Lydia's Pine Harbor Christmas, стр. 12
“Yeah? Well, I can’t wait to see you either.” Brilliant retort. I guess you showed her!
“Why, Marco! I didn’t know you cared.” She was toeing the line between sarcastic and bitter.
But Marco didn’t fall into her trap. He hit her straight on with a bold comeback. “Well, I do!” Dammit. That’s not what I meant.
On the plus side, that left her speechless, but it was only for a couple of moments. “Wow. Sorry I asked.”
Marco narrowed his eyes. “But you did. You couldn’t just let it go and ignore my bad mood.”
Lydia’s eyes clouded over. “No, because I care about you too. I know something’s wrong. Asking was just a formality.”
He was in no mood for that edge to her voice. “Well, now that we’ve dispensed with the formalities, I think we’re done here.”
If only they hadn’t had another fifty yards to walk before they reached their cars. Apparently, it took a long time to walk that distance in total silence.
Lydia shortened the misery by lifting her chin and speed-walking away. Without turning back, she called, “Allie, I’ll be in the car.”
It was a strong exit, until she arrived at the car and discovered it was locked. While she tried all four doors, Marco bit his lip and barely managed to suppress his amusement. Allie was too busy laughing at something Theo had said to notice Lydia’s dilemma. That was when Lydia unwittingly used her secret weapon. Seething, she folded her arms, crossed her legs, and leaned back against the car. Lydia was pouting. Marco couldn’t resist smiling. He couldn’t stay annoyed when she looked so adorably furious. It almost made the rest of the day’s aggravation worth it. Almost.
Seven
Without Marco’s knowledge, the plan had been made for them all to go back to the bar and have dinner. Lydia had ridden with Allie, and Marco lived and worked there, so neither had a way out.
As they sat down to dinner, Marco said, “I’m surprised Bryce isn’t here. Where is he—out curing cancer this evening?”
Lydia gave him a wry look. “No, he did that after lunch. What did you do?”
Theo and Allie stopped talking.
I thought about you. ”Excuse me. Mel looks like she could use some help at the bar.”
Marco arrived at the bar to find a total of three people with full drinks in hand, but the bar was the best place for him at the moment. He chatted with Mel for a minute then went to the back for some beer to fill the already-full cooler. Before he could pick up a case, he heard footsteps behind him.
“Theo, leave me alone.”
“Wow, I need some new shoes if these make me sound like Theo.”
Marco shut his eyes for a moment then turned around. “Allie, I’m fine. It’s nothing to worry about.”
“I know you’re fine, but Lydia isn’t. What’s the matter with you? She won’t give you the satisfaction of showing it, but you’ve hurt that girl’s feelings.”
Marco turned around with every expectation of hiding his feelings from Allie, but one look in her eyes, and he knew she’d seen through him. How she’d managed to figure it out was beyond him, since he had only just figured it out himself.
“Oh,” she said as if he had just bared his whole soul.
“Oh what?” He needed to deny it, yet he couldn’t. That would be lying, and lying to her would be almost like lying to Theo. He just couldn’t do it. Instead, he exhaled and met her knowing look with what must have been sadder eyes than those of a whimpering puppy.
“Does she know?” Then she answered her own question. “Of course not. Otherwise, she’d understand instead of sitting out there feeling like she’s just lost her best friend—which you are. Marco, you’ve got to tell her how you feel.”
Eloquent genius that he was, Marco just shook his head. He couldn’t even form words.
“So, you’re just going to leave things like this?”
“I don’t know.” He had said words. That was progress.
Allie was speechless next, but she rallied soon enough. “Well, you’ve got to do something sooner rather than later, or you’ll lose a friend who cares deeply about you.”
“Don’t you think I know that? Just what would I say? I barely understand what’s going on myself, so how could I explain it to her? I just need some time to work through this.”
“Okay. But it’s not going to blow over like some sort of nor’easter.”
“It may as well be. It’s already blown through and destroyed everything that we had.”
“So you rebuild.”
“Allie, I know you’re trying to help, but the only way you can help us right now is by not telling Lydia.”
“Marco, you’re asking a lot. She’s not just my employee. She’s my friend.”
“Then as her friend, don’t tell her anything. If I don’t even know what to tell her, involving yourself will only confuse things.”
“So I’m supposed to stand by and watch her suffer?” When Marco offered no alternatives, Allie sighed. “Okay. I won’t say anything—for now—but I won’t be happy about it.”
“I can live with that.”
She touched his arm. “Don’t wait too long.”
The door swung closed behind her, and Marco let out a sigh of relief.
Marco returned to the table. He had to. He’d been absent too long, which would only make things more awkward. So he intercepted Mel as she brought out their dinner then took it over to the table and served them. That kept him busy enough to keep them distracted. He managed some small talk, which at least broke the tension. Mel stopped by the table a few minutes later to check how dinner was. After that, much to Marco’s relief, Allie and Theo began talking about various Pine Harbor holiday events. Marco even managed to throw in a comment or two just for show, but Lydia remained almost entirely silent.
After what felt like a very long meal, Allie and Lydia left.