It still feels like Christmas

Everybody else was doing it. Taking a walk through the Christmas lit park. Yes, it might have been a new year, but the lights never got old. It didn't get old holding Mario's hand either. Still, Bren found herself getting ahead of herself. But it had been a good night eating street tacos and other food truck treats.

Funny, it didn't feel like a pandemic, after all. Yes, they might as well have been kids in high school, because they were out in full force. Of course, they didn't see Rico anywhere.

"Where could he be?" Mario said as they walked through the tunnel of lights.

"Are you worried about him?" She asked as she was munching on a caramel apple.

"I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it," his lips were even and he did look as if he could be worried.

"Here, hold this." She gave him the apple and texted Liv. "I'll get Liv to find him." However, she was working at the grocery store tonight, but someone would know.

"He's right here," Liv texted back. 

"Don't worry, he's with Liv," she told him as she put her phone away and took her apple.

"Oh."

"She's my roommate. He's at work. She's at work. It's fine." She gave him a nod and then took another bite of the sweet goodness that was actually covered in chocolate too.

About then an ambulance went by. For a moment she thought Mario's mind went somewhere.

"Relax, the grocery store isn't in that direction."

"Right," he nodded.

"Take a bite." One side hadn't been bitten into. She knew she didn't need the whole darn treat. He bit into the apple. She smiled. 

Bren was happy to be with him, but it was too early to tell if he really liked her. Maybe he was only doing this because of Rico. She felt sad at the notion as she watched him. But as they walked on, he put his arm around her. It felt comforting that he didn't want her to be cold. Honestly, she did enjoy his silence. Maybe he enjoyed her's too.