Page 14 of Brewing Up Christmas
“You busy?” Angelina asked, glancing at the customers filling the bar.
“Not really,” Eli said, wiping his hands on a towel before leaning against the counter. “What’s going on?”
Angelina’s smile softened, but there was an edge to her expression that made Eli’s pulse quicken. She took a deep breath, glancing around the bar before meeting his gaze. “You’ve done an incredible job, Eli. The town’s Christmas spirit is almost at its peak, but...”
“But?” Eli echoed, his brows knitting together.
Angelina’s eyes flicked toward the door, then back to him. “There’s one more thing. One final task you need to complete if you really want to solidify the town’s spirit.”
Eli frowned, straightening slightly. “I thought the meter was full.”
“It was,” Angelina said, her voice soft but serious. “But holiday spirit isn’t just about decorations and lights. It’s about bringing people together, doing something that reminds them what Christmas is really about.”
Eli’s heart thudded in his chest as he watched her, trying to process what she was saying. “So... what is it? What do I need to do?”
Angelina’s expression softened, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “There’s one final act of kindness that needs to be done. Something that will bring the whole town together, something meaningful.”
Eli’s mind raced. He had already put up the tree, helped decorate the entire town, and made sure the holiday spirit was everywhere he turned. What more could there be?
“What kind of act of kindness?” he asked, his voice quieter now.
Angelina stepped closer, her voice lowering. “You’ll know it when you see it, Eli. But it has to come from you. From your heart.”
Eli stared at her, his pulse quickening as her words sank in. This wasn’t just about the town anymore. It was about something bigger, something he hadn’t even realized he’d been working toward.
“And if I do this,” Eli said, his voice almost a whisper, “you’ll... come back?”
Angelina’s eyes softened, and for a moment, he thought he saw something vulnerable flicker behind them. She nodded slowly. “If you complete this task, I’ll be back. More than just for visits.”
The weight of her words settled over Eli, and he felt his heart tighten in his chest. He hadn’t realized how much he’d come to care about her until this moment. It wasn’t just about the magic, the holiday spirit, or even the town—it was abouther. And the thought of her walking away for good was enough to make his stomach churn.
Angelina smiled gently, reaching out to touch his arm, her fingers light against his sleeve. “You’re so close, Eli. I know you’ll figure it out.”
For a long moment, they stood there in the soft glow of the bar’s lights, the laughter and conversations of the patrons fading into a distant hum. It was like the world had narrowed down to just the two of them—Eli and Angelina, standing face to face with so much unsaid hanging in the air between them.
Eli’s mind was spinning, trying to process everything she’d just told him. One final act of kindness. One last task to solidify the town’s spirit. He could feel the weight of it, pressing down on him, heavier than he expected. This wasn’t just about decorating trees or hanging snowflakes anymore—this was something bigger. But beyond the challenge, beyond the magic and holiday spirit, there was something else eating at him.
He wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her.
That thought hit him harder than anything else, settling like a knot in his chest. He hadn’t even realized how much he’d come to rely on her presence—her wit, her teasing smiles, the way she always seemed to know exactly what to say to push him just a little bit further. She’d come into his life like a whirlwind, turning everything upside down, and now the idea of her leaving—reallyleaving—made his stomach twist.
His eyes lingered on her, taking in every detail as if he was trying to memorize her face. The soft glow from the Christmas lights outside cast a warm hue over her skin, and her dark eyes, usually filled with playful mischief, were watching him carefully, like she was waiting for him to say something. He could feel the pull between them, that unspoken connection that had been there from the start, but this time it felt different. Deeper.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Eli admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Angelina’s smile softened, and she took a step closer, her hand resting lightly on his arm. “You’ve already done more than you think, Eli. You’ve brought the town back to life.”
“But what if that’s not enough?” he asked, his chest tightening. “What if... what if I don’t want things to goback to the way they were? What if I don’t want you to go?”
He hadn’t meant to say it, but the words slipped out before he could stop them. His heart raced, and for a split second, he thought he saw something flicker in Angelina’s eyes—something vulnerable, something that mirrored the way he was feeling. But then it was gone, replaced by that same, calm confidence she always wore like armor.
“Things always change, Eli,” she said softly, her voice steady, but there was a hint of sadness beneath the surface. “That’s part of life.”
Eli swallowed, his throat tight. He knew she was right—things couldn’t stay the same forever. The magic, the mission, everything had been leading to this moment. But that didn’t make it any easier.
“I just don’t know what’s next,” he admitted, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before meeting hers again. “I don’t know how to do this without you.”
Angelina’s fingers brushed lightly against his arm, a comforting touch that sent warmth through him despite the cold air outside. “You’ve always had it in you, Eli,” she said softly. “You just needed a push to see it. And this town? It’s better because of you. You’ve made a difference.”
