Page 22 of Merry Mischief List

“Okay, I never knew playing reindeer ring toss could besohard,” I say, walking away from the beer bottles decorated like Rudolph. We spent half an hour and forty dollars trying to hook tiny rings on them without avail.

“I think it’s one of those things, the drunker you are the better you get,” Porter says with a pointed look.

“Yeah, well, I guess one spiked hot chocolate does not a reindeer ring toss champion make.”

“What abouttwospiked hot chocolates?” Porter says slyly, showing me a few more baby bottles of Baileys in his pocket.

“Damn, you got a whole factory in those pants or what?”

He waves a hand at his body. “Preparation is part of my assured success routine.”

“Whatever strokes your north pole,” I reply, patting his shoulder.

We grab two more hot chocolates, each going down smoother than the last, and I find myself enjoying Porter’s company more than I expected.

“Ready for a reindeer ring toss rematch?” I ask.

“I actually had something else in mind,” he says with a sly smile.

“Care to share with the class?”

“Nope.” His eyes fall to my feet, then wander slowly back to mine. “You just wait here and count to a hundred.”

“What? Where are you—”

“Patience, Cupcake. I’ll be right back,” he says before disappearing into the small crowd. My phone buzzes, and I pull it out to a photo of a giant snowman wearing a bikini top.

Stella

Checked off the big balls. That’s four for me

Me

Which four?

Stella

Guess you’ll find out after Christmas

Me

Lame

Stella

Your tally?

Me

Two…

Stella

One of those better be ‘Block Olivia’

Me

Gotta go, love you

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