My Heart Whispers for Snow
Chapter 5: My Heart's Beats, How They Tell
âWait, Jon!â Gendry called. He stepped around Arya and brought Jon a giant cup of steaming hot chocolate. âDrink it. All of it,â he told him, his smile cheeky.
Cautiously, as if Gen might dump it on him any second, Jon took it from him. âThanks?â
âAlways here to help my best bud out,â Gendry said, his eyebrows jumping.
âHave fun you two!â Arya cheered before shoving a still smiling Gendry back into the booth.
All the delays had he could stand, Jon quickly weaved himself and Dany through the crowds to the outskirts of the park, eyes desperately searching for a bench to have their talk on.
âWhat's with the extra-large, bud?â Dany asked halfway through his quest, her attempted straight face failing miserably.
Rolling his eyes he stopped to test his suspicions before he answered her. One small sip of his hot chocolate was all it took. He winced and gave a rough cough. âHe spiked it. Heavily.â
Her laughter filled his chest with a warmth rum spiked cocoa never could. âIâm gonna have to buy them something extra special for Christmas for being such a help.â
He snorted. âIâm giving them lumps of coal for not minding their own business. They know I cry when Iâm drunk.â
âNow who's the Grinch?â
âMe, I guess.â He grinned down at her despite himself, but resumed his search and took another bracing swallow of cocoa. âTheyâre so damn pushy they almost make me want to give up the inn, pack my bags, and move down South with you.â
âOh no!â she exclaimed and he was suddenly sure he was having a heart attack, a splintering shock of panic exploding in his chest and even running down his arms. He forgot how to breathe. âThere's no giving up on the inn,â she went on, unknowingly giving him his life back. âNot now.â
He sucked in a deep breath and then another to calm his flustered heart before settling on the nearest bench. It was good enough, well-lit but away from the crowds so they had privacy. He brushed the snow off and pulled her down onto it. âNo more stalling, I have to know what you found,â he demanded, only to chuckle as she looked at him. She had a dollop of cream on the tip of her nose. With a swipe of his thumb, he wiped it away for her and rubbed it off on his jeans. She blushed prettily.
âI'm sorry for making you wait,â she apologized, âbut I knew Iâd never get my date if I spilled the beans too soon. You would've been too distracted.â
He sat his cocoa aside and braced his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together. His insides were jelly electrified. He wasn't sure if he was going to melt into the snow under their feet or explode into a shower of goo. Dany wouldn't be impressed with either so he did his best to hold himself together as he met her smiling eyes. âIf youâve really figured out how to save my inn, Iâll take you on any and every date you can dream up.â
She laughed quietly as if she liked the thought, but didn't quite believe him. She leaned closer, bumping her shoulder into his. âIâm going to hold you to that,â she threatened playfully.
âI hope you do,â he told her in all seriousness.
Her bottom lip went between her teeth and she looked away. But not before he caught sight of the happy squint of her eyes. She reached into her pocket and pulled out an envelope, holding it out to him, her expression more serious.
With a deep breath he slipped it from her fingers and had it open with another.
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