Page 9 of Mr. Merry Ex-Mas
“Something like that.”
“Listen, she’s being Sadie. You shouldn’t be surprised. This is a big deal for her, and according to Kylie, she’s making sure everything she does is done to perfection so she’ll get more gigs later.”
“I know why she’s doing it.” She wants to be the best. She always wanted to be the best and deliver the best event she could to those around her. “She’s just locked in. Like a freight train, she’s doing everything to swerve around me and my possible derailing it.”
Matt grinned. “Then stop being so easy to dodge.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I stare at him.
“It means,” he said, leaning in like he was letting me in on a secret, “you catch her before she’s surrounded. You’ve got rehearsal tomorrow morning, right? She gets there early?”
I frown. “Yeah, like an hour early. To get the place ready to ‘get ready.’” I make air quotes.
“Then that’s your window.”
“Window for what? She’ll still be in clipboard mode.”
“Sure,” he said, shrugging, “but she won’t have her army around her yet. It will be just you and her. Ask about the event, let her talk, then?—”
“Idocare about the event,” I cut in, sharper than I meant to.
He smirks. “Uh-huh. But we both know what you’re really there for.”
I look down at my beer. Yes, I accepted the position when the school asked me, but once I knew she was in charge, I was definitely excited for it. Matt isn’t wrong. I missed her. Not the bossy, checklist-obsessed Sadie—well, maybe her, too—but the one who laughed with me, gave it back to me as good as I teased her. I missed all our late-night conversations together.
“I’ll show up early. Worst case, she still avoids me, and I look like an idiot in an empty room.”
Matt smirked. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
7
SADIE
The school is too quiet for seven in the morning, but I like it this way. No voices or distractions.
No Danny.
After my talk with Kylie last night, I barely slept. Everything she said played over in my head and had me thinkingwhat ifandwhy not? Could I go back to us? Could I bend enough to let Danny be Danny? Would he accept my timelines and need for structure? Could we blend our lives?
I couldn’t go through that thought process today. I couldn't allow myself to dwell on any what-ifs or could-bes right now. First on my list is that I have to make it through this gala, make it through planning with Danny, and give the town the best event they've seen yet. And then my sister was going to have her baby, and life was going to change again. I don’t really know how any of it’s going to happen unless I plan for it.
I walk down the main hall and into the auditorium, armed with my extra-whip caramel coffee. I have half an hour to turn this place into a winter wonderland before the others start to arrive—thirty minutes of no chaos mixed with charm. Eighteen hundred seconds of no innuendos or secret glances.
Or so I thought.
Here he is, standing on a step stool, hanging ornaments and whistling off-key. My gasp as I pull up short has him looking over his shoulder.
“I’m going for the ‘overachiever award’ today.”
I swallow hard and give him a tight smile. “Guess it’s never too late to aim high.”
His lips twitch, and I pretend not to remember how good his kiss was. I walk to the table, drop my purse and coffee, and pick up my clipboard. I go over the checklist but feel his eyes on me, and when I flip to the second page, I know why.
Song List
Back Door Santa
Jingle My Balls
