Page 4 of Just a Holiday Hangout

Arlo shook his head at her sassy attitude. “Yes… you do get to choose… but I was thinking things like where we go for ice cream and what movies we watch. Not if we leave the country.”

“But… you can’t turn it down. I know how much you wanted to—”

Arlo cut her off. “There will be other opportunities.”

“Opportunities for what?” Ada had waited an extra moment before using her most casual gait entering the room.

Brooklyn piped up, “Uncle Arlo got offered a job DJing a New Year’s Eve party in Brazil… and he’s gotta take it, right Ada?”

Ada’s initial reaction was to say, “Great! Superb! Yes! Take it. Leave. Be gone so I can actually relax and enjoy being in Big Bear for the holidays.” But, she held her tongue. Instead, she remembered Maggie’s words encouraging her to leave the past in the past. So, she painted on a smile and mustered all the polite resolve she could. “Yeah, that sounds…really cool. Visiting Rio is on my bucket list.”

There. That was a very amicable response.Ada glanced at Maggie for approval. Maggie gave her a sly grin and a nod in return signaling she knew how much restraint Ada was showing.

“So there we go! We’re going to Brazil!” Brooklyn jumped up and down, clapping.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa…No. We’re not,” Arlo said with his hands up.

“If you’re worried about who will take care of me, you don’t have to. I’ll just hang out with you in the DJ booth.”

“A New Year’s Eve party isn’t exactly a place for kids. Besides, there’s so much fun stuff to do in Big Bear—likeshopping.”

Ada watched Brooklyn cross her arms over her chest. “I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to distract me with shopping. This issooonot over.”

Shaking his head, Arlo stood. “How are you not even a teenager yet?”

Ada tried to hold back a smile. Seeing the way Arlo cared for Brooklyn was cute. Most of all, seeing the way Brooklyn so clearly loved Arlo was heart-stoppingly adorable.

Maybe Maggie was right… Maybe I shouldn’t write Arlo off based on that one time he stood me up…. Or, that’s exactly what I should do. People show you who they are by their actions.

Chapter 2

Ada - 4 days until Christmas

Toherowndemise,Ada stayed up too late scrolling on social media which meant she slept in late. When she awoke, the house was eerily quiet considering there were seven people now staying there.

Walking into the living room, she saw Brooklyn snuggled on the couch. Noticing Ada, she looked up from her phone. “Hey! Bout time you woke up!”

“I know,” Ada cringed. Stifling a yawn, she asked, “Where is everyone?”

“I guess there’s a couples Gingerbread Man Hunt downtown that Liza and Miller and Chase and Maggie decided to do. Oh and uncle Arlo’s in a meeting.”

Grabbing a box of cereal off the counter, Ada poured some into a bowl. “Since when do DJs have meetings?” she murmured to herself.

“Uncle Arlo and I are gonna head into town in about an hour. There’s a snowman building contest this afternoon that I really want to do. If you help us, I know ours would be the best!”

Ada hesitated. “Oh that sounds fun, but I don’t want to interrupt time with your uncle.”

“Psh,” Brooklyn waved away Ada’s concern. “You won’t! I like spending time with Uncle Arlo, but… it’s been nice to feel like… I don’t know… I have a girl friend.”

Ada peered over at Brooklyn who was staring at her hands.

Shoot.Ada usually had zero trouble saying no… but apparently her strong will melted near sweet kids who called her “friend.”

Ada smiled at Brooklyn. “Alright, but in order to be ready in an hour I’m gonna have to prep at olympic speed.”

Brooklyn straightened. “Don’t worry, I know a million ways to stall my uncle if I need to! Girls gotta stick together, right?”

Ada laughed. “Right!”

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