I shrugged. “We haven’t discussed that part, but I know she wants to go. I’ll ask her when we get home.”
Brianna patted my arm. “Awesome. Just so you know, it might be a good time to tell her how you feel. That way, when things do look up for her, she’ll stay.”
The way she said it gave me pause. I, especially, didn’t like the sheepish look on her face. “What did you do?”
Clasping her hands together, she popped her knuckles like she always did when she was nervous. “Well … I can’t really explain too much right now. All I can say is that things are about to change.”
Groaning, I ran a hand over my face. “A good change or bad?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, but we’re going to find out soon.”
That was not what I wanted to hear.
Chapter Twelve
Layla
I’d wondered if Colin and I were going to the community Christmas party together, and luckily, he asked if I’d go with him. We’d spent tons of time together this past week, but I still had no clue what was happening between us. It was maddening.
On a brighter note, I had talked to my parents. They promised to never leave again over the holidays.
I was all ready to go when a knock sounded on the front door. I looked at myself one more time in the mirror. It was crazy how so many things had changed. Usually, I’d be dressed in a fancy gown and going to lavish parties. Now I was wearing sweaters, jeans, and boots and going to community Christmas parties. It excited me more than anything.
I hurried downstairs and opened the door. Colin greeted me with that handsomely devilish smile of his and handed me a cup of hot chocolate. “Ready to go?”
The cocoa scent made my mouth water. “I am.”
His grin widened. “Great. Because I have a surprise for you. You’ll need your thick coat.”
I grabbed my other coat and slipped it on. “Is this party outside?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t. Small flakes of snow had already begun to fall, and the temperatures had dropped now that the sun had gone down.
Colin chuckled as we walked to the front of the inn. “No, it’s not outside. You’ll see why in a second.”
When we turned the corner, I gasped in surprise. There was a huge sleigh, decorated in white sparkly lights and garland, sitting behind two midnight-colored horses. Tom, the owner of the Christmas tree farm, waved from the driver’s seat. “Wow. Are we going to the party in that?”
“We are.” Taking my hand, he led me over to the sleigh and helped me in, taking care not to spill my hot chocolate. “Tom just bought the sleigh a few weeks ago and wanted to test it out.”
Tom glanced back at me and smiled. “People have been telling me to do this for years.”
Colin sat beside me, and I moved closer to him. “I couldn’t agree more,” I said. “People who visit will love to take rides in it. Could be a huge moneymaker in the winter.”
Tom nodded and focused back on the horses. “That’s what I’m hoping.”
He clucked his tongue, and the horses took off at a gentle trot. “I swear, it feels like we’re in a Hallmark movie right now,” I said, fascinated by it all. There was nothing more magical than riding into the snow-covered town and looking at all the twinkling lights.
“Does it make you want to stay?” Colin asked, his voice serious.
I met his gaze. “It does, but I can’t stay hidden forever. I’m shocked I’ve been able to for this long. From what I can tell, the media doesn’t know where I am.”
He nodded. “And they won’t. Everyone here knows how important that is to you.”
“Why is it like that? No one really knows me around here.”
Tom pulled up at the community center, and Colin helped me out of the carriage. “But they want to, Layla. There are a lot of people here who want you to stay.”
Music and laughter buzzed from inside the center. We stopped at the door, and I figured it was now or never. “What about you? Do you want me to stay?”
He stared at me, those emerald eyes of his boring into mine. It took my breath away. I waited for his answer, but before he could open his mouth, a group of kids charged outside and into the snow. Colin’s mother saw us and waved for us to come inside. There were people dancing and eating tons of food.