Page 5 of Snowflakes and Ice Skates

We were only a few steps in when he cut to the left and spun around. “Candy Canes!”

He held up the box with a smile of triumph.

“Grab one more.”

He did, then followed me deeper in to the store. The baking aisle had been rampaged. It looked like a war had taken place.

“Oh no.” This was worse than I expected. There was no way we’d get everything we needed.

He put his hand on my shoulder. I looked down at it then back up at his face. This was one of the only times he’d ever touched me. Well, without force, or in an attempt to tickle or tease me.

“Don’t give up. Just stay focused.”

I shook my head and looked around. He was still such a football player.

He stayed close behind me as we shoved our way deeper into the crowd.

“There!” I shuffled my way between two people and grabbed the white chocolate. When I turned around he was kneeling on the ground.

“What are you doing?”

“Found. The. Milk. Chocolate.” He bit out each word stretching until almost his entire torso was in the shelf.

“Good.” I went further down the aisle in search of the peppermint extract. One bottle.

I hurried and reached out for it. A hand shot out and snatched it before I got to it. “Hey.”

The middle-aged man shrugged. “Should have been taller.”

He turned and left while I shot daggers in his back. How dare he? He was getting coal in his stocking for sure.

“That was messed up.” I spun and watched Vince look at the thief.

I let out a sigh. “It’s okay. We’ll figure something else out. Let’s get out of here.”

We headed toward the check-out which turned out to be another nightmare. We got in the line for ten items or less and I prayed it would go quickly.

“Do you think your mom will have any extra peppermint extract?”

I shrugged. “It’s a once a year thing, so it’s probably expired if she does.”

He didn’t respond but pulled out his phone.

Fine. Don’t talk to me.

I looked around, hoping we wouldn’t run into anyone from high school. That was always so awkward.

“I’ve found a few recipes that only use three ingredients. Do you think people will notice?”

He’d been looking up recipes? How nice, and unlike him. I almost felt a little bad for calling him a jerk in my head. Almost.

“I don’t think so. Thanks for finding those.”

He smiled at me and my teenage crush reared its head. Oh no. Stay down, lady. I was just Little Harry to him. Don’t go falling in love because he smiled at you once.

It took twenty minutes to get through the line, but we were finally on the way back to the house.

“What can I do to help when we get there?”