A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,9

about everything. Having spent months agonising about Adam’s feelings for me, it’s actually quite a relief that he’s laid his cards on the table. I could have gone on for months, thinking Adam and I were getting closer and heading for something romantic.

In fact, I’m starting to feel thankful that things came to a head last night…because now that I know where I stand with Adam, I can start moving forward…

I draw into the car park opposite the Brambleberry Manor Café, lock the car and hurry over to the entrance, full of firm resolve. Nothing and no-one is going to stop me moving forward into my shining new future.

I’m about to enter the café when the door suddenly surges open and I find myself stumbling forwards – right into Adam’s arms.

‘Hey, you’re in a hurry this morning,’ he laughs, catching me around my waist.

I paste on a smile. ‘Oh, well, you know…always keen to get to work. That’s me.’ My throat is as dry as cat litter and my heart is pumping so hard, he can probably see the reverberations through my top.

‘Are you okay?’ he asks, his blue eyes full of concern as he studies me. ‘I took you at your word and didn’t call last night because I didn’t want to disturb you.’

And you went to the pub and chatted up my sister instead!

‘I’m fine, thanks,’ I mumble, as a confusion of emotions tumbles through me. I need to get away from him, but the feel of his hands still resting casually on my waist is so unbearably tantalising…

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes. Honestly.’ I’m nodding so hard, I’m afraid my head might fall off.

‘I think the wine loosened my tongue last night,’ he says, finally letting me go, and in spite of everything, I feel a pang of loss. It feels cold where his hands were. ‘I hope you didn’t mind me confessing all, about Krystle?’

‘No! No, of course not.’ The nausea has returned with a vengeance. ‘That’s what friends are for.’ I’m beaming at him like I’m a bandage short of a First Aid kit. ‘Anyway…um…must dash, Adam. Better not be late.’ I dive inside and hurry straight over to the Ladies, grateful that no-one’s around, wanting to chat.

Closing the door, I flump back against it, feeling emotionally drained.

Who the hell am I kidding, thinking I can just box up my feelings for Adam and slide them into a drawer? Out of sight and out of mind? I don’t think so. He works next-door, for goodness’ sake. Avoiding him will be impossible, and if I’m bumping into him all the time, how am I ever going to get over him and move on?

After tomorrow, I’ll be at home the rest of December, while Krystle takes over at the cafe. But every time I step outside the flat, I’ll be worried I’m going to bump into him around the village. My throat closes up and a tear leaks out. But I brush it away. I can’t allow this to dominate my life.

But running away from the bomb site that is my life has never, ever seemed so appealing…

*****

The day drags. My grey mood weighs me down, and not even Bertha, my colleague, can cheer me up. (I tell her I’ve got a hang-over, which is sort of true.)

I’m so tired, I even think of cancelling Maddy, but the desire to offload on someone who knows me well is too strong. So at five-forty-five sharp, I’m sitting at a table in Carlo’s, waiting for her to arrive.

She walks in and I know by her face she can tell something’s up. I relate my sorry tale, trying to make a joke of it, but I know she’s not fooled.

‘Stupid bugger,’ she says, frowning and grabbing the wine bottle.

‘I know. I am,’ I agree mournfully.

‘Not you. Adam.’ She sloshes wine into my glass. ‘He’s shot himself in the foot, of course, because he hasn’t a hope in hell with Krystle.’

‘Why not?’

‘She’s just come out of a serious relationship. She’s not going to want to dive into another one straight away, is she?’

‘I don’t know.’ I shrug uselessly. ‘Maybe Adam is the right man for her. Maybe she and Ryan had to split up for her to realise it.’

Madison snorts. ‘You’ve been watching far too many chick flicks. No, real life dictates that there’s no happy ending here. Unless our hero finally comes to his senses and realises he’s got a gorgeous, funny, caring potential girlfriend right here in front of his nose,