Lydia's Pine Harbor Christmas, стр. 3
Allie cleared her throat loudly. Oh no. I was staring again, and she caught me. Lydia did her best to appear nonchalant, which was futile since the damage was done.
But Allie was kind enough not to comment. Instead, she thrust a large cardboard box into Lydia’s arms. “Careful. It’s a little heavy. Would you mind taking this out to the car? I’m just going to duck into the office to see Theo.”
“No problem.” As Lydia headed for the exit, Marco called from behind the bar, “Need some help?”
A guy at the bar swiveled around in his bar seat. “I’ve got it.”
Her eyes darted to Marco, who assured her, “It’s okay. He’s a friend. This is—”
“Bryce?”
Marco stared with surprise.
Yes, Marco, I know people.
Before she could explain, Bryce looked over his shoulder at Marco. “We’re in the same Global History class. Here, let me help you with that.”
Lydia wasn’t sure, but she thought Marco’s jaw might have gone a bit slack as Bryce practically leaped from his stool and took the box from her.
As they walked out to the car, Lydia looked up at Bryce. “You’re a lot taller in person—I mean out of class.”
“Really? Well, in class, I’m usually sitting at a desk.”
“Yeah, right.” She chuckled awkwardly. “What was I thinking?” That you were tall and had brilliant blue eyes?
“So, you and Marco…”
“Me and Marco…?”
He grinned. “How long have you two been together?”
“Zero… time.” Well said, Lydia.
He looked surprised. “Oh. But I’ve seen you together a lot on campus.”
“Yeah, we carpool. Sort of. Not really. He drives me to school.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
“Yeah, that’s Marco. He’s nice.” Really nice.
Bryce looked satisfied enough with her answer to look straight into her eyes. “So are you.”
“You don’t even know me.” But who cares? You are excellent at making eye contact and—oh no, I’m blushing.
“I’m a pretty good judge of character.”
“I’m an ax murderer.” Lydia didn’t crack a smile.
Bryce burst out laughing. “You’re funny.”
Most people just laugh, but thanks for the explanation. Lydia tried not to furrow her eyebrows. She wasn’t sure what to make of him.
They arrived at Allie’s car, and Lydia tore herself away from his tractor-beam gaze long enough to open the hatch. He loaded the box and pulled down the hatch, then they stood for a moment in silence. It should have been awkward, but Lydia actually enjoyed it. That was new. A guy was completely focused on her, and she was only a little bit nervous. Bryce flashed a grin, as though he’d just come to his senses. “Well, see you Monday.”
“Tuesday,” she corrected.
“Oh, right. Global’s a Tuesday-Thursday class.”
Allie gave a sort of limp wave and said, “Bye.” What was that? ‘Cause that was not even close to a wave. That was more like a flailing dolphin. Just when I thought I’d make it through one conversation without embarrassing myself. I just can’t be around men. That’s all.
Two
Lydia left with Bryce, leaving Marco trapped behind the bar and feeling left out. Bryce looked like a puppy in a park, chasing after a frisbee—if Lydia were brightly colored, plastic, and round. Marco wondered about his new buddy Bryce. He only knew him from school. They were in the same English Comp class, and more often than not, they hung out after class with a few other students—not so much from a thirst for knowledge as a thirst for the coffee shop in the building next door.
Bryce returned to his stool at the bar. “So, what’s the story with Lydia?”
“Story?”
“Yeah. She’s cute. What’s her story?”
Yeah, she is cute. That’s her story. The rest is none of your business. “She’s a local. We went to the same middle school and high school.”
Bryson peered at Marco. “Oh, sorry. Are you… interested in her?”
Marco practically recoiled. “No. Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. I just got a vibe.”
A vibe? With Lydia?
“I guess you must be pretty close friends.”
“Yeah. I guess we are.” So hands off, loser. You don’t deserve her.
“Is she dating anyone?”
Bryce was really getting on Marco’s nerves. He looked toward the end of the bar to see if he could use something as an excuse to get away from the guy. “No, she’s not dating anyone.”
“Good.”
“Because Lydia doesn’t really date.”
Bryce seemed to find that amusing. “Why? What makes you think that? Because she won’t go out with you?”
Is this guy deliberately trying to piss me off, or does he just have a gift? “No, because I haven’t asked her.”
“Hey, sorry. I guess I touched a raw nerve. You have feelings for her. Got it.”
Bryce was way too sure of himself, so Marco refused to give him the satisfaction of being correct in his psychoanalysis. “My feelings for Lydia are… she’s like a sister. NO, more like a really close friend.” He leveled a serious look at Bryce. “Close enough that I would hate to see anyone hurt her.”
“Hey, don’t look at me. I’m one of the good guys. I say please and thank you and help old ladies cross the street. Do you need references?”
That made Marco laugh, which helped ease the tension, at least on the outside. “No. You seem harmless enough.”
“Hey!”
“Just kidding.” Not really. You’re freaking annoying.
Bryce grinned, pulled out his wallet, and tossed some bills onto the bar. “I’ve got to go. See you in class.”
“Yeah, later.” Lydia and Bryce? Nah, she’d never go out with him.
Allie pulled out of the parking lot and headed back to the Gallery with Lydia, still deep in thought about Marco. “So, Allie, what was all that about?”
“All what? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I think you do.”
Lydia launched into a theatrical reenactment of the moment in question. “Oh, Marco! Why don’t you take Lydia here into the deep woods for some quality time?”
Allie stifled a laugh. “I don’t think that’s quite what I said