The Holiday Switch(49)

It’s a hug fest replete with basic introductions, and we huddle closer together as we all catch up with everyone’s Christmas celebrations.

KC announces, “He met the parentals.”

“Aaand how did it go?” I ask.

Sebastian bites his lip, grinning. “It went all right.”

“They love him, of course,” KC added.

“Aw, that’s great. Right, Carm?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Carm’s looking over my shoulder, at a guy walking in our direction. It’s Aiden O’Conner. All six feet of him, in a navy-blue coat and a beanie covering his dark blond hair. “Do I look okay? Am I overdressed?” She looks down. “Maybe I wore too many layers. I mean, it will be good while we take pictures, but not for ice-skating later. Talk about a heatstroke in the making. Hey, aren’t you officially certified in CPR? Do they teach heatstroke maintenance? They really should if they don’t already. Oh gosh, maybe I shouldn’t have invited him. He probably thinks this is all cheesy—”

“Carm!”

Her eyes dart my direction. Tendrils of hair have fallen out of her knit cap, and her cheeks are red, more from nervousness than the chill. “What?”

“Breathe!”

Her lips purse, and sure enough, she exhales just as Aiden approaches.

Then someone else sidles up to me.

    I look up. It’s Teddy, eyes bright. My body warms at least ten degrees.

What cold?

“You look chipper,” I whisper. Beyond him staying past midnight at my house last night, we texted afterward, until I could no longer keep my eyes open.

“I sent a thirteen today,” he whispers into my ear, excitement in his voice.

I have no idea what that means, but it still sends shivers through me.

As if reading my thoughts, he says, “I’ll have to show you one of these days.”

Now it’s me who can’t seem to breathe.

When we get to Santa’s cottage door, the host, dressed as Santa’s elf, asks, “Would you like to take a group picture, or in couples?”

“It’s…um…” I look around. We are, in fact, three couples.

“I…uhhh,” Carm adds.

“Group!” KC says, saving the moment.

We shuffle indoors, down a small corridor, toward a very realistic-looking Santa.

“He’s so real, it’s creepy,” KC whispers.

The host elf has no time for small talk. She shuffles us next to Santa. “Some rules: no sitting on Santa’s lap if you’re over fifty pounds, not even in jest. All right. You go here.” Host Elf pulls Carm on Santa’s right, me on Santa’s left, and somehow, the Elf has enough foresight to couple everyone up so that Teddy is behind me.

Host Elf skips next to Camera Elf. “All right, everyone. Get close.”

    Across from me, Carm giggles. And I see why. Aiden’s hand is on her shoulder.

Then I feel a hand on mine.

“This okay?” Teddy asks, his face ridiculously close to mine.

My heart stutters to a stop. “Um, uh-huh.”

“Ready, kids?” Santa asks. “On three, say ‘Santa needs a nap!’?”

“Santa needs a nap!” we say in chorus, and burst into laughter.

Except with Teddy touching me, I am now absolutely wide awake.



* * *





The picture is sent to Carm’s email for future purchase and the five of us hover around her as she pulls it up. We’re in line for shoes at our next Mission: Holly task, Prancer’s Ice Rink, six out of six of us amped with our bellies happy after grabbing cider doughnuts at Comet’s.

“Awww. That’s cute!” Seb says. “We all look super happy.”

“Santa knew exactly how to make us smile,” Aiden says. “I heard they’ve hired the same Santa the last five years because he’s so good.”

We make it to the skate-rental counter, where each of us calls out our sizes and grabs our skates. Then we find an empty bench for all of us to sit and switch out our shoes.

“The last time I skated was when I was thirteen,” Teddy says.

“I thought you said you liked ice-skating.”

“I mean, I do. It’s just been forever.”

“You’ll be in good company, because Lila sucks.” Carm laughs.

I roll my eyes. “Just because you were put into ice dancing at the age of three onward.”

    Aiden brightens. “Ice dancing?”

“Thanks, Lila,” Carm mutters.

“I’m pretty good at skating. Did some hockey growing up,” KC says. “Back when I didn’t care about objects hitting me at lightning speed.”

“KC, Carm, if you like getting some air under your skates, you’re a shoo-in for climbing,” Teddy says.

I’m focusing on tying my shoes, but my ears pick up the sound of his voice, at how it lilts with happiness.

“Ready to enter the rink?” Aiden asks, standing and holding out his hand to Carm.

Carm’s eyes flash with excitement, and I hope she doesn’t combust. She jumps up, and they both enter the rink.

KC and Sebastian hold hands. Both look confident on skates.