– HAPPENSTANCE –
Chapter Nine
We leave the cafe with a slightly more comfortable air between us, deciding to spend the next few hours checking out the town and all its quaint little shops and amenities. There are more people out on the sidewalk now, more cars rolling slowly down the one main drag, and I'm starting to think maybe Forks has a bit more life to it than I first assumed.
Edward walks beside me at a leisurely pace, hands in his pockets and a good foot of personal space between us. I steal furtive glances at him when our bits of random conversation lull, surprised that I had never noticed how truly freaking gorgeous he is before.
The hair, the eyes, a strong, straight nose and dark, full lips, all of it set in a diamond-shaped face with a sharp, lightly-stubbled jaw. The man is mouthwatering. I'm even more confused as to why he's so shy and reclusive at work, especially since as far as I can tell he's got a good personality to boot. Truly, he could have an in with just about anyone he wanted. Except, he doesn't seem to be interested in being friendly around the office at all. So what does he want, then—back there or out here?
"Santa . . . in July?" Edward says, pulling me from my musings as he stops before a storefront clearly decked out for the holidays. "What the hell?"
I scan the snowy scene laid out in the big display window, complete with trees, gifts, garland, and yes, Jolly Old St. Nick himself. "Oh, looks like it's a year-round Christmas store. That's kinda cool. Want to go in?"
"I guess." Edward doesn't appear convinced of the appeal, but he follows me inside anyway.
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