'Tis the Season

Chapter 2: Mistletoe

Chapter 2: Mistletoe

During the two days in between the day we met and Friday I couldn't work up the nerve to text Carson anything other than a brief reply to his first text until Thursday night. I figured it would be for the best just to double check the time for tomorrow and confirm he was still alright having Madeline and I tag along.

He texted back within a few minutes that he was looking forward to seeing us and that the plan was indeed still to meet there at eleven. I had a small bundle of nerves in my stomach both when I fell asleep that night and woke up but I tried to push them down, reminding myself that this was supposed to be more for Madeline and Everleigh than myself.

Even so, I couldn't help but fuss a little more than usual over my hair and pick out a bit of a nicer outfit than my usual leggings and sweater. And I won't deny that after a ten-minute debate with myself, I put on an extra layer of mascara and opted for my tinted chapstick rather than a clear one.

The first and only impression Carson has had of me thus far was in muddy jeans and a ponytail that had been at battle with the wind for an hour, sue me for wanting to rectify that.

"You look nice," Madeline gives me an impressed look as I find her already waiting by the front door. I try to shrug it off nonchalantly.

"Oh, yeah. I spent twenty dollars on this skirt and I've barely worn it so I figured why not today?" I answer her while pretending to dig through my purse. Nodding absently, she continues scrolling through her phone.

"I looked up the place and started looking at their cupcake menu and there are so many cool flavors, I don't know how I'll ever pick!" She pouts suggestively and I roll my eyes.

"Well if you put your coat on so we can leave, when we get there you can choose your top two and I'll go halfsies with you so we can try both."

Madeline hops up excitedly and grabs her coat, racing out the door and to the car.

Gigi's is only a few blocks away from the tree farm we were at, but it's a bit of a drive to get to the town it's in and I guess I hadn't really given much thought to the fact that Carson and Everleigh could live closer so when Madeline reads me a text at 10:50 from them informing us that they're there and to just head inside to find them I start to panic. I hate being late and making people wait on me, so even though the GPS says I'm still on track to be there in ten minutes a feeling of guilt pours over me.

When I finally arrive and park, letting Madeline lead me into the contemporary little shop I've already formed about ten different ways to apologize in my head.

Spotting them sitting at a table near the back, Madeline freezes and I sense the anxiety start to roll off of her in waves. They haven't noticed us yet, even though the place is pretty empty, so I take a second to turn her back to me and try to calm her down.

"Hey, it's alright. It's just Everleigh. You guys really hit it off well, I think you're going to be great friends," Madeline doesn't look convinced so I give her an encouraging smile and go on with the pep talk. "Mads, I promise that walking over there is the hardest part, okay? Go through it in your head. We'll walk over and say hi, take off our coats, order some delicious cupcakes and choose what we want to paint. You'll start eating and painting and before you know it the everything will be flowing naturally. Everleigh will probably initiate most of the conversations, she seems very social, right?"

Madeline nods, her face gathering some more color and she stops biting the inside of her cheek. "Worst case scenario, text me under the table and I'll come up with an exit strategy alright?" I add and that gives her the confidence to finally turn around, and thank God too because when I glance back over to them Carson has seen us and him and Everleigh are making their way over.