suck, but yours sounds way worse.” He smiled and took a sip. Katie set the bottle down. “Do you really think we’ll get out of here tomorrow?”
“I do. It’ll take time to plow the roads, and because it got dark soon after the snow stopped, it’ll be tough to spot my truck or your scarf. Hopefully tomorrow, when it’s light, it won’t take too long. I know my family, and I guarantee they’ll be out looking for us. But to make sure, we should hike out to the road and try to flag someone down.”
Katie hoped her mom would be out looking for her too, but considering she wouldn’t know where to start, she’d probably be sitting home by the phone. Standing out in the cold by the road was probably a good idea, but she didn’t look forward to it. However, getting back to civilization and her family would be worth it. “Okay. We have a plan,” she said.
Alex tipped his glass toward hers and she clinked it. And then she remembered something. “Oh! I have a surprise! It’s dessert! I almost forgot.”
“Don’t tell me you found Christmas cookies in the fridge too.”
“What I’ve got is way better.” Katie left her warm spot by the fire and dug through her bags. She returned with a beautifully wrapped package and held it out to Alex.
He eyed the silver and white colored paper. “I’m pretty sure that isn’t really for me, because two days ago, we’d never even met.”
“It was supposed to be for Not the Boyfriend, but since it’s Christmas Eve and I need an excuse not to give him anything, I think you should open it.”
“Are you sure?” He eyed the package, and she knew he wanted to open it.
“Positive. And it will bring me great joy.” She smirked.
“If it brings you joy, then by all means, I’ll open it.” He snatched the gift from her hand and tore through the paper, revealing a gold foil box. He lifted the cover and grinned. “Chocolate. I love you.”
Katie’s heart did a flip, even though she knew the words didn’t mean anything. “I figure we need a treat more than he does. They’re truffles.”
“What’s a truffle?” He lifted out a chocolate ball.
“It’s rich, chocolate ganache, dipped in more chocolate.”
Alex sunk his teeth into the decadent treat. “I don’t know what you just said, but this is amazing.” He tilted his head back and savored the taste.
Katie grabbed one, plopped next to him on the couch, and took a bite. “God I love these things.”
“If you don’t like this guy, Tom , why did you get him such a great gift?”
“I had to. What if he ends up being my new daddy?” She rolled her eyes. “Plus, I was counting on him to share.”
“I like your thinking. It never occurred to me to give food for Christmas, but now I think it’s brilliant.” He went to his backpack and brought back a small package wrapped in newspaper.
“This isn’t wrapped nearly as nice as yours, but it’s the thought that counts.” He offered her the gift.
“I didn’t give you the chocolates to make you feel guilty. Plus I’m making you share them. Who is this supposed to be for?” She eyed the gift.
“I bought it for my mom, but she won’t mind. As soon as I’m home, she’ll be so happy, she will care less. Here, open it.”
Katie accepted the small, heavy package. “Is this wrapped in the school newspaper?”
He shrugged and smiled in a way that made her happy all over. “I’m going green.” He sat back down with only the box of chocolates between them.
Katie tore at the paper. “I feel terrible opening your mom’s gift.”
“Would you feel better if I said it was Trina’s?” He tilted his head at her quizzically.
“No! Well, maybe. She sounds horrible. Sorry. I guess that’s the wine talking.”
“If it takes a couple glasses of wine to get you to speak your mind, I’ll keep it coming.”
“No. I wouldn’t want another girl’s present. That would be weird.” She wanted something he picked out especially for
“I do. It’ll take time to plow the roads, and because it got dark soon after the snow stopped, it’ll be tough to spot my truck or your scarf. Hopefully tomorrow, when it’s light, it won’t take too long. I know my family, and I guarantee they’ll be out looking for us. But to make sure, we should hike out to the road and try to flag someone down.”
Katie hoped her mom would be out looking for her too, but considering she wouldn’t know where to start, she’d probably be sitting home by the phone. Standing out in the cold by the road was probably a good idea, but she didn’t look forward to it. However, getting back to civilization and her family would be worth it. “Okay. We have a plan,” she said.
Alex tipped his glass toward hers and she clinked it. And then she remembered something. “Oh! I have a surprise! It’s dessert! I almost forgot.”
“Don’t tell me you found Christmas cookies in the fridge too.”
“What I’ve got is way better.” Katie left her warm spot by the fire and dug through her bags. She returned with a beautifully wrapped package and held it out to Alex.
He eyed the silver and white colored paper. “I’m pretty sure that isn’t really for me, because two days ago, we’d never even met.”
“It was supposed to be for Not the Boyfriend, but since it’s Christmas Eve and I need an excuse not to give him anything, I think you should open it.”
“Are you sure?” He eyed the package, and she knew he wanted to open it.
“Positive. And it will bring me great joy.” She smirked.
“If it brings you joy, then by all means, I’ll open it.” He snatched the gift from her hand and tore through the paper, revealing a gold foil box. He lifted the cover and grinned. “Chocolate. I love you.”
Katie’s heart did a flip, even though she knew the words didn’t mean anything. “I figure we need a treat more than he does. They’re truffles.”
“What’s a truffle?” He lifted out a chocolate ball.
“It’s rich, chocolate ganache, dipped in more chocolate.”
Alex sunk his teeth into the decadent treat. “I don’t know what you just said, but this is amazing.” He tilted his head back and savored the taste.
Katie grabbed one, plopped next to him on the couch, and took a bite. “God I love these things.”
“If you don’t like this guy, Tom , why did you get him such a great gift?”
“I had to. What if he ends up being my new daddy?” She rolled her eyes. “Plus, I was counting on him to share.”
“I like your thinking. It never occurred to me to give food for Christmas, but now I think it’s brilliant.” He went to his backpack and brought back a small package wrapped in newspaper.
“This isn’t wrapped nearly as nice as yours, but it’s the thought that counts.” He offered her the gift.
“I didn’t give you the chocolates to make you feel guilty. Plus I’m making you share them. Who is this supposed to be for?” She eyed the gift.
“I bought it for my mom, but she won’t mind. As soon as I’m home, she’ll be so happy, she will care less. Here, open it.”
Katie accepted the small, heavy package. “Is this wrapped in the school newspaper?”
He shrugged and smiled in a way that made her happy all over. “I’m going green.” He sat back down with only the box of chocolates between them.
Katie tore at the paper. “I feel terrible opening your mom’s gift.”
“Would you feel better if I said it was Trina’s?” He tilted his head at her quizzically.
“No! Well, maybe. She sounds horrible. Sorry. I guess that’s the wine talking.”
“If it takes a couple glasses of wine to get you to speak your mind, I’ll keep it coming.”
“No. I wouldn’t want another girl’s present. That would be weird.” She wanted something he picked out especially for
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