“It’s Christmas. Of course.”
He smiled. “I don’t know why I asked. Why don’t I just help you with your tree? Then I can keep my place clean. Do you get a real one or fake?”
“Real.”
“I’m allergic,” he said, wincing.
She laughed. “Fake it is. Where’s your list?”
His smile made her feel like they were back on easy footing. Even though she wanted to ask about his date, she didn’t want to change the tone.
Wes pulled his phone from his back pocket. “Right here. I need to get something for Ari, my mom, Grace, and Everly.” He put his phone away, looked at her. “And you. But not while you’re here.”
Her stomach plummeted. She couldn’t shop in his price bracket. “We don’t have to exchange gifts.”
Plus, what if by Christmas, he was with Ana? She didn’t seem like the type of woman who wanted her boyfriend buying his female friend a gift.
“What will you put under your tree?” He tugged a lock of her hair gently, smiling at her with an affection that put her both at ease and on edge.
“Presents for Piper’s family.”
“We can do a limit if that’s what you’re worried about. It can be free. We can make our own.”
She narrowed her gaze at him, then started walking. “Unless you want a meal for Christmas, I don’t know about that. But I like the price cap thing.”
They agreed on an amount, making her feel better. She loved giving gifts. Apparently, Wes did, too. He held up two Kate Spade bags, one in pink, one canary yellow.
“Should I get Ari both of these?” He didn’t even look at the price.
“Does she love bold colors?” Hailey picked up a soft blue shoulder bag.
“Absolutely. The bolder the better. She’s … vibrant. Like our mother.”
“Your voice changes when you talk about them. It gets softer, more affectionate. Why don’t you invite them for the holidays?”
“Can I take those to the cash register for you, sir?” An attendant appeared at Wes’s side.
He passed the purses. “Yes, thank you.”
The woman looked at Hailey. “Excellent choices, ma’am.”
Wes smiled at Hailey when the woman walked away. “Do you want one?”
Her eyes widened. “What? No.”
“Wow.” He leaned in, his breath tickling her skin. “You really don’t like Kate Spade.”
She poked him in the arm. “Shh. I do so but I don’t want you to buy me a purse.”
He nodded, still smiling. “Noted. No purses.”
Not what she meant but good enough.
Hailey did her best to swallow down the question that kept trying to pop out of her mouth. As she looked at gorgeous trinkets without seeing them, she finally asked, “How was last night?”
He picked up a blue wallet, similar to the color of the purse she’d put down. “It was fine. What I thought it would be. I met clients, made small talk. I did get a chance to talk to someone who’s worked with my father recently. That was an interesting conversation.”
Hailey swallowed around the thickness in her throat. He didn’t sound overly enamored. It’s none of your business. But it is. You’d ask if it were Fiona. Friends ask questions. Friends are all about the details. “Will you go out with her again?”
Wes was staring at her, that little V forming between his brows. “No. Not like I think you mean. Do you not like Ana?”
Hailey put her hand on her chest, like she could push back the guilt. “Me? Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” Way to sound chill.
Wes’s brows arched. “I’m not sure.”
Hailey tried to laugh it off as they walked to the register. “Ana is great. You guys look fantastic together.”
He gave her another strange look. “Just what I’m looking for in a partner, someone who looks good at my side.” His tone was dry but he was still looking at her like he didn’t understand something.
Join the club. I don’t understand me right now either. “Speaking of dates,” she said too loudly. “I have one Friday night.” Why? Why did you say that?
His gaze darted past her head, his jaw giving a subtle twitch. “That’s great,” Wes said. For one millisecond, she thought maybe he was questioning their status as well but then he looked at her and smiled. His real smile.
There you go. He’s happy for you. Because friendship is all there is between you two. Which was perfect because it was all she wanted.