Chapter 36—Jackson

Jackson was clearing away some of the first gingerbread house contest entries. He lined them up on the bar as people finished so that customers could vote on their favorites as they came in. Tess and Mr. Cyprus had left about an hour ago after each taking the biggest cocoas Jackson could make for them. He still wasn’t able to process the news.

He wanted to tell Andi. She was probably gone or getting ready to be gone by now. Tess told him she was coming back later to get her stuff, but she didn’t say when. Plus, Jackson was pretty sure Nat was upstairs clearing out the apartment anyway. She was probably avoiding him now—just like she’d been avoiding Tim before. He assumed that meant she was going to take Tim back after all. Hadn’t he expected that outcome all along? Why was he so upset about it?

He should be celebrating. His business was going to make it. He didn’t have the skills to get the lines out the door like Andi had done, but thanks to her and the grandma squad, he did have a few recipes he thought he could handle. It was something. And it was his. No Zack.

It was just that, as happy and relieved as he was, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. Or maybe someone. He knew it was all just temporary before he started. But somehow, he’d convinced himself there was room for growth. Room for—something.

“Dude, you look miserable,” Adam said. He was sitting in the shop, waiting for Nat to come back down with the rest of her stuff. The two must have really hit it off. Adam was driving Nat back to Ft. Charles tonight.

“I’m fine,” Jackson said, waving off the remark.

“You don’t look fine. Just call her,” Adam said.

“There’s no point. She’s back with her ex.”

“You sure about that?”

“I saw them,” Jackson said. “The way she chased after him—it didn’t look like she was done to me.”

“I don’t think you have all the facts,” Adam argued.

“It doesn’t matter,” Jackson said. “If she wanted anything more, don’t you think she’d be here?”

“Seriously?” Adam asked him. “Look around, man. She’s everywhere in this room. None of this would be what it is without her. Those houses you’re putting away, she baked those after she saw her ex. She rallied half the town together after her little run-in with what’s-his-face. Why would she do all of that?”

“I don’t know,” Jackson said with a shrug. “Maybe she just felt sorry for me.”

Adam shook his head. “When you feel bad for someone, you buy them a coffee or get them a card. You don’t build a team to try to help save their whole business.”

Did he have a point? Jackson wasn’t sure anymore.

“Still,” he said to Adam. “She isn’t here. I think, romantically speaking, that tells us where I stand. So, I’ll send her a thank you card or something. Seems like you’ll be seeing lots of Nat. I’ll just send it with you,” Jackson said, trying to change the subject.

Adam smiled. “Yeah, let’s hope. But seriously. You should talk to Andi. Just try.”

“I’ll think about it,” Jackson said.

Adam nodded toward the window with an eyebrow raised. “Better think fast,” he said.

Jackson followed his gaze to see Andi standing outside of the shop’s doors. When their eyes locked, she gave a shy wave. Jackson walked to the door. His stomach suddenly clinched with nerves and excitement at the sight of her. He held the door open for her and she walked through.

“Hi,” she said. She scanned the room before walking over to stand between the Christmas tree and the fireplace.

“I didn’t know you were still here,” he said. He took a few steps closer.

“I wanted to talk to you, but I’ve been out here trying to work up the nerve,” she said.

“I want to talk to you, too,” he said. “Adam, can you—” he started.

Nat walked up behind Adam then and waved Jackson away. “We’ve got it covered for a few. Go,” she said with a bright, wide smile. Adam offered Jackson a dramatic eyebrow wag. Jackson shook his head at the pair before gesturing back to the door and ushering Andi outside. The snow was falling lightly, so the two stayed on the sidewalk under the awning.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he said. “I get it. Our plan got really messed up at the end. For what it’s worth, I still don’t think you should take Tim back. I’m not saying you have to choose me. Or even that that was a thought in your head...But that guy isn’t good enough for you. You deserve the best—the whole world. And he isn’t it.”

“Tim is gone. You left before you could see me give him back his ring last night.” Andi said. “That’s the only reason I chased him. I wanted it to be done. There was never a second that I thought about taking him back. Just so you know.”

Jackson nodded, not sure what else to do or say.

“But since we’re giving advice here,” Andi went on, “Zack isn’t a good business partner for you. I know you have a soft spot for him, but honestly, he’s bad news. It’s not just me. Everyone thinks so.” Andi looked down at her hands.

“He is,” Jackson agreed. “That’s why I tossed him out earlier.”

“You did?” Andi looked up and her eyes widened.

“Yep. It’s part of a longer story, which I will gladly tell you later. If you stay for me to tell it. Or are you heading back to Ft. Charles?” he asked.

He stepped closer—just a small step—like she was drawing him in.

“Well, that’s kind of what I want to talk to you about.” Was she stepping closer, too, or was he imagining things?

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Well, I have a crazy idea,” she said. “I came here to talk to you because I have to at least try right? I mean, I couldn’t just leave without at least trying to convince you. And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll go. But promise me you’ll hear me out, okay?”

“Of course,” Jackson said, gesturing for her to continue.

“I know it hasn’t been very long, but the time I’ve spent here has changed a lot for me. Honestly, it’s changed everything. In the best way. I really like spending time with you. We make a great team. I think that we should team up. Or I think we should keep teaming up. I can rent space from you in your kitchen. I can run my business from there. I can also bake things for the coffee shop. You can buy them from me—or it can be part of my rent somehow. But it would solve your problem. And it would solve mine. You were right I don't want an entire bakery that I run and do all by myself. I just want to make a living by making people good food. And I've decided that I want to do that in Cherry Creek.”

Jackson stood motionless. He was trying to process what she was saying.

“You want to rent space for me at The Cozy Cup? And you want to bake for my coffee shop?”

Andi looked sheepish. “Maybe that's too bold,” she said. She began pacing a small path in front of him. “Maybe that's too presumptuous? It just seemed like something that could help us both.”

“Why Cherry Creek?” he asked her.

“I can't really explain it,” she said. “There's just something about this place. I just feel happy when I'm here. I feel like I belong here. Is that weird?”

“No,” he said. “I understand what you mean exactly.”

“So, what do you think?” she asked him. “Am I crazy? If this is crazy, just tell me now. Just tell me to get lost. And I'll go away and always remember the last two weeks fondly."

“Before we go down this road,” he began. He stuffed both hands into his pockets to stop himself from fidgeting. “I have to tell you something else. And it may make you change your mind, but I can’t not say this to you.”

“What?” Andi asked. Her face crumpled in confusion.

“I really like you,” he blurted. “I think about you all the time. I want to be around you. When I thought you left, I was—well—heartbroken. I know that sounds impossible. And it probably freaks you out. To be honest, it freaks me out a little, too. But it’s true. And I can’t let you come here or leave here without telling you how I feel. Because if you lived here...I’d be overjoyed. But I’d be happier if you were—if we were—”

He wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence. He just looked into her deep brown eyes, begging her to say anything so that he didn’t keep trying to find the right words.

“I’ve never met anyone like you,” she said in response. “You’ve been so kind. So generous. So warm. So... wonderful,” she said, seeming to find the right word after a second.

“But?” Jackson asked, feeling like he knew where this was headed.

Andi’s eyes lit up.

“There is no but,” she laughed. “There’s an and.”

“And what is it?” he asked. The suspense was too much.

“You asked me why Cherry Creek,” she said. “And the reason I just gave you was true. But there’s one more that I’m just afraid to tell you.”

“What?”

“It’s Cherry Creek because of you. Because I’m constantly thinking of you, too. Because I can’t forget that kiss either. Because I can see a future with you, despite the fact that I haven’t known you that long,” she said as if it should be obvious. “I don’t know anything for certain. But I know that the last week and a half with you—I’ve been happier than I can remember being in a long time. It’s like—like when I found you, I found me, too.” She broke eye contact and looked down at her hands for a second.

Then she seemed to bolster herself. She looked him in the eye again and stepped closer, reaching for his hands. He pulled them from his pockets and handed them to her. “Maybe we’re both crazy,” she said with a shrug. “But I’m learning that I’d rather be crazy on my own path than lose myself entirely on someone else’s.”

“So, you really want to be here? And you really want to be...here?” Jackson asked, tilting his head toward the coffee shop. He examined her hands nestled inside his own, enjoying the warmth of her touch.

“Yeah,” she said with a grin. “I really do.” She was nodding happily. “I’ll have to find a place to live, of course. Know of any places for rent?” she asked with a laugh.

“You know, I think I have a lead on a newly vacated apartment. But you’ll have to put up with a really obnoxious neighbor,” he said.

Andi scrunched up her face as if she were considering the idea. “I bet he’s not so bad.”

As she inched nearer to him, finally closing most of the gap, all he could think about was pulling her close and pressing his lips to hers. Instead, he just stood there, holding her hands, and taking in her beautiful face—not willing to move in case it was some strange dream he’d wake up from.

“Oh,” he said. His head shook as a thought occurred to him. “How are you going to explain this to your parents?” he asked.

“I don’t think they’ll be all that surprised,” she said. “It was kind of my mom who opened my eyes. If you can believe that.”

He couldn’t. But he was so glad for whatever she’d said.

They stood there for a few moments, staring at each other while the huge, colorful tree sparkled through the window next to them.

“Jackson?” Andi asked, breaking the silence.

“Yeah?”

“Are you ever going to kiss me?” Her eyes were playfully narrowed, and she barely suppressed a grin.

“It’s kind of all I’ve been thinking about,” he admitted. His heartbeat picked up its pace. He felt that familiar jolt of excitement that coursed through him when she smiled in his direction.

Andi bit her bottom lip and looked up at him. “What are you waiting for?” she whispered.

Without another word or thought, he placed a hand under her chin. She tilted her head up, and he pressed his lips firmly against hers.