Christmas Candy

by Angela Blake

  “Yes,” Cara hedged. “I have.”

  She wasn’t hesitating because she wasn’t sure. She did want to go. She was reluctant because Jack still felt a bit unsure about the whole thing. It wasn’t that he didn’t want her to be happy. He was just being protective, so he still hadn’t come around to the idea yet, and she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

  Lily, on the other hand, was completely supportive. Maybe it’s because she was a lot more like Cara, a hopeless romantic and at times idealistic.

  Either way, she knew they both had her back regardless.

  “I hope you have fun, Cara. I do.” Jack said sincerely as he ran his hands through his hair making it even more unruly.

  “Why do I sense there’s a but in there?”

  “No buts, don’t worry. I think I’ve given you all the advice I possibly could, the rest is up to you.” Jack shrugged.

  “Hmmm, hey, why is your hair so messy today? Didn’t you brush it this morning?”

  “I must be having one of those bad hair days.” Jack said, smoothly. A little too smoothly.

  Cara raised an eyebrow. “No, that’s not it. It looks like somebody was messing with it or something. Also, why is your shirt untucked? Your zipper’s open too.”

  Jack glanced down in horror. “No, it isn’t.”

  Cara attempted to smother her laughter. “I made you look, and the fact that you did confirms my suspicions.”

  Jack lifted his chin up. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “I’m talking about you taking a long lunch to go meet up with Laura.” Cara waggled her eyebrows. “Exactly where was this lunch?”

  “In the café across the street.”

  Cara laughed. “You guys got it on in the bathroom café, didn’t you?”

  “Why do women always like to discuss these details? Honestly, it makes no sense to me.”

  Cara reached over and nudged his arm. “Because we just do, okay? What can I say. I’ll take your silence as a sign of acquiesance. Must’ve been cold though.”

  “Not really.”

  Jack began to curse as he realized that he had just confirmed what he said, and Cara began to giggle.

  “I’m going to get back to work now.” Jack stood up and gave her a dirty look. “By the way don’t forget that the thanksgiving dinner is in a few days. Lily wanted me to remind you.”

  ***

  “I don’t know what I’m supposed to wear,” Cara complained as she plopped onto the bed, and put her head between her hands.

  She heard a crash, and yelling before Lily came sprinting into the room. “I heard your cry for help, Cara. Don’t worry, I’m here.”

  Cara lifted her head up. “Um, I didn’t ask for your help, Lily.”

  “You said I don’t know what to wear. This is my area of expertise. Leave it all up to me. You’re in good hands.”

  Cara chuckled. “I had no idea that was your name now.”

  ‘There’s many things you don’t know,” Lily informed her as things began flying out of the closet in rapid succession.

  “Lily, you’re messing up my closet. Please stop doing that.”

  Lily tossed her a look over her shoulder that made Cara shut up instantly.

  “You don’t tell Oprah how to do her job. You don’t tell Kim K how to dress, and you don’t tell Lily to stop sifting through your closet.”

  “I liked the Oprah reference there, but Kim K, really?”

  “Love her or hate her, you can’t deny that she’s become a part of mainstream culture.”

  Cara groaned. “Don’t remind me. It’s ridiculous honestly. What’s she famous for, really?”

  Lily emerged with a triumphant grin. “People can judge and pretend to be horrified, but in truth, there’s nothing they like more than a scandal.”

  Lily handed her a knee length long sleeved dress with a pair of black thigh high boots, sheer stockings, and a heavy coat.

  “Where did you find that?”

  Cara fingered the material. She had to admit that Lily was good. She bought that dress a few months ago, but she hadn’t gotten around to wearing it.

  “I told you I’m good.” Lily smiled as she made a shoo motion at Cara who went to the bathroom to get ready.

  ***

  An hour later, Cara felt ready to go out.

  Or, at least ready to get away from Lily who was tackling the task with entirely too much zest to her liking. Cara hated make up. It made her feel very fake, and she was already self-conscious because of her weight.

  “My master piece is complete.” Lily stepped back and gave Cara a once over, admiring her work.

  “You’ll have him drooling by the end of the night.” Lily winked as she handed Cara her coat. The sound of the doorbell rang throughout the apartment.

  “I’ll go get the door, you wait for like two minutes then come out.”

  Cara could hear Lily talking to Jack, and she felt the butterflies take hold in her stomach. She hadn’t been this nervous since their first date. She swung her purse over her shoulder, took a deep breath and stepped out.

  Jack was wearing a form fitting black sweater, his hair was brushed neatly to the side, and he had on a pair of dark jeans plus boots.

  Lily stepped aside and smiled. “There she is.”

  Jack’s eyes widened, and he gulped as he drank in the sight of her. “You look amazing.”

  Cara blushed. “Thank you.”

  He held out his hand to reveal a bouquet of white and red roses. Her favorite. Cara gave him an ear splitting grin, and inhaled the smell.

  “I love these. They’re my favorite.”

  “I know. I remember you saying that.”

  She had mentioned it so often, but Jack had never bothered with it before. He claimed it was because flowers ended up dying anyways, so it was a pointless gift. It was a pragmatic view, but Cara hated it.

  So what if she wanted flowers?

  She shook her thoughts away, and handed Lily the bouquet, mouthing a thank you as she put on her coat. Lily gave her some thumbs up, and practically kicked them both out.

  “So, where are we going?” Curiosity was getting the better of her.

  “It’s a surprise. Do you trust me?” Jack lead her down the stairs and to his car. He opened the car door for her, and helped her in. Jack ran around to the other side, and stepped in.

  “I do trust you.”

  Jack rubbed his hands together, and gave her a smile. “Good because you’re going to have to put on a blindfold.”

  Cara raised an eyebrow. “Is this the part where you reveal that your intention is actually to your wicked way with me then dump my body in the river?”

  Jack barked out a laugh. “You watch way too much tv. No, I don’t plan on dumping your body in the river. The former however, well.”

  Jack pinned her with a smoldering look. “I can’t promise I won’t try that.”

  Cara flushed to the tips of her toes. “Oh.”

  Jack leaned over, his hot breath dancing across her face. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”

  Cara nodded, and held her breath as Jack gently placed the blindfold over her face. He took her hand in his, and brought it up to his lips for a sweet kiss before he released it and started the engine.

  ***

  “No way!” Cara exclaimed as she took in her surroundings.

  They were inside a Jackl with a huge skating rink in the middle, but it wasn’t just any rink. The entire Jackl was decorated in green and red to symbolize Christmas season, and festive music blared over the speakers.

  “It’s where we came for our first date, remember?” Jack wrapped his arm around her from behind.

  Cara leaned into his touch. “I remember. It was going so well until you decided to try and show off.”

  “I was trying to impress you,” Jack revealed, his breath dancing across her neck. “I had no idea you’d try to copy me and end up twisting your ankle.”

  Cara laughed at the memory. “To b
e fair, I did dump chili cheese fries all over your clothes afterwards.”

  “Serves me right for trying to make fun of you.”

  “Waste of perfectly good chili cheese fries though,” Cara mused as she took his hand and lead him to the rink. “Are you ready to get your ass kicked again, Frost?”

  Jack winked at her. “I seem to remember things differently. You’re on, Tyler.”

  Chapter Ten

  Cara had a hard time remembering when was the last time she had this much fun with Jack.

  In fact, she doubted they ever had this kind of connection with each other.

  They were being open, honest and vulnerable with each other in a way that Cara had dared only dream about.

  She never let herself get that far because she always convinced that as long as she was with Jack then it was enough.

  Back then, it didn’t matter that she only got like seventy percent of him. She tried to persuade herself that it was for the best. That it was still more than fifty percent which was better than nothing. Most people didn’t even get that much

  She tried to be grateful, and most days she was alright with just that much.

  Nonetheless, there were days when the quiet voice in her head gently spoke and reminded her that she would never be fully happy knowing that he kept her at arm’s length.

  A lot of people might be willing to settle for that, but she wasn’t most people. She wanted it all. The scars, the flaws, the ugly crying at three in the morning because he can’t handle it anymore. The irritation after a long day at work, and the five am confessions when the sun is bleeding back into reality, and all the whispered secrets he kept tucked inside his heart.

  There were rare moments when she got to witness that, and maybe it was greedy wanting more, and wanting it to be like that all the time. If that was the case, then so be it.

  She’d rather be selfish and happy than selfless and miserable in that scenario.

  For the first time since they started dating, there were no buts.

  Before, whenever Lily or Jack would ask if her if she was happy with Jack, she’d say yes, and it was usually followed by a but.

  There were no more buts though.

  She had never felt freer.

  As she massaged her ankle, Cara discreetly watched as Jack skated with reckless abandon. The kind of impulsiveness that drew her to him in the first place. When he let go like that, it was a beautiful thing to behold. His entire expression changed, and it became more open. His body language softened, and he became approachable.

  And his eyes?

  His eyes were the best part. It was like the curtains were drawn back, and she could see the light shining through.

  He threw his arms out and howled at the moon.

  “Hey, Teen Wolf!” Cara called out. “Do you want to get us kicked out?”

  Jack smiled as he cupped his hand over his mouth. “Come on. Don’t be a chicken.”

  “That won’t work, Jack. What are you, five?” Cara rolled her eyes as she brought her other leg up and crossed it over the first one. She began to massage the other ankle.

  “Oh, I see. So, you can’t come up with a comeback, so you fall back on the classic ‘it’s not going to work on me’ line. How original of you.”

  Jack skidded to a stop before her, his brown eyes sparkling mischievously.

  “I’m not trying to come up with a comeback, and it’s not a line. It’s the truth.”

  “Yes, sure. If you say so, Car.” Jack crossed his arm over his chest, and gave her a playful wink.

  “Are you calling my bluff, Frost?”

  “You bet your sweet ass I am. Now, are you going to get over here, and prove me wrong?”

  Cara pretended to think. “I’ll think about it.”

  Jack began to make clucking noises at her as he flapped his arm about.

  “You look ridiculous.”

  “Says the woman who let a little girl draw all over her face. It looks like a makeup kit threw up all over you.”

  Cara grimaced. She probably shouldn’t have let that little girl do that, but she felt so bad for her. She fell down while she was trying to skate, and she was sitting on the side looking so miserable, and Cara couldn’t help it.

  She felt instinctively drawn to help, and even though she sighed as she skated towards her, the smile she got in the end was worth it.

  At least, that’s what she kept telling herself whenever she caught a glimpse of what happened to stop from gaping in horror.

  The little girl was still there, waving excitedly at her, so she couldn’t go wipe it off. Yet.

  She looked like an extra in one of those Hollywood parody movies. An extra who was either killed off, or her make up went horribly wrong.

  “Shut up,” Cara grumbled as she resisted the urge to wipe it off her face.

  “Oooh, hit a nerve, did I?” Jack teased as he moved closer to her. He was literally an inch away from where she was, and Cara suddenly became aware of their proximity, and how good he smelled.

  “Don’t flatter yourself.” Cara rolled her eyes.

  “Oh, but I do quite often. Still, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t as well.”

  Cara raised an eyebrow. “And why would I?”

  “Because I’m very kissable.”

  It was an inside joke between them. On one of their very first dates, Cara had a little bit too much to drink, and she began to complain about how unfair it was that he was so easy to kiss. She coined the term kissable.

  “I can see that.”

  “I do however like to do this.” Jack pulled Cara, so she was flush against his chest. Her heavy breathing lingered between them both as they had a silent conversation with her eyes.

  “Is that so?” Cara murmured.

  “Is it not obvious?” Jack whispered as he rested his hand on the sJackl of her back.

  “I might need a sign or two,” Cara teased.

  “I think I can do that.”

  “We should get back to it,” Cara said as she tugged on his hand. Jack took her hand in his, and brought it up to his lips for a sweet kiss.

  “Your wish is my command.” Jack wrapped his arms around her, and buried his face in her hair.

  “I missed this,” Cara admitted as she placed her head in the crook of his neck. “You smell nice.”

  “It’s called soap,” Jack joked as he ran his fingers through her hair, rubbing the scalp in slow soothing motions.

  “Ah, I’ve heard of that. A useful invention.”

  “Oh, yes, very much so.”

  Cara placed a soft kiss on his neck. “I don’t think I know how to use it.”

  She felt Jack swallow heavily. “Well, it’s pretty simple really. You just take the bar of soap in your hands, and put water on it.”

  “Then what?”

  “Well, you begin to scrub your body with it. Up and down. Sideways. Any way you want actually.”

  “All the nooks and crannies?” Cara whispered as she brought her hand up to rest on his back.

  “Oh, especially those. The hidden crevices too.”

  Cara’s chest vibrated with laughter. “How very thorough of you.”

  “What can I say? I like to do a good job.”

  “I can see that. Sounds very slippery though.”

  Jack pulled back and gave her a wicked grin. “You have no idea. Now, let’s go skate before I start doing things that’ll get us kicked out.”

  “Not such a bad idea,” Cara mused as she let him lead her back to the rink.

  ***

  Cara choked on her drink as hot chocolate came out of her nostrils. Jack chuckled as he handed her a napkin.

  Cara mopped up her face, and glared at him accusingly. “Next time you want to tell me a funny story, can you wait till the drink is safely down my throat?”

  Jack took a sip of his cocoa and sighed. “I could, but where’s the fun in that?”

  “Well, you don’t get to see this embarrassing display of—” Cara gestured at hers
elf as she struggled to find the word for it. “Chocolate?”

  Jack gave her a look. “That’s the best you can come up with? Really?”

  “Oh, like you can do better.” Cara dabbed at the spill on her shirt and frowned as it wouldn’t come off.

  “Here, let me help.” Jack placed their cups on the table, and gently took the napkin from her. He began to scrub lightly, the heat from his fingers seeping through her coat. Suddenly, the fabric between them seemed to be too much and too little all at once.

  Cara’s breath came out in puffs as they sat outside, enjoying the chilly night air.

  “So, what’s the verdict, doctor?” Cara asked.

  “I did everything I could,” Jack said, seriously as he lifted his face up. “I’m afraid the rest is up to the patient now.”

  “Will it live?” The corners of Cara’s mouth threatened to turn into a grin.

  “I think the odds are in your favor,” Jack confirmed as he crumpled up the napkin and tossed it into the nearest bin.

  Something wet fell on her hair.

  Confused, Cara reached back, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it had begun to snow. A light shower of white began to sprinkle from the sky.

  Cara gasped as she titled her head back, and stuck her tongue. “It’s snowing.”

  She smiled as she closed her mouth around the flake, and her tongue pushed it around to try to see how it tastes.

  Jack was eyeing her with amusement and affection. A tender look that softened his features.

  “What?” Cara asked self-consciously.

  “You’re beautiful, Cara. I know you don’t think you are, but believe me you are. I’ve known it since the moment I met you. I was an idiot to have gambled that away.”

  Cara took his hand in hers and squeezed. “We’re here now.”

  “Yes, and I am thankful for that. I know I haven’t earned your trust back completely, but I hope I’m on the right track.”

  “You are,” Cara assured him as she stood up and began to gather snow in her hands.

  “What are you doing?” Jack asked, confusion lacing his tone.