A Cross-Country Christmas(23)

Rosa nodded. “We’ll do our best.”

Will glanced at Lauren. “You okay? Sorry for the detour. I just felt like I needed to come by. I don’t know if it helped, but it was a chance worth taking.”

Lauren saw something in Will’s face she had never seen. Compassion. Honesty. Sincerity.

“Your amor and I are getting to know each other,” Rosa winked. “And I think you two should stay for dinner.”

Both Lauren and Will started overlapping protests at the same time.

“You’re so kind, but we can’t stay,” Lauren said.

“Oh, we couldn’t put you out,” Will said. “Besides, we need to go. . .”

“. . .get on the road. . .”

“. . .find a hotel. . .”

Lauren and Will looked at each other, irritated that their lies didn’t match.

Rosa raised her eyebrows. “Uh huh. Veo como es. Dinner it is.”

“We can’t impose,” Will said. “And this one is pretty tired.” He tossed a glance at Lauren.

“Okay, then I’ll find you a hotel,” she said. “Let me make some calls.” She picked up her cell phone and walked off into the other room, leaving Lauren sitting there awkwardly, Will still standing in the doorway.

She should apologize. Here he was trying to do something meaningful.

“Is. . . he going to be okay?” she offered.

Will took Rosa’s seat across from her at the table. “I hope so. Hard to tell.” He sighed. “He’s got more natural talent than any player I’ve ever coached.”

Her eyes found his. “Is he as good as you were?”

His expression shifted, and for the first time, she wanted to know what he was thinking—what he was really thinking. Behind the charming fa?ade he seemed intent on hiding behind.

“No,” Will grinned. “He’s better.”

“He’s important to you,” Lauren said, realizing.

Will nodded.

“He’s lucky to have someone who cares so much.”

Will turned his head quickly and looked directly into Lauren’s eyes. It was almost like he didn’t know what to do with her kindness. He looked away, back toward the living room where Jackson dozed on the couch. “Let’s just hope he listens to me. He’s on a downward spiral, and we just need to set him on a different course.”

“Do you need to stick around another day?” Lauren asked.

Will shook his head. “I couldn’t do that to you.”

“It’s important.” She fidgeted with the ring on her right hand. “I don’t mind.”

He smiled at her, and she gave him the slightest hint of a smirk. It was the first real moment between them maybe ever, and it sent a chill down her spine.

Red flags unfurled at the back of her mind, a reminder that she was in dangerous territory—a minefield for her heart.

And when Will said, “That would be amazing,” it tickled something awake inside of her—something dangerous and familiar. Something she did not want to go away.

“Well, I’m amazing,” she said with a smile.

Am I. . .flirting?

He smiled and nodded his head slightly. “That you are.”

The air between them charged, and she sat, held captive by his gaze.

Rosa returned before she could process his comment—thank God. If she had to sort it out in real time, she was going to be in big trouble.

“I found you a room!” Rosa said. “At a nice place in town. And you’ll come for dinner tomorrow when Joe is home from work.”

Both Lauren and Will slightly sat back in their chairs, unplugging from the previous electric moment.

“Great,” Will said, absently. “Thanks for doing that.”

A sudden fear struck Lauren. “You mean two rooms, right?”

Rosa’s face fell, but not too far. “Sorry, they only have the one. I asked if they have any more and they said ‘no.’” Lauren thought she saw just a twinge of a knowing smile at the corners of Rosa’s mouth.

“I’d let you stay here,” she continued, “but we have all the unwrapped Christmas presents in Jackson’s room, since he’s on the couch. Our house is just so small.”

“We’ll be fine.” Will stood. Lauren stared at him, incredulous. “We will. We’ll make it work. Thank you.”

Lauren’s heart pounded a drum in her chest. Sure, they’d be fine. Just fine. Totally.

Her.

Will.

In a hotel room overnight.

Together.

What could possibly go wrong?





Text Exchange between Lauren and Spencer

Sounds like you’re getting the full Will Sinclair road trip experience. Are you having fun?





If by “fun” you mean “spending every hour wanting to

gouge my eyeballs out with a fork, then yes.”





Has he broken out the Christmas carols?





Good grief, yes.

Does he know he’s a truly terrible singer?





Yes. And he doesn’t care.





I’ve never met anyone who loved Christmas this much.