Page 42 of Merry Mayhem
“Oh.”
I told Nora about Josh then. And that he visited Harley. And that they still text sometimes.
She agreed that he sounds amazing.
“Well…that’s…a weird coincidence.”
I sigh.
“So, youareattracted to him, but it’s not…” She trails off, clearly not sure how to finish that.
I just look at her, lips pressed together. Then I confess, “This hasneverhappened to me before.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh.”
“I hate it.”
“Oh.”
“We might need to pull out of Merry Mayhem.”
Nora shakes her head. “Too late. Besides, you and Josh are the fan favorites. Right behind you are Sam and Ashley. If you pull out, they move into the lead.”
“How do you even know that? Wejustdid the kickoff.”
“We polled people during the Get to Know the Contestants event,” she says, as if that should have been obvious.
I roll my eyes. “So, my choices are spend all this time with Josh and just ignore my feelings, or let my sister’s jackass ex win this contest that means so much to her? The one thing she didnotwant to happen?”
Nora nods. “Pretty much.”
Great. My only shot at being agoodsister is to spend the next three days in close proximity with her boyfriend, having fun, making merry, and being perfect partners so we can win this thing.
And trying really hard not to fall for him.
“Are you going to have the hot chocolate booth open all weekend?” I ask Nora.
“Of course.”
“Be sure you keep the schnapps well stocked.”
CHAPTER 10
JOSH
It’s nearlyeleven by the time I climb the steps to Thea’s front door. The lights are still on in the front window, so I hope I won’t wake her and Ruth.
I pause on the top step and take in the wreath on the front door, the lighted plastic gift boxes arranged by the front door, and the multi-colored lights strung along the gutter and the front railing. They’re falling down on one corner, and I make a note to fix that in the morning.
And for the first time, I wonder where Ruth’s dad is.
Not that Thea isn’t capable of putting up and fixing Christmas lights on her house. But she’s a single mom who owns her own business in her small hometown and clearly has a big family that she sees often. She’s clearly doing a lot. How long has she been single? Is he around to help at all? Does he regret letting her go?
I only know the answer to one of those questions. That last one. He definitely regrets it.
Either that, or he’s an idiot.
I pause at the door. Should I text and let her know that I’m here? She didn’t give me a key, and I don’t want to knock or ring the doorbell.
