“I need to go, Luke,” Nicholas said, the black hole inside of him threatening to swallow him completely. He needed to get out of this store. There was too much Christmas here. Too much Molly.
“Oh. Alright, sir,” Luke said slowly. “Did you want me to drive you or—”
“No. I’ll walk,” Nicholas cut him off, shaking his head and already heading out the front door. “Sorry. I need to be alone. I need to think.”
“Think away, sir,” Luke said softly, watching him go. “Think away.”
* * *
By nightfall, Nicholas had decided to pack up his rented cabin.
He wanted to head back to New York in the morning.
Even though his parents wanted to see him for Christmas, he knew that it wasn’t a possibility. He wouldn’t be able to stay in this town for even another second once Molly found out the truth. Once she started to look at him with hurt in her eyes, he'd break.
And even the most logical parts of Nicholas’ brain struggled with the reality of Molly no longer being able to stand being around him. She'd hate him for this. It was hurting him in ways he couldn’t describe, in ways he never even realized that he could hurt.
But he’d made the best decision for his business, hadn’t he? He’d made the best possible decision for himself too, for the future he’d so often dreamed of having. He was doing the right thing. He was doing the smart thing.
A familiar knock rang out on his door.
Molly was here?
Nicholas considered if there was a way for him to escape out of the nearest window. He would only need his ID and his wallet to get through the line at the airport. He could always have his mother send his suitcase and luggage to him once he got back to New York...
The knocking on the front door came again, and Nicholas, with great reluctance, decided to answer it. Time to face the music. It had to happen eventually.
“Ms. Molly,” Nicholas greeted her, and his heart twisted inside his chest when she smiled up at him with those beautiful brown eyes.
“Mr. Kerstman. May I borrow you for a minute? Maybe more than a minute, actually,” she said, scrunching up her face. “We’ll see how long this takes. I've never tried to save a business before.”
“I’m sorry, Molly, I don’t think I have time for anything too fun tonight. I need to finish packing up,” he said, trying to back up and hide in his room.
“Packing up?” There was an obvious hurt that lined Molly’s tone. “Oh, right. You need to head back to New York.”
“Right. I need to head back to New York,” Nicholas repeated, the hurt now reflecting in his own tone, too.
“Well, can’t you at least hang out with me for a little bit? Just for a little bit? Please?” Molly asked, her voice tight. “Besides, you’re supposed to let me argue my case for saving the store, and I think my case is pretty solid.”
The guilt cut through Nicholas’ chest like a giant sword, its painful slice making him breathless.
How could he have ever done this to Molly?
“Yes. You’re right. Your case. I should listen to it,” Nicholas agreed. He gave Molly his best attempt at a smile. “Let’s go, then. The faster we leave, the faster I can get back.”
“That’s exactly what I like to hear before someone spends time with me,” Molly said, rolling her eyes. “Come on. Let’s go over to Hannah’s. I have everything prepared.”
Chapter 29
Nicholas
“Okay, wait, but keep your hands over your eyes,” Molly said, making Nicholas hold a hand over his eyes as she led him down the street by his hand. “We’re almost there.”
“Do I really need to keep my eyes closed for this?” he asked. “What part of this town haven’t I seen by now?”
But Nicholas kept his eyes covered, even as he squeezed Molly’s hand.
“Just keep walking,” she told him. “Watch out for that ice patch, there.”