Page 41 of OMG Christmas Tree
Megan: Almost as impressive as a PhD in Electrical Engineering who researches particle physics and a doctor who spends vacations giving free treatments in impoverished countries.
Nick: Which is almost as impressive asmakinga flat white.
Megan: Ha-Ha. You’re funny.
I didn’t care how many degrees Stu’s kids racked up. Megan doubted herself and I hated that. She didn’t need a degree to make an impact. She’d already made an impact on me. And from the looks of it, on our benefit.
Nick: Please come tonight. You can be my guest.
I’d asked her last night before we left Checkers to come to the event. After we’d kissed. I couldn’t believe she did it. She’d kissed me. For a second, I had to admit, I’d wished I’d made the first move. Then again, I’d steered us under the mistletoe. She’d taken the bait. I didn’t mind being bait.
That kiss flipped a switch in me. I needed to show Megan I wasn’t a simple townie riding my family’s privilege.
Megan: Mom and Stu are pretty pumped about their holiday ham. We’re doing gifts and games with the kids—that’s Stu’s grandkids.
Nick: A holiday ham, nice. We’ve got shrimp toast. We can’t compete with a ham.
Megan: The ham is fifteen pounds. I’ve been hearing about it all day.
Nick: To match your fifteen-foot tree.
Megan: Hey. Only ten feet.
Megan: I can’t believe it fits in the house.
I texted a gif from the Chevy Chase holiday movie where Clark and fam find the perfect tree in the woods complete with holy light shining from the sky.
She texted back an emoji smiley with the tongue sticking out.
Nick: No worries. Enjoy the time with your family.
The little dots danced on my phone screen, showing she was typing more. The message never came, and I was called off to another task.
Two hours later, the benefit had started, opening remarks were made, and the children’s choir performed their third song. Guests strolled through the ballroom, eating appetizers and desserts while making bids on donated items for the silent auction. I made sure the photo booth line stayed manageable and assigned a volunteer to monitor the holiday-themed props.
My parents walked over with Jill. “How are you doing?” I asked Mom, taking her by the elbow.
“Wonderful.” Her blink stalled a second longer than usual. Beyond knowing it took a bigger effort for her to be here tonight, she looked the same as always. “Jill says you’ve been a wonderful help.”
We’d already had this conversation, so she was saying it for Jill’s benefit. “I helped where I could.”
“The room looks great.” My dad barely took his eyes off Mom. I used to get annoyed by them making lovey-dovey faces at each other. He was there for her every second she needed, and the seconds she said she didn’t need him. Leaving me to do more at the print shop. This was going to be hard to share the news about the interview. Even if I didn’t get the job in Madison, they deserved to know I was looking.
Mom pointedly looked my way. “Ed Farinski is retiring.”
I nodded back. All night I’d been nodding in conversations like this.
“Leaving an opening in administration.” Jill’s decorated Santa sweater demanded attention. It was like a homing beacon I couldn’t look away from. “The requirement is a bachelor’s in a business field and experience with city events.”
I nodded some more. “Cool.”
Mom’s smile shifted. “A great opening for someone familiar with Crystal Cove who might be looking for a new opportunity.”
They were all three watching for my reaction. “Me? Working for the mayor’s office? Sounds like a conflict of interest.” Never mind the conflict. I had zero interest working in the mayor’s office.
Mom smiled at a guest walking past. “You’d have to apply for the job, of course. Jill and the other staff would handle the interview.”
“You’ve been a huge help, Nick,” Jill said. The glittering Santa on her sweater danced in agreement.
