Page 67 of The Santa Rules
“Oh, got a hot date after this?” I tease.
“Can we sing the songs now?” Avery says, running over to us as she tugs on Hardy’s coat.
“So where are we doing this?” Hardy asks.
“I figured we’d walk through the local shops. See if we can get people to join our merry band.”
“Daddy loves to sing,” Avery says. “He practiced the whole way here.”
“He did, did he?” Hardy’s cheeks are pink, though that could just be the cold. Is he trying to impress me? “So, what’s your favorite Christmas song?”
He starts to open his mouth, but Avery interrupts him. “He likes ‘Silent Night.’”
“That’s a good one,” I agree. “Our first stop is Chestnut Roasters.”
“Can we get a cookie too?” Avery asks, as she walks ahead of us.
“No Isaac?” Hardy asks, looking behind us.
“Nah, singing isn’t his thing. He’s gaming at a friend’s house, said they were working on a coding thing or something. Plus, he was worried I’d change the lyrics of ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ to ‘Twelve Pubes a-Counting.’ I did threaten it, so I guess I don’t blame him.”
“Twelve what? Wait, never mind. You’d think I’d have learned by now not to question you.”
“I’ll tell you later,” I say, right as Avery catches up to us and grabs Hardy’s hand.
The delicious aroma of coffee and sugar has me doing a little dance as we walk in.
“What was that?” Hardy smirks.
“I’m just excited.”
“Can we get hot chocolate?” Avery asks, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Sweet Jesus, there are two of them,” Hardy teases, glancing between us.
After two hot chocolates, three cookies, one with glitter sprinkles for Avery, and way too many napkins, we head out of the store, fueled up on sugar and ready to start caroling at our next stop: Chestnut Mountain Market.
I suddenly trip over a crack in the sidewalk. “Oh crap,” I yelp, nearly twisting my ankle as I throw my hands out to catch my fall. Before I hit the concrete, large hands grip my waist, steadying me.
“Careful, Bells. I got you.”
I look down at my boot and notice the heel has separated from the sole. I try to take another step on it and wobble again.
“I have a better idea,” Hardy says as he moves in front of me and squats down. “Hop on.”
“Are you sure? We have like three more stops.”
“It would be my honor,” he says, smiling at me over his shoulder then motions for me to get on his back.
I climb on, wrapping my legs around his waist. Jake never would’ve carried me; he would have criticized me for my choice in footwear instead. But Hardy is a rock, someone steady and calm to depend on. And it feels good to know that I’m not alone, that I have someone else I can literally lean on.
We get about ten steps down the street when it hits me. “Hardy! Do you know what I am right now?”
He chuckles. “No, but I bet you’re gonna tell me.”
“Well, you’ve heard of Elf on the Shelf? I’m Bella on her fella!” I say and revel in his warmth as I feel laughter reverberate through his chest.
“That you are, Bells. I’m honored to be your fella.”
