Lydia's Pine Harbor Christmas, стр. 14
Marco’s stomach sank. Lydia meant something to him—more than something. But Lydia liked Bryce. Marco’s chest ached. Lydia’s feelings for Bryce bothered Marco because Marco’s feelings for Lydia weren’t feelings of friendship. Marco was jealous. That revelation was followed by an hour or more of denial, by which point he dozed off and slept just long enough to wake up feeling wretched.
In some ways, it didn’t feel real. He might have blown everything out of proportion. In which case, seeing her in the plain light of day might resolve the whole problem. His new feelings might have lifted like the morning mist rising from the harbor. He had to be sure, and waiting wasn’t an option. If he waited, these affectionate feelings might grow out of control. That was when he decided he had to see Lydia.
Theo, whose thoughts were focused on the upcoming lunch rush, said, “No.” But Marco reminded him that he was an equal partner, which meant he didn’t need Theo’s permission. “Mel can handle it.” Which she could, but that didn’t mean she would enjoy it. It was amazing how much not enjoying she could convey with one look, but she did.
Marco gave her his most charming look, which he could tell from her response had lost its magic. He upped the ante. “I’ll cover your next shift.” All that got him was a blank stare. “And pay you for it, of course.”
She perked up a little. “Okay.” Then she turned and got on with her work.
Which brought him to his next mental state and location, fraught with conflicting emotions and parked behind Lydia’s workplace.
Allie breezed in from the back room. “You can go take your lunch now.” Then she looked up with a far more pleasant look of surprise than Lydia had offered him moments before. “Marco, hello! I didn’t know you two had plans. Go ahead, Lydia, I’m fine here.”
The two meticulously thorough shoppers finally approached the counter. If their debate was what they went through deciding what to buy in a tiny gift shop, he could only imagine what they must go through when facing a significant task. Marco had always prided himself on being a sociable person, but he wasn’t feeling it at the moment. As the ladies approached the door on their way out, Marco opened it for them.
“Thank you,” one said.
“You’re so nice,” the other said. “It’s so rare to find manners like that anymore!”
Guilt overwhelmed him for a moment. The Gallery was, after all, a store. They had every right to shop there, regardless of Marco’s personal problems. He turned back to Lydia, only to discover she’d escaped through the back door.
Allie glanced toward the back. “Better hurry.”
Marco did just that. He caught up with her outside the back door. “Lydia, wait up!”
With her chin up, Lydia strode toward the street.
Marco ran to catch up. “Lydia, please, can we talk?”
“Why? So you can ruin my lunch?” She kept walking.
“I was hoping I might make it better.” A slight pink tinted her cheeks, which always happened when she was angry. She had that porcelain skin characteristic of so many redheads, with a few tiny freckles that she tried to cover with makeup. He had seen her with and without her makeup. Either way, she looked pretty to him. It shouldn’t have been, but the fire in her eyes at that moment was appealing, while her peach-colored lipstick made her lips look even fuller.
It can’t be true, but it is. I’ve just lost a friend. Or maybe she has. It depends on which way you look at it. I can’t believe this. Of course, she has no idea. Otherwise, while I had my traumatic revelation, she might have patiently waited—and possibly rendered aid. But no, she’s walking briskly ahead with no interest in my agony.
He wasn’t feeling too well. ”Lydia, wait!”
Marco ran to catch up, then she stopped abruptly, causing him to nearly run into her. Thanks to four years on the basketball team, he had the agility to avoid a collision.
“Let me buy you lunch.” He gave her his most smoldering look with a track record of making girls melt, but it got him nothing. Dang. Twice in one day, the Silva charm failed.
She stared over her red-rimmed glasses, which had an adorable habit of sliding down her nose. “How interesting that you think a free meal can buy my attention and your salvation.”
“Oh, come on. I know I screwed up, but don’t you think that’s a little extreme?” He raised an eyebrow for further effect.
Lydia’s lips started to curve upward.
Marco started to smile. “If I dig into my pocket change, I might be able to throw in some dessert.”
Marco was acting in a way that Lydia barely recognized. He wanted, perhaps even needed, her help. She’d always been the one who wanted more, although he never knew it. It felt good to be needed. At the same time, Lydia longed to be free.
Something was wrong with Marco. That much was obvious. He seemed to think she was the only one who could help him get through it. While the friend in her wanted to help him, the woman trying to get over him needed to leave him alone. Her ego had convinced her that he couldn’t manage without her, but she knew that was false. He was an adult, and he would be fine.
Then there was Bryce. With Bryce, she felt normal again. They could go out and have a good time without her emotions tearing in different directions. She could spend an entire day with Bryce, feeling content and secure. He said and did all the right things until Lydia found herself imagining them going through life together in pleasant boredom. Argh!