Page 11 of Deadly Night
“I was just thinking about it.”
“Your shift starts in five minutes. Get a move on if you want a chance to talk to Nick before the sticky-fingered goblins descend upon you.”
By the time I go by the donation booth, Nick is gone. I am able to slip the bear into one of the collection boxes.
The clock tower in the center of town chimes, and I rush to get to my post at Santa Land. Kids are lined up in their holiday outfits and festive pajamas for a chance to tell Santa their Christmas wish while getting a picture snapped. I hurry to get into place next to the golden rope. Santa winks at me, and mycheeks flush. Do I know Santa? It’s hard to tell beneath that fake beard and wig.
I shove my hand into the bowl on the table filled with mini candy canes, grabbing a handful. The first kid steps forward, and I hand him some candy and wave him through. The line doesn’t stop. Every now and again I catch glimpses of Damon loading up Christmas trees. Our eyes never meet again, but sometimes I think I can feel his gaze on me.
And it feels welcome. Familiar. He reminds me of my ghost.
By the end of my shift, my back and my feet are killing me. My skirt is covered in sticky handprints. I swing by the face painting booth to fetch my boots and take off these ridiculous elf shoes. I take a seat next to Syd while she finishes helping pack up the booth for the night.
A shadow falls over me. I glance up to see Nick wearing the pants of the Santa suit minus the beard and jacket. “Thought you could use this.” He hands me a hot chocolate.
“Thanks.”
Sydney nudges my shoulder with hers. ‘Talk to him.’ She mouths the words at me.
Nick grins, clearly reading her lips. “You looked great out there.” His gaze lingers on my chest a second too long, and his cheeks redden when he realizes I’ve caught him staring. But that was the point of this whole ridiculous idea. To get his attention. So I guess I should thank Sydney. Her plan is working.
“Thanks. This isn’t my normal style.”
“You mean those elf ears aren’t real?”
“Ha. You’ve got jokes.” I pull the hat off followed by the headband and instantly feel relief. I run my fingers through my hair. Sydney pretends to busy herself shuffling some makeup brushes around, moving them from cup to cup, but I know she’s hanging on every word we share.
“So, I was wondering if I could get your number.”
“Yeah okay. Sure.” If he were the one sending me those texts, wouldn’t he already know it? Though if it were him, he wouldn’t want me to know that, I guess. He hands me his phone, and I type my number in.
“Think I could call or text you later?”
“She’d love that,” Sydney answers for me with way too much cheer. “But you should do me a favor and go with her to get me some peppermint bark before it’s all gone. You wouldn’t want her walking around by herself looking like a whole damn meal.”
I glare at Sydney, but Nick holds his hand out. “Shall we?”
“Sure.”
Syd waves her hands forward, shooing us away from the booth.
“I’m sorry about that. She’s bossy and embarrassing.”
“I think it’s sweet. She obviously cares about you and wants to see you with a good guy.”
“Do you think you’re a good guy?” The words roll off my tongue before I can stop them.
Nick squeezes my hand. “Maybe.”
We stroll through the booths, most of them packed up for the night. Sydney won’t be getting any peppermint bark, but I think that was her excuse to force Nick and me together. I half-expect him to steer us toward the lit-up gazebo. The romantic choice, but he steers me toward the edge of the parking lot near the leftover trees leaning against the fence.
A peculiar smirk crosses his face. He gestures to the abandoned trees. “Do you ever think about just grabbing one and running off?”
“Do you secretly dream of being the Grinch Who Stole Christmas?”
Nick chuckles. “Is it stealing if it’s going to be tossed out anyway?”
I imagine how silly the two of us would look. Running down Main Street with a seven-foot Blue Spruce, leaving a trail of sharp pine needles and scandal. “I think that might make us criminals.” I can picture the headline now in the Mistletoe Pines Gazette: Local Thieves Steal Christmas…
