Page 117 of Run, Run Rudolph
“Oh. Uh, thanks.”
He opened the door, pausing to look at me for a long moment before stepping outside again.
“Merry Christmas,” I said, giving him a hopeful smile.
He’d leaned in like he was going to kiss me, then caught himself and wrapped me in a brief and wonderful smelling hug. “Merry Christmas, TM.”
TM. My breath froze in my chest as he headed back out into the cold. As the door clicked shut, I exhaled and peeked in the bag. Inside was a Nerf gun.
With a growing sense of urgency and panic, I opened the GAL PALs chat, which was blowing up. Char had filled in the girls while I’d brunched with my family, and now I hunched over my phone at the sink, pretending to wash the dishes before dessert to get myself caught up, as well as to share the latest Haden development.
Had Mrs. Claus’s memory scrubbing not worked? Or was her spell still finding all the nooks and crannies to wipe clean?
And why had Char sent my problem out to all five of us? Samantha and Gabby were never going to believe, and Josie ghosted us most of the time, like she was a boomer who only bothered to check her phone once a day.
Me
Haden almost kissed me. Right now. At Oma’s. Then he caught himself.
Char
You should have grabbed him and kissed him.
Josie
What? How? His memory was erased.
I was surprised to see her in the chat, and sad that she didn’t seem to have found any loopholes that would help Haden get his memory back. If anyone knew the answer, it would be her. Instead, she’d lectured me about how very, very lucky I’d been to get out of court the way I had.
Yeah, thanks. Loving the support.
Gabby
He remembers? OMG that’s so romantic.
Me
I thought you didn’t believe in this magic stuff?
Gabby
I believe in love!
Char
You should have kissed him and made him remember.
Gabby
Like in the fairy tales! I love fairy tales.
Me
Did someone make a wish for me? One where he’d get his memories back?
I crossed my fingers, hoping someone had.
Char
