Holly narrowed her eyes at her.
“Yes. My job at the school and at the bookstore are important. We’re just too different. We talked about it. It wasn’t going to work. Our lives were just too busy.”
“So, it was just really amazing vacation sex?”
“I guess it was.” Holly felt empty at the words. “It was just vacation sex. Besides, he hates Christmas.”
“Well, then I know he’s not the one for you,” Aliyah said. “You made the right choice then. It wouldn’t work out between you. You love Christmas.”
Holly nodded, but she found herself missing Nathan already. How was it possible to miss someone she’d only known for two days? Somehow, it felt like she’d known him her whole life.
She sighed. She needed to stop thinking about Nathan. He was gone. The weekend was just a wonderful weekend. Nothing more.
“So, you hungry?’ Holly asked, pulling onto the highway and away from the resort.
“Actually, I am,” Aliyah replied with a smile.
“I’ll stop at the next gas station for sandwiches.” Holly grinned at her, wide and as annoying as possible.
“It will be a shame when I murder you,” Aliyah said, shaking her head.
Devonsville sat just off the main interstate about an hour from the Wyoming border and two hours from Denver. The state college was only a few miles away, and as a result the town had a fun college age appeal. Many of the houses were rented out to college students as they were cheaper here than closer to campus, but the students kept them in good repair.
There were lots of small restaurants and a lively downtown with bars and shops. Students liked to bring their parents to Devonsville when they came to visit for the fancier meals and the parents stayed in Devonsville for the cheaper hotels.
Lights adorned the trees, though there seemed to be less of them this year. The news that ECT was leaving was hurting the town. Houses were going up for sale. Several businesses were closing as spouses prepared to move.
Holly’s apartment was cold and empty when she arrived home. She’d dropped Aliyah off at her house and now was on her own. Her small building was a modified motel with outside entrances. Holly kept a small potted plant on the porch, but it was long dead with the winter. The sun had already set and the sky was cold and gray. Holly wondered if it was going to snow again.
She hoped so. White Christmases were always nice.
Holly walked up the steps to her apartment, kicking the dirty parking lot snow from her shoes as she unlocked the front door.
“Oh good, you’re home.” Mrs. Krasinski popped her head out of the apartment next door. Mrs. Krasinski was a retired housewife with too much time on her hands some days. “These arrived for you. I didn’t want them to get too cold, so I brought them in.”
Holly frowned. She hadn’t ordered anything recently, though a relative could have sent something.
Mrs. Krasinksi’s door opened and she stepped out carrying a beautiful vase full of roses and lilies. Holly’s eyes opened wide in surprise.
“I didn’t order this,” Holly stammered. “Are you sure it’s for me?”
“It’s got your name on it,” Mrs. Krasinski replied. She handed the vase off to Holly. “I think you might have a secret admirer.”
Holly set the vase down on her welcome mat and reached for the card nestled in the flowers. She wondered if Mrs. Krasinski had already read it, and figured she had.
Thanks for a wonderful weekend.
-N
A smile filled Holly’s face as her heart warmed. She picked up the vase and took a deep breath in of the flowers. They smelled sweet and fresh and as far from winter as she could imagine.
“So, who are they from?” Mrs. Krasinski pressed.
Holly smiled at her, kicking her bag inside the door. “You were right. A secret admirer.”
She waved to her neighbor and shut the door, cradling the flowers to her chest. She set the vase on her small kitchen table, admiring how the flowers already made her apartment feel warmer.
She shook her head, smiling at the flowers. She wasn’t sure what Nathan was doing by sending her these. It was probably just a nice gesture, and one she did appreciate.