Page 23 of Christmas Lights

After we exited the airplane, I took Samantha over to my truck, where I had some hot chocolate in a thermos and poured us both a cup.

“Cheers,” I said, gently tapping my paper cup to hers.

“Cheers,” she replied before taking a small sip. “Why did you do all of this for me, Jason? We’ve practically just met.”

I had an idea this talk was coming, and I’d prepared myself. “Samantha, sometimes you meet someone and just know they’re meant to be with you somehow. Occasionally, it takes some nudging to get out of your box, for all of us. But the risk is worth it.”

“How can this ever work?” she asked, her eyes turning toward the floor.

“Take a risk with me, Samantha.” I pulled her chin back up so she’d meet my eyes.

“But I don’t even live here,” she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

“I don’t care where you live. I’m not letting you go. You’re meant to be in my life, Samantha. That’s just all there is to it. I think you know it too. Stay through the New Year, and we’ll figure it out. That’s the magic of Christmas, Sam. Anything is possible.”

Instead of replying, she kissed me.

We stood in the hangar like teenagers, sharing a kiss that ended up becoming an annual Christmas tradition for us.

The next day, I looked for Gabe everywhere so that I could tell him everything that had happened and thank him for pushing me to go after what I wanted. But he was gone. I never saw him again. I think his work in Friendship was done. At least for me it was.