Free Believe by Liz Botts Page B

puzzled look, shakes his head, runs a hand through his short hair, and says, "I'm sorry. I have no idea why I did that."
    My mouth drops open. That might have been the single best kiss of my life and he's apologizing for it? "You have no idea why you did what?" I say, dropping my voice to an angry whisper. "Why you kissed me? Well, figure it out, buddy, before you see me again."
    I poke him sharply in the chest before stalking back across the lobby. That's when I notice a group of elderly women watching us from the nearby sitting room. Those that still have decent hearing probably caught most of our little spat. When they see that I’m watching them, they all applaud, causing me to blush.
    One woman fans herself as she calls across the lobby, "Don't be too hard on him, girlie. That was one heck of a kiss!"
    Nick's laughter chases me back to the safety of my grandparents. I don't mention the kiss to them.

Chapter Six
    Â 
    I know I told Nick to essentially figure out his head and heart before calling me again, but why do boys always take that so literally? Not that my experience is so vast, but still.
    Nick has been absolutely MIA for three full days. My grandmother has suggested several times that I call him, but I’m not the one who initiated that soul-searing kiss and then apologized for it. I’ve never been insulted like that before, and I sure as heck expect Nick to come calling to me, not the other way around.
    That’s why when the doorbell rings an hour after dinner, I’m surprised to find Nick standing sheepishly on the front step. A quick glance at Gran tells me she knew he was coming. Gee thanks, I so love being clued in on my own love life.
    â€œWould you like to go for a sleigh ride?”
    For a moment I think Gran has gotten to him and convinced him for me, but then I see Nick gesture to the front lawn, and I check myself. Duh. Of course he doesn’t know. I haven’t even brought up the conversation, save the initial embarrassing marriage proposal. I wonder if he thinks about that like I do.
    When I peer past Nick into the frosty night air, I see a small horse-drawn sleigh sitting next to Gran’s SUV. A beige horse adorned with a fancy red and green harness paws the ground, his breath making frosty puffs in the night air.
    â€œYou really go all out with this Christmas crap, don’t you?” I mutter even as I head to the closet to grab my coat. Nick just chuckles. “Gran, Nick’s taking me for a sleigh ride.”
    â€œOh, good,” Gran says. She appears around the kitchen door, drying her hands on a dishtowel. “I was wondering when—oops.”
    Her cheeks shine faintly pink as she realizes she’s been caught. “Well have a nice time. Dress warmly now. Bring her back early, Nick. I think the weatherman said a storm is coming.”
    She shuts the door firmly behind us before I have a chance to change my mind. I’m still waiting for Nick to say something as he helps me into the sleigh and climbs in after me. While he tucks the blankets around us, I give his leg a little kick to get his attention. With a cocky grin, he settles back and takes the reins. Still, he hasn’t said a word. My irritation level rises. I’m debating what scathing remark to make when Nick laughs, just a low, soft sound that I might have missed if I hadn’t been sitting next to him.
    My irritation boils over. “What? What’s so funny?”
    With a quick flip of the reins, the horse takes off at a leisurely trot. “You.”
    â€œI’m funny? Or just fun to make fun of?”
    All humor leaves Nick’s face, which I watch closely out of the corner of my eye. “I’m not making fun of you.”
    Even though I want to dispute this point, he seems so sincere I let it drop for a minute. We ride along in silence save for the runners of the sled slicing through the freshly fallen snow. The night has a soft, velvety feeling to it, the