Christmas Wishes

Nicholas began to ground himself with contemplation of the various spreadsheets and files that’d be waiting for him back in his Manhattan office. That was the real world. Not Molly Carmichael. Not Christmas Wishes.

And by the time they’d arrived at Christmas Wishes’ doors, he was back to what he’d consider his normal state.

Chapter 10

Molly

“I saw you two in the town square earlier,” Hannah said innocently as she slid a hot chocolate into her best friend’s hands. “We all saw you in the town square.”

“You know how it is, Hannah. You win some, you lose some...” Molly sighed, surprised that her friend knew about the snowball fight loss. “It’s a hard thing being the queen.”

“No, I’m not talking about your crushing defeat at the hands of King Liam,” Hannah replied, giving Molly's shoulder a gentle push. “I’m talking about you and Nicholas.”

“Me and Nicholas?” Molly asked, feeling heat rise in her cheeks.

“Yup. From what I saw, things look good.” Hannah leaned her elbows onto the counter of Sweetness & Light, giving Molly an amused look. “So, are you going to spill the beans or what? Has he asked you out?”

Molly scoffed as she looked back at her friend. “Nicholas Kerstman? You think Nicholas Kerstman is going to ask me out?”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Hannah asked with a shrug.

“Because he’s from New York, which means that he probably has options. I’m sure he has a gazillion girls’ numbers in his phone, and they’re all sitting at home waiting for him to call them back.” Molly took a sip of her hot chocolate, not wanting to think about Nicholas calling other girls. It strangely made her uncomfortable. “And I’m not interested in being another one of those girls. Been there, done that. I don't need my heart broken again.”

“Hmm...” Hannah murmured in her own, special way, and Molly recognized that hum as a distinctly Hannah noise. It was the same noise she once made when Molly told her that she was reconsidering her courses in Childhood Education because they were getting so hard. It was the noise Hannah once made when Molly spoke about quitting at Christmas Wishes her first year of teaching. It was the same noise Hannah made when Molly said she and her boyfriend were going to try a long distance relationship.

Molly knew to be wary whenever Hannah made that special Hannah noise, since it so often meant that her best friend had something brutal-yet-honest to say to her.

And the worst part of it all was that Hannah was always right.

“Can I be honest with you, Molly?”

Molly groaned, already knowing what was coming next. “Always and forever, Hannah.”

“You’re one of the least judgmental people I’ve ever met in my life, and yet it sounds like you can’t stop judging Nicholas Kerstman,” Hannah said, watching her friend. “It’s like you already decided that you don’t like him, without even giving him a chance. Why’s that?”

“Because Nicholas Kerstman isn’t someone I should like,” Molly explained. “Hannah, not only is he my boss's son, he doesn’t like Christmas! And on top of those two deal breakers, he wants to sell Christmas Wishes to the highest bidder. He doesn’t even want to keep it in his family.”

“He won’t do that,” Hannah said, shaking her head. “Not when he really sees how much the place means to you.”

“Hannah. You don’t know him like I know him. All he cares about is work.” Molly thought for a moment. “And salads.”

“Molly. You didn’t see what I saw in the square today,” Hannah said in a knowing voice that made Molly want to hit her. “Trust me, if you asked nicely enough, that man would give you the world on a silver platter.”

“You're crazy,” Molly grumbled under her breath. “Hey, speaking of platters, are you still making those garlic and herb cream cheese logs?”

“Nope. They’re officially off the seasonal menu,” Hannah replied. “But I made some just for you. Because I know you love them. And because I love you.”

Molly grinned, feeling a little bit better. Food was magic in her eyes.

“I love you, too,” Molly told her friend. “Even when you’re wrong.”

Hannah sighed and shook her head as she set the cheese logs on the counter for Molly.

“When have I ever been wrong?” Hannah asked.

“You took these off the menu. That's definitely wrong.” Molly reached for a cheese log and took a bite. She smiled and sighed with pleasure at the taste. “I wanted to ask you something. Nicholas and I are headed over to the Brownstones to help decorate tonight. You want to come?”

“Nicholas and you, huh?” Hannah raised an eyebrow.