Page 87 of Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane
Oh, she’s never going to let me live this one down.
Sam cleared his throat and stepped back. “Yeah, so, um, that’s what I meant by the ‘lean’ thing.” He grabbed the bingo cage off the shelf. “But maybe just ask James if he’s eaten any peanuts recently before…you guys…you know.”
“Sure. Yeah.” I tucked my hair behind my ears and grabbed the master board. “I’ll do that.”
Right after I crawl under the nearest Christmas tree and stuff myself into one of the fake presents for the remainder of the season.
You’re literally going on a real date tonight, Gianna.
And you just tried to kiss your best friend.
Again.
I followed him back to the stage, acting as natural as possible, despite the fact that half the town and most of my family just watched the two of us exit the closet together.
Totally normal.
Nothing to see here, folks.
“But, I mean, as long as he brushed his teeth afterward, he’s good. It’s not like I’d ask him to completely give them up for me.” I laid out the board between us before taking my seat again. “My own family hasn’t even done that.”
Sam rolled the cage a couple of times. “I did.”
“You did…what?”
“Gave up peanuts for you,” he said simply before pulling out the first ball and calling it aloud, but all I heard was white noise.
Sam gave up peanuts for me.
Sam gave up peanuts for me?
When?
How had I not noticed this?
My mind spun backward in time so fast, I had to put both my hands on the table to steady myself.
Think, Gianna. Think.
When is the last time you remember a conversation about Sam and peanut butter?
Early December?
No.
October?
Or is it September?
Yes. That’s it.
He had come to the cafeteria a little late that day because of a makeup test, and when he opened his packed lunch, Jo said his sandwich smelled different.
Sam had held it up triumphantly, and replied, “It is! I switched to sunflower butter.”
Oh gosh.
I turned and watched him continue to roll the cage and pull another ball out as if he hadn’t just dropped a major truth bomb on me.
