I back out of the lot and chuckle quietly to myself.
“What’s funny?” she asks, arching a brow.
“Just thinking about how much fun Jaxon and I had. I mean, I know it was just a silly game, but…we actually had fun playing together.”
She grins, the light catching her eyes. “Yup. Maybe you ought to try it more often back in Boston.”
“It’s not that easy, Jay.” I scrub my face. “He mentioned something about that, but Coach would never put me on the first line.” Or even the second. He doesn’t have a clue what else I can do.
Then show him, dude.
But what if…
Enough with the what-ifs.
“You’re really considering the PR job?” I ask, partly because I want to change the subject, and partly because it’s an amazing opportunity for her. And yes, I’m a selfish jerk who kind of likes being around her.
“I am. But I don’t want to get too excited.” She points. “Turn here.”
I follow her direction and see Stowe’s department store ahead. I don’t see any decorations, so she can’t be dropping off ballots. “What are we doing here?”
“This is where we’re going to get some ugly sweaters for tonight.”
I ease into a parking spot, and before I can cut the engine, she’s already halfway into the store. I follow, and find her rifling through racks of sweaters with a grin. She holds one up. I shake my head.
“Nope. Not going to do it.”
She laughs, the sound bouncing off the walls, and I feel a tug in my chest. Part amusement, part something I can’t quite name. She’s playful, teasing, and yet there’s a warmth in her I can’t ignore.
“Come on, it’s perfect.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I like the candy cane.”
“Yeah, but it says, ‘It’s not going to lick itself’.”
“Okay…maybe that’s not the one.” A glint lights her eyes as she drapes it over her arm. “Or…you can just wear it in private.”
“What are you getting?” I ask, eyeing her over the rack.
She holds up a sweater that reads, Dear Santa, Can I Have Your Naughty List?
“Seems like you,” I tease.
She playfully whacks my arm. “I’m only on that list because of you.”
I grin. “I don’t know about that. You seemed like a willing participant, and if I remember correctly, you were the one who told me you wanted to be on it.”
She rolls her eyes and laughs. “Right. Okay, so my Yelp rating is 10/10. Would do again.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. Jesus, she’s funny…sweet…smart. And somehow, she’s got this way of making my chest tighten without even trying.
“How about this one for you? Seems fitting,” she says, holding up another ridiculous sweater.
Before I can even protest, she strides to the counter to pay for them all. I shake my head, watching her, a little breathless. But seriously, what is with her taste in ugly sweaters? I don’t know, but I can only hope that last one is for wearing in private too…
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