“No, it’s not even that long distance is the problem. I just can’t be in a relationship right now, and I don’t do casual hook-ups.” I hoped that hook-up rule applied when she went back to Florida too and didn’t apply only to me.

“So, when you leave, that’s it?” It made sense, but my heart was heavy.

“I don’t like to come here often, and I’m just not in a place where…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but I picked up on the cues that this was not going anywhere. My shoulders sank a little, but I grinned down at her.

“You’re right.” I sighed and tapped her thigh twice. “Come on, Grinchy. I’ll take you home.”

She smiled at my nickname for her and reluctantly got off my lap. The freezing cold air had both of us shivering, and we each turned around as we got dressed. I cringed, taking off my wet boxers and putting my clothes back on. I heard her whine then a loud wet smack on the ground, which I assumed was my t-shirt. I gave her a minute to get dressed, and when she tapped my shoulders, I turned back around. She had on her tiny black dress again and the soft towel wrapped around her shoulders. Her blonde hair dipped under the towel, and the wet ends clinging together. Her tiny nose matched her red cheeks, and I wanted to wrap her up in a blanket and bring her close to me. Instead, I gave her my thick coat and held her hand as we exited the restricted area.

When I dropped Olive off, all the lights were off except the front porch. I walked her to the door, my hands in my pockets—unsure what to do from here. She reached around her shoulders to take off my jacket and I stopped her. “Keep it. It looks better on you.” I was rewarded with her dazzling smile, and I drank it in.

“Thank you,” she said quietly and looked down from my gaze.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Grinchy.”

She cocked her head to the side like she didn’t know what tomorrow was.

“For day four. If our time together has an expiration date, I’m really going to get you in the Christmas spirit.” I winked at her and took my hands out of my pockets. Instinctively, I reached for her but stopped myself. She studied my frozen gesture and could see I wasn’t sure what to do. Do you kiss the girl you are pretending to see, but are kind of—not really—seeing goodnight?

She gave me a soft, sympathetic smile and stretched onto her tiptoes to give me a kiss on the cheek. “Goodnight, Finn.” She patted my arm and turned to go inside.