Accidental Christmas Miracle

8.

Miracle

Christi cut the engine of her truck and we all hopped out.

"Later, you two." Dot called over his shoulder as he walked off. Probably to somewhere there was hot chocolate.

Christi motioned for me to follow her. "First, you have to get a hot drink. It'll keep you warm while we're outside." She told me.

I nodded. "Lead the way."

She asked me something, glancing over at me but I didn't pay attention to what she said.

The black hoodie she was wearing contrasted nicely with her blonde hair and green eyes.

It was random that I had noticed that because I don't normally notice what people are wearing but although it was casual, it looked good on her.

I was suddenly aware that she was waiting for an answer to a question I didn't hear.

"Umm, yes." I said quickly, nodding to emphasize my point, wondering what the heck I had just agreed to.

For all I knew, I could have been agreeing to singing to an Italian opera. I blinked, confused where my brain had gotten that weird possibility. I mean, probably not what I agreed to but still.

She grinned and grabbed my arm. "This way." She told me, although it made no difference as I wasn't the one who could let go.

She pulled me all the way to a cozy little coffee shop and I smiled.

It fit in with the whole small town feel.

As we were in a small line of three people waiting to order, I looked around. I noticed that the whole store had been decorated for Christmas time and I liked it.

Looking out the large front windows, I noticed that the streets had also been decorated for Christmas. I had seen that the houses were decorated but I guess I didn't notice the streets had been also.

It was, well, Christmas-y.

When I looked back at the counter, we were suddenly at the front and Christi was handing me a drink.

I took it and then took a big sip. Probably much bigger than it should have been for me not knowing what I had been handed.

A bitter hot liquid burnt the inside of my mouth and I resisted the urge to spit it out. I quickly swallowed it and tried not to grimace. "Delicious." I managed to say.

Christi had an amused expression on her face when I looked at her. "You didn't actually hear my question when I asked you, did you?" She asked me.

I looked down and slowly shook my head.

"Figured that much. That's why I got you this." She handed me a different drink. "I figured this would be more up your alley although it isn't really a hot drink." She took the black coffee away from me with a smile.

I took a small sip, wary of what it was due to what just happened and then a smile formed on my lips.

The drink was a sweet and simple one. Sweet tea.

Not very Christmas-y but definitely my favorite. I had mentioned it last night during the games and she had remembered.

"You remembered." I said happily.

She shrugged. "Yeah. I'm just glad you didn't spit the coffee back out into the cup."

"I was honestly thinking about it but realized that would be a waste of drink."

She nodded. "Good choice." She then took a sip of the coffee I had drank some of. "Perfect."

I scrunched my nose up at her comment. "It's so black and bitter."

"Just like my soul." She joked.

I cracked a grin at that.

She laughed and looped her arm in mine.

"Let's go to the festival." She said, opening the door and plunging us back into the cold weather.

I definitely should have gone with a warmer sweet drink.