The elf snapped a couple of photos, then smiled brightly. “All right, off with you both to find Mrs. Claus and her tray of Christmas cookies.” She spoke to them like they were the same age as everyone else in the line.
“Don’t I get to tell Santa my wish?” Will frowned at the elf.
“Oh, of course, young man.” Her tone reminded Lauren of a preschool teacher. “Go right ahead.”
He shooed Lauren off with the bubbly little elf and took a seat right on the old man’s lap. Santa grunted under the weight of him and the children at the front of the line pointed and giggled. Will leaned toward Santa, cupped a hand in front of his mouth and whispered into the old man’s ear. Santa responded quietly and after a quick conversation, Will clapped him on the shoulder and stood.
“Have yourself a merry Christmas, Santa.” Will gave a quick salute, then joined Lauren off to the side.
“Super-secret Santa business?”
He grinned. “I’ll never tell.
They continued through the village and found Mrs. Claus, a plump, older woman who looked like the grandma in a Christmas movie. “Merry Christmas! Would you like a cookie?” She smiled as she held up a tray.
“These look incredible.” Will reached over and took one. “Did you make these yourself or did you have one of the elves do it for you?”
The old woman laughed. “This is a family recipe.”
He took a bite. “Mmm, it might be the best cookie I’ve ever had.”
Lauren took a cookie and thanked Mrs. Claus, marveling at Will’s joy. She tried to find fault with it, but it felt genuine. He seemed authentically happy to be in that exact place at that exact moment.
They walked over to a small prop house decorated on the outside with large cardboard candies in festive colors. Another elf stood behind a counter, clicking around on a computer.
“Ah-ha, there we go,” the elf said. “Your photos are ready.” He nodded down to an iPad.
“I don’t care what they look like,” Will said. “I’m buying them.”
“I probably had my eyes closed.” Lauren followed him over to the counter. “I usually do.”
But she didn’t have her eyes closed. She wasn’t even looking at the camera. Instead, her eyes were fully open and entirely fixed on Will, a small smile and an undeniable look of admiration on her face. Her stomach bottomed out.
What the. . .?
“It’s great!” Will cheerfully pointed. “You actually look like you don’t hate me.”
“I’m a good actor.” But even she knew she wasn’t fooling anyone. He was being kind choosing not to embarrass her because he absolutely could’ve teased her for weeks over this.
Will ordered two prints, and when they popped out of the printer, he handed one to her.
“A memento of that time you went on a cross-country Christmas road trip with your good old friend, Will Sinclair.” He smiled, then added, “I think they have elf ears in the gift shop. Let’s go get some.”
She couldn’t help it—she laughed. He was funny when he wasn’t being annoying, and she was beginning to realize he was being annoying far less than he’d been at the start of this trip.
And that revelation scared her to death.
Chapter 20
Lauren warmed her hands on the heating vent of Will’s Jeep. “If we’re going to be friends, we have to compromise a little. I’ve put up with your serious lack of a plan, your detours, your stopping at every single old gas station—”
“Vintage gas station—” he interjected.
She ignored him. “—between here and LA. Maybe we could do a day that actually sticks to a schedule?”
Will tapped the steering wheel with his thumb and pretended to consider Lauren’s request. “I don’t know,” he said, as if he was twelve, deciding whether or not to trade baseball cards with another kid. “That doesn’t sound fun to me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Everything doesn’t have to be fun. Everything isn’t fun.”
“To you.”
She sighed. “I want to get home before Helen has the baby. Can today be just about making really good time?”
If he had horn-rimmed glasses, he would’ve looked over them. “I’ll consider it.”
I won’t consider it.
How could he when there was still so much to see?
Now that he and Lauren were friends, or at least friendly, the trip became far more enjoyable. A bit more like a vacation, though he wouldn’t tell her so. He didn’t want to rush through this, wherever it may lead.