinkles.

“I’m meeting up with some friends.”

“Again?”

“Yep.” Teddy looks away.

The conversation trails to an awkward silence, but finally Ms. Velasco bids us goodbye. As soon as the door closes behind her, I comment, “She seemed upset.”

He puts away the movie. “It’s not you, it’s me. You’re right about what you said earlier. I haven’t been easy to live with, and she’s probably worried that I’m corrupting you. But if she only knew.” He heads to the back door.

I turn out the lights so the only things on are the twinkle lights on the window. “Knew what?”

“That, if anything, being with you has changed me, for the better.”

Stunned by Teddy’s comment, I step outside without my coat. “Oh, wait I—”

“I’ll get it.” He pops back into the gift shop and with a gush of warm air, reappears with my coat. He holds it open for me. “Here, you’ve got your hands full.”

    I slip into my coat one arm at a time, mulling over his words; then, he helps me hike up my backpack. But as we step off the curb, the cold slams into me like a wall of ice and I shiver, wishing I’d taken the time to button up. The keys in my hand fall to the ground as I attempt to pull up my hood.

“Got it,” Teddy says, bending down. He must have thick skin because he’s only wearing a windbreaker and thin knit gloves.

As he stands and hands me my keys, he frowns. “Your teeth are chattering. Here. Can I—” He gestures to my open coat, and I nod.

But before he buttons me up, he takes the two sides of my coat and tugs them closed. A silent gasp escapes my lips. The act is like having his arms wrap tightly around me.

His gaze is unflinching and I cannot look away.

“I liked getting to know you, Lila,” he says as he buttons my coat. The deftness of his fingers ratchets up the heat inside me. I am a marshmallow melting over fire.

I’ve always been risk-averse. But in this moment, in this cold, snowy night, I want to take a chance.

So I reach out and rest my hands on his waist, bravery surging through me. In the nonchalant tone he’s so good at, I say, “I guess you haven’t been so bad to hang out with, either.”

Teddy stills. The last button slips through the buttonhole. He steps in and cocoons me in his arms, for real. “Is that right?”

“Has anyone ever told you that you talk a lot while watching movies?”

He barks out a laugh. “No.”

“Well, you do. Next time I’m going to make sure you have popcorn from the start.” I bite my lip.

“Next time?” he whispers.

    I nod.

He fingers a flyaway strand of hair and tucks it behind my ear. At this sweet gesture, I draw closer to him, just as he trails a thumb down the side of my cheek. The moment settles into an easy silence.

It’s like every romance I ever read. It’s Holiday by the Lake but better because this is real, and Teddy is…Teddy is completely different than I had ever expected.

“Can I kiss you?” His voice is raspy, and the question is like tinsel on a perfectly decorated tree. Like plump berries hanging from mistletoe. Tempting.

“Yes,” I whisper.

I rise up to my tiptoes and shut my eyes.

When his lips feather against mine, I’m infused with energy and thrill. My hands climb his back, his cup my face, and he kisses me as if I’m another puzzle he has to explore.

I’ve never been kissed like this before.

Teddy pulls away first, gently, and I land back on my heels, breathing heavily.

I’m catching up to my brain when I hear the town square’s bell ringing. It’s one in the morning.

“I’d better go,” I say.

“I’ll walk you.” He keeps his arms around me as we trudge to my car. I don’t feel the cold, just his body against mine.

He opens the car door for me, and I slip inside and turn on the engine. I’ve got so many questions bubbling in the back of my mind—like, what will tomorrow bring?—but I push them all away. I’m almost always thinking about the consequences of the past as well as preparing for the future. Right now, I want to stay in the present.

    “This was a great night,” he says, bending down at my car door.

“Even the movie?”

“Yeah, even the movie.”

“I thought for sure you were going to cry at the end.” I gaze up at him. Despite my tummy twisting and turning at his closeness, there’s no awkwardness between us.

“I almost did. That scene with her dog—that was rough. But the movie was completely eclipsed by you.”

I bite my lip.

“And that. That is so dang cute.” He bends down and catches my lips in his. “I want to kiss you every time you bite your lip.” Then, in a smooth move, he pulls the seat belt around me and locks me in.