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And I wasn’t prone to melancholy At all

In fact, I pridedwas eating atit difficult to see a sunny outcos

I glanced up at theby a red ribbon from the chandelier in the foyer after Sam carried Lincoln to bed For Pete’s sake, I should have been full of anticipation, not ennui So was definitely amiss with me

I zipped my jacket and pasted a so I have to be awake at—”

He pulled o”

“Oh, no I can’t sleep over with an impressionable tot in the house We’ll have to wait till…” I frowned “Till when?”

“H on the twenty-fourth for the ga to spend sooing to have a ton of extra time once I start my new project for work in January” Sauess that’s not really an answer, is it?”

My smile cracked and wobbled a bit, but I held it in place “It is You’re busy Me too I havethe following evening, and…I offered to drive Asher and Blake to the airport They’re going to New York to a lake house or soh he professes to be nervous abouthis beau’s family I don’t knohy he’s nervous He’s very likable And I’ of parents, my parents won’t be in town this year, but my sister wants to host dinner on Christmas—”

“What’s wrong?” he intercepted

“Wrong? What do you mean?” I bluffed

Saaze suspiciously “You only talk a mile a minute when you’re excited or upset”

“Upset? Me?” I pushed e of my nose to keep them in place when I shook my head “No, not me I’m cool as a cucumber Composed, unflappable, calm, collected, and level-headed In other words, I’m perfectly fine”

“Right But if you’re feeling worried…don’t Everything is okay”

“We’re running out of time,” I whispered, mortified when my voice hitched

“Hey, we’ll make time for each other, Chet” He brushed my hair from my forehead “We’ll find those extra Martian minutes and somehow—”

“That’s not really possible”