Alice sat on a log at the edge of the circle around the bonfire, near the edge of the woods. She stared at the crackling fire, watching the flames lick up the dried wood. She considered how to describe the colors shifting in the fire: crimson, sunshine, coral, and a hint of electric blue near the base. The warmth of the fire washed over her shins and toasting her toes. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs. She rested her chin on her knees, enjoying the rush of heat on her face.
A group of laughing teenagers walked past. Despite herself, Alice found herself searching for dark curls and a bright smile. She recognized the blonde girl as the one with Kieran at Cupid’s Coffeeshop the first day of November but he wasn’t part of the group this time.
Alice usually avoided the bonfire. Being among crowds muted the story she constantly wrote in her head. Alice generally preferred being alone with her thoughts. But when she got Kieran’s text, she couldn’t resist the powerful pull to be with him.
Alice’s lips tingled as she thought of their toe-curling kiss from last Friday. No matter what happened after this month was over, at least she had the memory of that kiss—her first ever—to keep her warm.
Kieran appeared on the opposite side of the bonfire, stopping to chat with his grandfather. Kieran waved to her and headed over to the s’mores table. She dropped her forehead to her knees again. She’d miss Kieran when the month was up. No doubt he’d be friendly and kind when he saw her in the hall or wave in the street but they wouldn’t spend time together as they had.
She would miss him and dream of that toe-curling kiss.
But Kieran kissed a lot of girls. Alice doubted he’d even remember it.
The log she sat on dipped as someone sat next to her. She raised her head to find Kieran next to her, holding out a plate with a graham cracker oozing with marshmallow and melted chocolate.
“Want a S’more?”
Alice shook her head. Was this her life? Mousy, invisible Alice Wells sitting at the Thanksgiving bonfire with Kieran Kincade, watching the firelight flirt with his handsome face and burnish his hair to copper.
“Guess what?” Kieran took an enormous bite, before licking marshmallow off his lip. “I hit fifty thousand words this afternoon.” Kieran beamed as her heart sank. That was it then. There was no more project to connect them. Things would go back to normal. Kieran would be the center of the in-crowd and she’d be the loner scribbling in the notebook, observing the popular kids but never part of their world.
She dredged up a smile. “Congrats. You’re a writer now.”
“We both are.” Kieran leaned close, smelling of sugar and chocolate and every delicious temptation in the world. “But I have one small problem.”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t want our story to end.”
“Our story?” Alice placed her hand over his heart, feeling the steady, fast thrum beneath her palm before pushing back to look at his face.
“The hero always gets the girl, right?”
“Who said you were the hero?” Alice demanded.
“I’ll be the sidekick that gets the kick-ass heroine then, Writer Super Girl.”
“Sounds like that plot needs work.” Alice laughed as Kieran brushed his mouth over hers. Alice couldn’t stop the smile spreading over her face.
“Writer Super Girl to the rescue then.” Kieran said. “And you know maybe I won’t be the sidekick. Maybe I can play the love interest instead, if you want.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Alice said, leaning close for another kiss.
THE END… Thank you for taking the time to read Thanksgiving Dream. I hope you enjoyed it. Please consider posting a short review and telling your friends. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and very much appreciated.
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Next up in Ashford Falls…the final installment in the Cupid’s Coffeeshop series:
Cupid’s Coffeeshop is all decked out for Christmas to participate in the town’s annual Christmas celebration. They just need someone to play Santa.
The search for Santa is on with Patrick Lockhart and Joy Baker, owner of the town’s new bakery, in charge.
Patrick’s pined for Joy since she first stared baking cookies for Cupid’s Coffeeshop to pay for her upcoming wedding.
Now that her engagement is over, will Patrick get all he wants from Santa?
Find out in December’s Cup of Joy.
While you are waiting for more Cupid’s Coffeeshop, please check out my other novels, including The Lost Art of Second Chances and the Always a Bridesmaid series.
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Thanks again for your support!
Author’s Note
I was lucky enough to meet my BFF, Lynn, on our very first day of high school. We’ve been together through college, weddings, babies, and much more. I’m sure when we go shopping and to lunch fifty years from now, we’ll still be laughing about our high school hijinks. Alice and Kieran are very fictionalized and amalgamated versions of our high school peers so I thought it was appropriate to dedicate this one to my bestie. Fiction writers get to write the story as it should have happened, instead of what actually did.
You won’t find Ashford Falls if you consult a map. It’s a fictionalized version of Leesburg, Virginia. Located about 40 miles west of DC, the sleepy tiny town has become a bedroom community full of new development. But the heart of the old town is still there, tucked into the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sadly, Cupid’s Coffeeshop does not exist at all, except in my imagination.
Thanks to my editor, Annie at e-scribes.com, for always making my books better. Also many thanks to Kim Killion of the Killion Group for my gorgeous covers and designing the Cupid’s Coffeeshop logo.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the eleventh story in the Cupid’s Coffeeshop series as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please check out my series page on Amazon for each new release. You can also find merchandise, illustrated quotes, and blogs about Cupid’s Coffeeshop on my website at www.Courtney-Hunt.com
I’m also usually found on twitter at @courtneyhunt71, and would love to chat!
Thanksgiving Dream (Cupid's Coffeeshop Book 11) Page 3
