Love Blooms by Stephanie Hoyt

Author:Stephanie Hoyt [Hoyt, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBT, Santa, elves, magic, holiday
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2018-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

HIS PARENTS COME and Chrysanthemum goes. Elliott later tells Nico Gloria did most of the talking at their meeting—which Nico is eternally grateful for since she’s always made better impressions than Kristoff—and how they all agreed this would be a better fit for Chrysanthemum. Yet, her being gone does nothing to change things between Elliott and Nico. They stay in their easy pattern of friendship. They’re tipping slowly over into more; Nico can feel the shift with every passing day—with every moment he finally flirts back. There’s a crackling of electricity surging between them, but neither of them addresses the growing tension, and Nico wonders if the month Chrysanthemum was here was long enough to ruin any chance he had with Elliott. If now the pull of friendship is too important—too good, too easy, too right—to jeopardize by exploring their kiss and rescheduling their canceled date.

He doesn’t realize what the problem may be until he’s at work with Addison and she asks him if he and Elliott are doing anything for Valentine’s Day.

Nico’s mouth turns down in an exaggerated frown as he responds, playfully chiding, “You’re very nosy.”

Addison laughs, a bubbling sound that floats through the air and makes Nico laugh too. “Yes, I do know.” She shrugs like it’s nothing, and it isn’t, not when he’s known nosier adults. Hell, Noelle’s one of the nosiest people he’s ever met and he’s known her all his life—he’s used to prying at this point. So when Addison raises her eyebrow and tilts her head to the side, questioning, he answers truthfully. “We’re not actually a thing, you know.”

Addison’s nostrils flare and her exasperated sigh mixes with the flutter of annoyance building in Nico’s stomach to let him know she doesn’t believe him in the slightest.

“We’re not! I think I’d know.”

There’s mutual attraction between the two—their interest growing stronger as the days pass—but Nico would know if they crossed the line into something more established. He would.

No matter how much he wants them to have rescheduled their canceled date by now, they haven’t. They’re still hanging in limbo, tiptoeing around each other’s interest while shamelessly flirting.

The conversation is dropped as a new rush of customers comes in, but as the orders dwindle, the opportunity arises for Addison to continue the conversation as if it never stopped. “I see you two interact. Maybe you’re not a thing, but you’ve definitely got a thing, you know? It’s obvious. Painfully so, actually.”

She leans against the counter, crossing her arms expectantly, and Nico nods—there’s no denying her assessment.

“Maybe Valentine’s Day is what’s holding you back?”

Nico considers it, but he didn’t even remember it was coming until right now. The truth is he’s waiting for Elliott to make the first move because some habits die hard. “Nah, I don’t think that’s what it is.”

“Maybe not for you, but it could be for him. In my experience boys are weird as shit when it comes to this holiday. Girls on the other hand…”

Again, he thinks she’s right. “You’re very observant.

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