“And keep an open heart,” Margo said. “Just like in the stories you write. You always say you have to have an open heart to find love. Good luck.”
When Riley hung up, she fell back onto her bed and stared up at the ceiling of white twinkling lights. She wondered if there were any fairy tales where the heroine got to have three Prince Charmings.
She sat back up again. She needed to go.
Colin was waiting for her, for their first date.
Chapter Thirty-One
It was almost midnight by the time she finished her date with Colin. She couldn’t believe how fast the hours had flown by and how it easy it was to pick up right where they’d left off in college.
She was so touched by all the trouble he had gone to, to set up the perfect date down memory lane. It was just like the movie nights they always did in college together.
Beyond all the beautiful Christmas decorations that were already in the room, he’d added dozens of white candles, saying it was the perfect mood lighting to watch their movie. She’d been impressed, remembering how they use to do the same thing in college, only back then, having very little money, they’d used some cheap battery-operated imitation candles that were always breaking.
She loved that he’d planned a movie night. It brought back so many great memories of all the romantic comedy classics they’d watched together like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and Notting Hill. He’d reminded her that during their first year in college, she had talked about how cool it would be to write stories like that, and now here she was doing it.
However, one thing that had caught her off guard was the movies he’d selected. They were all Christmas movies.
While he’d remembered that she wasn’t a Christmas movie fan, he figured that now that she was hosting a Christmas Camp and writing a Christmas novel, they could finally celebrate Christmas together.
When he’d asked her to pick the movie, she didn’t have a clue so she told him he could decide. He picked It’s a Wonderful Life, telling her that the angel, Clarence, was one of his all-time favorite characters.
She’d also been touched and impressed that Colin had remembered all her favorite movie foods, from chocolate-covered peanuts to barbeque potato chips to gummy bears and Milk Duds. The only thing he’d changed was replacing the cheap wine they’d drunk in college with a top-rated bottle of Champagne. He’d even brought an old photo album he’d kept of them that highlighted their four years together.
The night had been filled with laughter as they relived old memories. They’d had such a great time talking and catching up that they’d never even gotten around to watching the movie.
Even when Riley had realized it was almost midnight, she hadn’t wanted the night to end. With Colin, she felt like she could totally relax and be herself. He was everything she remembered loving and more. Now, instead of a college student talking about his dreams, he had made those dreams come true and was a successful movie producer who appeared to have found a way to still be genuine instead of getting caught up a world that usually rewarded the superficial.
“I have something for you,” Colin said, surprising her. “A Christmas present.”
“But it’s not Christmas yet,” Riley said with a laugh.
When he handed her a little white jewelry-sized box with a big, red satin bow, Riley became nervous.
“Colin, you really shouldn’t have gotten me anything . . .”
“It’s just something small. I promise,” Colin said. “Open it.”
Riley tentatively opened the box and smiled when she saw what was inside. She held up a beautiful red, heart-shaped glass Christmas ornament. It was just like the one he’d given her in college their first Christmas together when she’d decided to stay at school and work but had encouraged him to go home and see his parents. He hadn’t wanted to leave her. When he had given her the heart ornament, he’d told her that she would always have his heart at Christmas, whether they were together or not.
He really had thought of everything.
“Do you remember?” he asked.
When she looked into his eyes, what she remembered all the reasons she’d loved him. He was kind and thoughtful, romantic and caring. He was the kind of guy any girl would be lucky to have. She felt her own heart beat faster as she held the heart ornament up to the light.
“I remember.”
When Colin leaned in to kiss her, she leaned in, too, until Comet started barking outside the door, interrupting the moment.
Flustered by her feelings, Riley got up quickly. “I’m sorry. I have to see what’s wrong with Comet.”
Colin stood up, too, and they both went to the door.
When Riley opened it, Comet took off running down the hall.
Riley gave Colin an apologetic look.
“Go.” Colin laughed. “We have lots of time.”
It was just another reason Riley remembered loving Colin. He always understood.
After she chased Comet downstairs, she found him waiting by the front door.
“You want go for a walk?” Riley asked, and as soon as she said walk, Comet barked.
“Shh,” she whispered and leaned down to give him a hug. “My bad. I shouldn’t have said the W word. But we don’t want to wake anyone up so if I agree to this wa—” Riley caught herself just in time. “If I agree to take you out, then you have to be a good and not bark. Deal?”
Comet wagged his tail and spun around once.
Riley laughed. “Okay, just hold on. I have to get my coat.”
A couple of minutes later, Riley felt invigorated as she breathed in the cool, crisp air and admired the frosty landscape as she walked Comet down to the lake. Actually, the truth was, Comet was walking her down to the lake, and he was in a hurry.
“Slow down,” she told Comet. “It’s slippery
