Some links may be affiliate links. We get money if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these links on our site.

Christmas All The Time is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

He’s The One

Trilby was pushing a cart of books through the aisles of the university library with Marta by her side. “Well, how did it go?”

“It was fine until he flipped out on Sarah.” Marta pushed her glasses up. “That was pretty awkward.”

“Sarah who?”

“Carol’s helper.” Marta picked up a book and searched for its location on the shelf.

“The kid with the clipboard? What did she do to make him go off?” Trilby slid a hardcover book aside to make space for a book from the cart.

“She didn’t do anything. Vik was showing her to her seat and Ryan just exploded.”

“That’s not a good sign, Marta. I hope you’re done with this guy.” She looked at her friend.

“What kind of jerk do you think I am?” Marta frowned as she grabbed another book.

“Huh?”

“People don’t act like that. Do they?”

“They shouldn’t.” Trilby’s eyebrows knitted. “Certainly not on the first date.”

“He told me why.”

“And?” Trilby scanned the call number label on another book.

“Let’s just say, there was a reason.” She slid a book onto the shelf. “Not a particularly good reason, but it made sense in a sad kind of way.”

“Oh, Marta.” Trilby clasped a thick trade paperback to her chest. “Don’t fall into some Florence Nightingale thing on me. You can’t fix people, honey.”

“No, he’s got to fix himself.” Marta nodded. “Nothing says I can’t support him while he tries.”

Trilby studied her friend a moment before finding the heavy book’s spot on the shelf.

“What’s that about?”

“I’ve never seen you like this.”

Marta picked up a book. “Like what?”

“You’re actually smitten. Aren’t you?”

“Smitten?” She separated some books to slide hers in. “Why smitten? I like him. Isn’t that enough reason to give him a chance?”

“You’ve liked plenty of people before.”

“Sounds tawdry when you say it like that.” Marta cringed. “I’ve never been serious before. Never wanted to.”

“But now?”

“I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just different.”

“Hmm.” She stared at Marta as she grabbed a book from the cart. “So, how did you leave it?”

“We bought dessert at Wentzel’s and went back to his place to finish dinner.”

“Just like that? Forget the angry outburst and carry on?”

“Of course not, Trilby. We talked about it on the way back.”

“And?”

“I told you. There’s a reason.” She picked up a book and pressed it to her forehead. “There was a reason.”

Trilby shook her head and shelved another book. “Okay, I get it.”

“Come on. I can’t discuss it. He’s on the road back from a really bad place. I’m not going to make it worse by betraying a confidence.” She jammed a book into place.

“Easy on the stock, sister.”

“Sorry.” She picked up another book with tips of her thumb and index finger. “I think…”

Trilby sucked a breath. “You hardly know this guy.”

“How did you know Brendan was the one?”

“No.” Trilby shook her head and pushed the cart to the next section. “Nope. You’re not holding that over my head.”

“Don’t flake out on me.” She pulled a book from the cart and checked the label. “I saw you guys kissing under that street light.”

“Oh, that. Yeah. Once I realized he wasn’t Jeb, he invited me to walk with him.”

“Out in the Christmas Eve snow.”

Trilby tittered as she squeezed the handle of her cart. “I knew before that.”

“And you had only just met him.”

“Brendan didn’t flip out on anybody over dinner.”

Somebody on the other side of the bookshelves shushed them. Marta shook her fist at the shelf.

“Are you sure?” Trilby ran a finger down the spine of a cloth-bound hardback.

Marta nodded. “He’s the one.”

“Hi, Carol.” Becca breezed into her room. “I wanted to go over your test results with you. Are you okay?”

Carol was sitting on the bed with her knees tucked to her chest. She swept a tear away.

“I know this is…”

“Alarming? Terrifying? Mortifying?” She hiccuped and a group of holographic gingerbread men marched out of her mouth. They performed a quick square dance and burst into scintillating snowflakes. She pouted as she pounded her fists on the bed.

She stroked her chin. “All that from one kiss?”

“Have you seen the picture?” Carol hugged her knees up to her forehead.

“There’s a picture?”

“Apparently, it went viral.” She hiccuped.

Becca waited, but nothing happened. “That’s interesting.”

“Do you think it’s over?” Carol peeked over top of her knees.

“I wouldn’t bank on it, but let’s get you to the lab for another reading.” She offered a hand.

Carol slid off the bed. “Oh, here. I think it’s downloaded to my phone.”

“I don’t really need to see it.” Becca said. “Let’s get another reading.”

“I thought it was Nathan.” Carol followed her host from the room.

“Nathan?”

Carol shrugged. “My boyfriend, sort of.” She hiccuped.

Becca watched but nothing occurred. “That’s promising.”

“I don’t know. I’m in some kind of weird Platonic friend zone with him. We’ve been together for ages, but it’s only just dinner and schmoozing.”

Becca rolled her eyes. “Gotta love Platonic schmoozers.”

“I thought I did, but I never got a real signal from him. You know?”

“But you thought you were finally getting that signal from him under the mistletoe?”

“I thought it was Nathan until I didn’t feel his mustache.”

“That was Paul?”

“My God, Becca. I have never ever been kissed like that.”

She smiled and sighed. “Yeah.”

“I, uh…” Carol looked at her. “Are you saying…?”

Becca grinned. “Paul is a silly manchild, particularly when he has Connor egging him on. I think that’s what makes him such a phenomenal kisser.” A slight blush teased her freckled cheeks.

Sarah and Paul entered the gingerbread house with the arts and crafts workshop.

“Hello?” Bob called from the far corner.

Paul scanned the room for signs of Ryan. “Hey, it’s just us. Carol wanted us to check in with you.”

“I’m just putting the finishing touches on here. I sent Ryan over to the photo studio to help Stan.” He looked around. “This is going to be nice for the kids.”

“It looks great, Bob.” Sarah said. “Look, Carol’s away. If you need anything, you can call me. Okay?”

“Sure. Everything alright?”

“I think so.” She turned to frown at Paul. “She’ll be back soon.”

“Great. Oh, Earl has a set of keys for you guys at his office. You’ll need to sign for them.”

She nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll pick those up next time I’m there. Any problems?”

“No, everything’s coming together like we expected.”

“You said Ryan is over at the photo place?”

“Yep. He’s great.” Bob smiled. “Sure hope they can fit him in the budget for next year.”

Sarah gritted her teeth. “That would be fantastic.” She looked around the workshop. ‘I wanted to kick him, but it will hurt worse if I can keep him from getting hired. Serve him right if he had to leave town.’