Words tumbled out of her. “It’s no big deal, really. I didn’t even have to buy it. Allie gave it to me. I just thought you might like it.”
He sighed and took it from her. “Thank you.”
She watched as he unwrapped the small media player. He held it up and raised an eyebrow.
She hurried to explain. “I downloaded some songs I think you’ll like. It’s all charged up, and it comes with earbuds and a charging cord.” She looked down. “I figured you could probably find places to plug it in and recharge it, or I could recharge it for you.”
A strange look passed over his face. “So, you plan on sticking around long enough to recharge this for me?” Unlike other times, he didn’t sound put-off or annoyed. He sounded almost—hopeful.
“Yeah. I do.” She reached up and squeezed his hand. “Maybe it was a dumb idea. I’ve never been good at giving gifts.” She let her hand drop.
“Kaylee,” he waited for her to look up at him before continuing, “It’s a wonderful gift. Will you show me how it works? I’ve been a bit tech-deprived for a while.”
She nodded, unable to tear her gaze from his. There was something in his eyes she’d never seen there before—like the ice around his heart was slowly melting and maybe he was seeing her as something besides a spoiled college girl. “That’s the first time you’ve called me by my name.”
Blayne’s lips twitched, and he looked away. “Don’t make this awkward, college girl.”
“Right.” She nodded. “Let’s find somewhere to sit while I show you how it works.”
Glad for her long coat that covered her butt, they sat on a bench that was more splinters than boards. Blayne pulled the media player out of the box and scooted closer to her, so their legs touched. Kaylee removed her gloves so she could work the touch-screen, wondering at the odor of freshly laundered clothing.
As if reading her mind, Blayne leaned closer, holding out the player to her. “Don’t worry. I took advantage of the showers and laundering facilities at the shelter the other day. I should be bug and mostly odor free.”
“You do smell nice. I mean fresh.” She growled and shook her head like a confused pup. She let out a deep breath. “You smell clean, and I’m sure it felt good to take a warm shower and put on clean clothes.”
Blayne chuckled. “You really aren’t very good at the whole conversation thing, are you?”
Not with you, she thought. “Things always sound better in my head. Something happens on the way to my mouth, so by the time the words get there, they’re all screwed up.”
He caught on quickly to her tutorial, and she wondered whether it was her fabulous teaching or that he actually already knew how to work it. Either way, it didn’t matter, each time their hands brushed against one another, or he looked at her and smiled, her stomach released another butterfly into her chest. She could no longer deny it—she was attracted to a recovering drug addict homeless guy. She frowned at the thought. What was she doing?
Snowflakes floated down in a half-hearted attempt at a storm. Kaylee stared out at the gray street from Max’s apartment window, trying to keep her mind from wandering to Blayne. It was Christmas Day, though, so was it so weird for her to wonder how Mama C and her gang were doing?
Allie plopped down next to her on the loveseat and she turned from the window with a start.
“Sorry,” Allie said, not looking at all sorry. “I made you some hot chocolate.”
“Thank you.” Kaylee took the steaming mug from her friend.
“Lame Christmas, huh?” Allie brushed a stray hair from her face. “Maybe you should have gone home.”
Kaylee smiled. “It isn’t lame. I appreciate you and Max letting me spend the day with you. And eat dinner with you.” She rubbed her stomach with exaggerated strokes. “When did you say we’d be eating?”
“Max says the turkey should be done soon. He’s just waiting for the little temp probe thing to pop up.”
“You know those things don’t always work, right?” Kaylee raised an eyebrow.
“Um, no, I didn’t know that.” She stood and rushed to the kitchen.
The turkey ended up being dry, but still good. Max and Allie packed up all the leftovers—of which there were many, making Kaylee wonder if they’d purposefully bought a bigger turkey and more food than they would need—and told Kaylee to take it, and do “whatever she wanted” with it. They really weren’t as sneaky as they thought.
The door let in a chilling breeze and a few random snowflakes as they said their goodbyes. “It’s getting kind of late,” Allie said. “Maybe we should go with you.”
“It isn’t late,” Kaylee said. “It just looks that way because the days are so short this time of year.” She patted Allie’s hand. “I’ll be fine. Thank you again for dinner, and the leftovers.” She would have liked their company but was afraid it would upset the group she’d worked so hard to gain trust from if she brought a couple of strangers in their midst. Besides, Blayne will keep me safe. She scowled at herself for thinking of him again.
Kaylee stopped at her and Allie’s apartment to gather some paper plates and plastic utensils. She thought about just stopping to buy some at a gas station, but money was tight, especially during school breaks when she wasn’t TA-ing. She wouldn’t see another paycheck until a couple of weeks after school started again in mid-January. The money her parents and grandparents sent her for Christmas would help get her by.
The gang huddled around a pitiful excuse for a fire under the new viaduct. Blayne stood off from them, hands in his pockets, watching Mama C from behind. She was wrapped up in two sleeping bags and wore a beanie, a scarf wrapped around her face so only her dark eyes were visible.
Kaylee cleared her throat
