Page 12 of Jingl
I can’t hear what they’re saying, but Porter laughs that bright little kid sound. He points towards me and Shae flashes me a boxer melting smile.
They whisper together. Porter has a hand pressed against his cheek to hide his mouth. Shae’s eyes meet mine. His face gives away that he’s wanting to laugh, but won’t. When Porter finishes his story—I assume it’s a story, the kid can ramble—Shae holds out his hands. Porter and Kenzie each take one and march Shae toward me. It’s like the little brats are trying to play matchmaker and I have to wonder if Wendy mentioned anything.
Mybreath hitches because they’re getting closer. When they’re merely steps away, the kids let go. They run until they plow into my legs, then hide behind me.
Shae chuckles, and his blue eyes meet mine. I take in every feature like I’m seeing him for the first time. Video calls and cell phone pictures don’t do him justice. His blond hair sparkles, as do his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. The little hat. But it’s always his eyes that draw me in.
“Trace,” he whispers.
Just my name on his lips and I’m a puddle. “I’ve missed you so damned much, Shae.”
Shae opens his arms and I plow into him. Porter and Kenzie wrap themselves around Shae’s legs. We’re making a scene, no doubt.
I breathe in Shae’s vanilla scent. He really goes all out for this elf gig.
An elf with pink hair waltzes over. “Hey, Jingle, need some help?”
“I’m okay, Holli Jolly.” Shae, or I guess Jingle, laughs when we move away from each other.
I can’t take my eyes off Shae as I hold out my hand to Holli Jolly. “Trace, sorry for distracting Jingle. We go way back.”
Holli Jolly eyes me up and down. “Uh, huh.” He gives a look to Shae that says ‘I want the tea later’ before leaving us to each other again.
“I should probably let you get back to work. The niblings are chomping at the bit to talk to Santa and tell him how good they’ve been.”
Shae leans in, his breath ghosting my ear. “Welcome home, Tracy.” He takes a few steps back and flips his keytar around to his front. Those beautiful fingers play a few notes.
He flashes me one more smile, and my heart skips a beat.
Holy shit, I reallyreallydo have feelings for my best friend.
Chapter 7
Shae
My heart pounds. Trace is here. Well,washere. My fellow elves and I are sweeping up the debris from the day and getting the set ready for tomorrow. Holli Jolly, Holli, sidles up next to me and leans against his broom.
“So… what was that all about with the guy earlier?”
“Trace?”
Alec cackles from his spot where he’s breaking down his lighting equipment.
“Don’t you dare start!” I shout at him.
Of course, all this gets Nate’s and Billy’s attention, too.
I sigh as I sit on a fake gumdrop while everyone surrounds me, including Juniper, who hasn’t been embracing how close we all are. “Trace and I grew up together. Lived next door, our bedrooms were right across from each other, kinda close. Our birthday is exactly the same dayandtime of birth. His family moved away when we were fourteen.” I sigh dramatically. “We always followed each other on social media, but after I got his new address, I started snail-mailing him handwritten letters and we hadn’t stopped until he told me he was moving back.”
“How romantic,” Billy says.
“What? No, he’s my best friend.”
Holli snorts. “Are you kidding? Those were definitely bedroom eyes from both of you. Pretty sure Trace had a chub when you hugged.”
“There’s no way. He doesn’t see me like that.”
Alec groans. “Really? You keep telling yourself that after that text?”
