Page 39 of Never Sleigh Never
My hands go limp, falling at my sides. “As in ten feet? Not ten times two?” I blink. Once. Twice. My skin prickles like I’ve stepped into a freezer. “What the hell? Did you have a bad growing season? Stunted growth?”
“Look, I’m not going to lie to you, but I also don’t want to get in the middle of this war you two have?—”
“Logan,” I say flatly.
“Yeah.”
“What the hell, Henry?” I shake my head. My stomach seizes into one giant, hard mass. I always got first pick from the big trees. “Whose team are you on?”
“I’m on Team Henry. He offered to pay me triple the price. I couldn’t turn that down. You know we’ve been struggling for the past couple of years.” He waves his hand over his field. “I had to take what I could.”
My mouth hangs open for a beat, then I shut it, because honestly? If I were in his position, I’d do the same. But this is certainly one big, swift kick to the candy cane. “I understand. Maybe I can put the tree on a riser or something, so it doesn’t look so sad.”
“Sorry, Brie.”
I wave him off. “I’ll make it work.”
After arranging delivery of my tree, I drive back into town as if the posted speed limit is only a suggestion. The bell over the Jolly Biscuit door jingles cheerfully, the opposite of my current mood.
“Someone’s spicy,” Willa greets me from behind the counter.
“Do you know what he did?” I plant my hands on the counter.
“‘He’ being Logan?” Her brows rise.
“He bought the tall trees, Willa. All the tall trees. I get the runt.” My voice goes a little wild at the end. “The tree lighting kicks off the entire Holly Jolly Festival. I can’t debut a tree that screams ‘meh’.”
“No one will think it’s ‘meh’. They’ll think ‘ooo, lights!’” She leaned in, lowering her voice. “Did he do it because you… commandeered all the reindeer?”
Of course she’s right, but I don’t want to admit it. At least not out loud. “It’s just another layer of stress added to this holiday season.”
“You’ve worked your ass off for too long to let Logan dampen your spirit.”
This won’t be high school all over again. I will not stand in Logan’s shadow. “You’re right. My Christmas spirit tank needs to be overflowing.” I lift my chin and square my shoulders. “And I need everyone in Mount Holly to know it.”
Willa thrusts her fists into the air. “That’s my girl!”
The bell jingles again followed by clacking of heels on the linoleum floor. A woman in a navy peacoat, with black hair that shimmers like silk, strolls toward the counter. My heart cartwheels. “Oh my God.” I grab at Willa’s sleeve. “Do you know who that is?”
She shakes her head. “Should I?”
“Yes! That’s Emma St. Claire, world renowned Christmas blogger turned editor and chief of her own magazine. She spends her life flying around the world to cover holiday festivals—like a real-life Mrs. Claus with a first-class boarding pass.” My eyes widen. “What if the Holly Jolly Festival finally won the Best Hometown Christmas contest?”
“Go talk to her.” She shoos me away.
“What do I say?”
“Introduce yourself.”
“Right.” I inhale a deep breath. Oxygen to the brain is crucial right now. I wipe my palms on my pants because no one likes a clammy handshake and cross the diner. “Excuse me.” Emma whirls around. “Hi.” I give her a small wave. “I’m Brie McKenna.” I extend my hand for her to shake. Her soft fingers, and most adorable snowman-painted fingernails, grip mine. “I’m a huge fan. I’ve been following your blog since it started. And I subscribe to your magazine. Are you here for the Holly Jolly Festival?”
“Hi, Brie,” she says warmly. “In fact, I am.”
In my head, fireworks, a marching band, and me on a float wearing a sash that reads Not Today, Logan rolls by. A world-famous blogger showcasing the Holly Jolly Festival is exactly what we need. This will surely not only boost my chances at the promotion but will also make Logan’s carnival eat my dust.
“The Holly Jolly Festival is the one on the outskirts of town, isn’t it?”
“No.” I frown. Who gave her the wrong details? She’s new in town, I’ll forgive her. “The Holly Jolly Festival is right here in the center of Mount Holly, and I am the event coordinator.”
