Page 4 of Fake it 'Til Christmas
“There you go again.Criticizing my choices like I didn’t grow up with two parents who turned guilt-tripping into an Olympic sport.”
“I’m not criticizing, I’m just?—”
“You want to know my plan or not?”
“Yes, please.Give me the SparkNotes.”
I hold up a finger.“Drumroll, please ...I finally signed the lease to open my bakery.”I clap for myself, and Skylar meows like she’s proud of me, too.
Soren blinks.“Wait, really?”
“Yep.An actual storefront with real countertops.It’s legit.”
“That’s ...actually impressive.”
“Thank you.I’ll be accepting compliments in written form or chocolate.”I grin.“Plus, I’m hoping to convince Chad that we should move in together.Maybe even visit his family at the ranch.”
Soren blinks again.“He has a ranch?”
I tap my chin because was it a ranch or ...“Yes.His family owns a farm or a ranch in Glacemont.”
He stares.“That sounds made up.”
I shrug.“Honestly, I’ve never heard of it either.Somewhere in Utah, I think?I haven’t looked it up yet, but it sounds quaint.Like rusty scenery and snow angels.”
“You haven’t been to Utah?”
“Details, Soren.Don’t get bogged down.”
He squints.“And your mom is into this guy?”
“She loves what I’ve told her about him.”
“What exactly did you tell her?”
“That he’s tall, has a jawline, has a loving family, and might one day call me ‘darlin’ while feeding me pie.”
“You really sold her the perfect boyfriend package.”
I lean forward and whisper.“Listen, the darling and the pie thing were made up, but the rest is legit.”Then I perk up.“Mom is excited for me.”
Soren shakes his head.“What’s his last name again?”
“Chad ...”I pause and blink twice.“Chad ...something.”
“You don’t know his last name?”
I point a finger at him.“Don’t ruin this for me, Soren.We’re in the fantasy-building stage of the relationship.”
He crosses his arms.“So, your plan to win the Wolfcraft Holiday Olympics is: open a bakery—solid start—and ...possibly move in with a guy whose last name you don’t remember, to a town you can’t locate, on a ranch that may or may not exist?”
I shake my head.“No, you’re getting it all wrong.”I lift my hand so he stops while I talk.“He’d move here with me.Then we’ll visit his family often.”
“This isn’t going to work out.”
There he goes with his negative vibes.“It’s called vision, Soren.I’m manifesting ...you wouldn’t understand.”
He exhales like I’m the one who is wrong in this conversation.“Fred?—”
