“No.”

“Soda water?”

“Okay.”

Blair heaved a sigh of relief. Finally there was something he was okay with. If he didn't have any, she'd be embarrassed.

She wasn't about to eat these all by her lonesome.

Before long, they got back on the road again. Wesley focused on driving, while Blair concentrated on eating the delicious snacks in the passenger seat. From time to time, she'd grab a piece of beef jerky, or a macadamia nut, or a piece of chocolate, and hold it in front of his mouth for him to eat.

Of course, Wesley refused it at first. But Blair had many ways to make him eat at least something.

For instance, when she Lifted a bite-size piece of chocolate, she'd say

"Oooh! This is too sweet for me to finish. I'm full already."

He had a predictable response.

"I don't like sweets either," he said, frowning.

“Then what should I do? Throw it in the garbage? That's wasting food..."

He was silent for a moment. Sighing, he said, "Fine."

Then the bite-size chunk of chocolate was in his mouth.

As he chewed, Wesley suddenly realized that if they continued Like this, he might become a fat man fairly quickly.

When they were back in Alorith, it was already evening. Wesley drove

Blair to the Jenkins family's house and paid a New Year visit to

Gilbert.

Everyone had dinner together except Hartwell, who was busy with work as usual. After dinner, Wesley and Adalson talked in the study. Blair went to Joslyn's bedroom and they whispered to each other happily. Blair couldn't stop touching Joslyn's baby bump, feeling the wonder of new life.

Joslyn was eager to know how things were between Blair and Wesley, so she asked earnestly, “He took you home for New Year. Did sparks fly?"

Blair shrugged.

“Hardly. He even told his mom not to be too nice to me, because I'd never be her daughter-in-Law." She didn't feel sad when she talked about it, because she remembered that Wesley's mom was only an excuse.

Wesley wouldn't confess his true feelings for her. He was brave at everything except love.

“What? He said that? What a jerk!" Joslyn felt her heart ache for

Blair. Why did she have to go through so much for one guy?