Page 5 of Polar Prank
I sigh. “I’ll give it to you. You make it sound like fun,” I find myself muttering, my resolve already beginning to crumble.
With a triumphant grin, Iclyn claps her hands together and spins around as if she’s just won a victory. “Yes! Operation Holiday Cheer is a go!”
“Wait, wait. Did I actually agree tothat?!”
But we both know I have.
She’s already darting off to round up the troops, plotting her pranks for maximum impact, and I’m left staring after her, grumbling to myself about how against my better judgment I just let my entire office into a chaotic endeavor.
The woman is a force. And an adorable one at that.
As the day wears on, I can’t shake the absurdity of it all. I’m getting pulled into a holiday frenzy. With every giggle and every glimmer of Iclyn’s laughter carrying through the air, something inside me flickers back to life.
There might be a hint of cheer creeping in.
Might be, I’m not saying there is.
And perhaps a little of that enchantment could teach me that the holiday doesn’t always have to be a nuisance, even if my heart still prefers a cozy solitude over the clamor of festivities. But now, there’s no stopping what Iclyn has set into motion andhonestly there’s a little warmth somewhere inside of me that I’m not familiar with. My fate rests in her hands, and for now, I resolve to keep my mind open.
Is that my heart warming to the idea of the season?
Nah, it can’t be.
4
ICLYN
I sit at my desk,fiddling with the assorted glitter and paper scraps strewn around me. The office is still buzzing with the usual hum of laptops and the clatter of coffee mugs, but today, there’s a different energy crackling through the air. I refuse to let anyone sour the festive spirit.
“Okay, team,” I call out, bursting with excitement. “I’ve got a fantastic idea. We’re having a Christmas card competition.”
My coworkers raise their eyebrows, some looking mildly annoyed, others amused by my enthusiasm. I flash a grin that could rival the brightness of the twinkling lights strung across our windows. “Each department creates their finest, most creative holiday card, and we’ll display them all in the lobby. Whoever gets the most votes by the end of the day wins a prize!”
Standing in the far corner office doorway, Brinker grumbles softly, his gaze holding to me and making me feel almost…naked.
“Isn’t that a bit childish, Iclyn?” he mutters, barely loud enough for me to hear. But I can see the corner of his mouth twitch. He’s fighting it. His icy exterior is cracking just a bit.
I accidentally drop a container of glitter and it poofs into the air. “Even you have to admit that some fun could do us all good. Besides, don’t you want to show off your artistic skills? I bet you have a hidden talent for design.”
He scoffs, but I catch him glancing at the tiny mistletoe I hung over the breakroom doorway last week, just because it makes me smile every time someone scoots quickly under it.
He sighs. “I think my artistic skill lies in stocks and bonds, not paper and glue.”
“Please,” I insist, practically bouncing in my seat. “You won’t regret getting into the holiday spirit. I promise.”
With a reluctant sigh, he finally relents. “Fine, I’ll join in. But don’t expect anything fancy.”
“Perfect.” My heart sings as I clench my fists in triumph.
The office chat turns electric as people divide up in groups. I can’t help but steal glances at Brinker, who sits across from me, glaring at a bunch of sparkly markers, as if they’ve personally offended him. I share reassuring smiles, the kind that make my cheeks ache, but he doesn’t seem to respond.
As the hour drags on, I work with my group from marketing, planning and executing our card. We decide on a snowman theme, and everything feels so vibrant and alive. Glitter shines in my hair, and I lose track of time as I belt out silly Christmas songs, pulling everyone into singing along.
But every so often, I can feel Brinker’s emerald eyes on me, and a little tingle trickles down my spine. It’s like he’s both annoyed and intrigued by my antics at the same time.
While I scurry around, trying to find some more mistletoe I can borrow for later, I bump right into him coming out of the breakroom as I’m going in for a quick refill of water.
Never needed caffeine to keep this holiday elf going.
