Page 42 of OMG Christmas Tree
Someone had to be putting her up to this. “I’d say you’re welcome, but you know I botched the planning. If it hadn’t been for Megan, we wouldn’t have even half of these decorations.”
“Who is Megan?” Mom asked.
Jill responded with a careful smile. “Nick’s friend, right?” She watched for my reaction.
Mom perked up. “I’ve been out of the loop. Is your friend here tonight?”
“Unfortunately, no. She’s with her family and—” I stopped mid-sentence. Flies had open access to buzz into my mouth. Across the room, Megan stood by the front entrance in a red dress. She wore some kind of black cape with fur along the edges.
“Oh, I see,” I heard Mom say as I brushed past her. “Megan.”
I shifted around guests blocking my path and put myself in front of Megan. “You came.” I tried limiting the wattage on my geeked state, but geek-beams shone bright like a disco light. Or, whatever. I was still thinking about dancing with Megan. How she fell into my arms. I loved every second of it.
She smiled and tugged at her cape. “Yeah. I’m not here alone though—”
“Nick.”
Arms circled me and a hand clapped against my back. Diane Kreuger in for the big hug and Stu adding his method of affection.Grin and bear it, dude. “Thanks for coming out.”
Megan half-covered her face with her hand. “Mom, lay off. You’re scaring him.”
Derek shook my hand. “Nick, good to see you again.”
“Well, hello, Stu.” Behind me, my own mother inserted herself into our space.
We were really doing this. Parents meeting my girl—no, not my girlfriend. “Mom, this is Megan. She’s new to Stu Kreuger’s family.”
“Oh, howwonderful.”
All the parents, including my dad now, exchanged greetings. My attention landed on Megan again and I shot her a sympathetic look. I guess I should have expected this to be awkward.
“My son has a check to contribute,” Stu was saying as he held out an envelope. “He’s sorry he couldn’t be here tonight. He and his family had to leave early after the ham.”
I snapped my fingers. “I heard the hog was a fifteen-pounder.”
Megan laughed into her hand.
Dad gave me a puzzled look. “How on earth do you know how much their ham weighs?”
Mom nudged him and my cheeks lit up like...well, a Christmas tree, which was pretty freaking apt. I may as well pose for pictures and bust out the corsage.
Somehow sensing my thoughts, my mother nudged me toward Megan. “We should get you two in a picture.” She waved the hired photographer over with her free hand. “We’d love some shots of these guests.”
I mouthedI’m sorryto Megan. She only grinned. “It’s okay. I expected this.”
“And you still came?”
“My mom pulled the invitation off the fridge. Once she knew you and I were buddies, she suggested it herself.”
I didn’t like thinking of Megan as abuddy. Buddies went snowmobiling together. Megan...I wanted to share things with her. Share about myself. Share about life.
We were currently being maneuvered in front a fireplace at one end of the ballroom with a mantle decked out in boughs of holly and red ribbon—courtesy of Megan’s efforts at the florist. The first photo included Stu, Diane, Derek, and Megan along with my family. Then both our mothers strategically cleared the family out, leaving Megan and me together. A corsage would have come in handy after all. At least it’d give me something to do with my hands.
“We should do a prom pose,” Megan suggested, giggling. She stood with her back to me and placed my arms around her. “But hold your arms stiff. Pretend like you want to touch me but you’re afraid.”
My throat felt like a drained lake. “Sure.” Pretend.
“Now smile really awkward.”
