The Holiday Switch(71)
Teddy hefts the two-person snow tube, and it slams against the snow. “This is going to be epic.”
“What if I just turn around and go back down the stairs? No one will know any better. See?” I point; the four are dragging their snow tubes back to the waiting area.
“I mean, you can do that, but then you’ll miss out on the last thing on your Mission: Holly list.”
“I can live with that.”
His eyebrows lift, and he gives me a knowing look.
I huff out a breath. “No, no, I can’t.”
Teddy offers a hand, and I take it. Though there are layers of fabric between our palms and fingers, I still feel his warmth.
Teddy leaves Holly tomorrow. Though he’s not due back in Syracuse until mid-January, he’ll spend his last week of break in California. Now, armed with a third-place medal from his competition, his next challenge is making peace with his parents. They actually flew in to the Finger Lakes after their phone call on New Year’s Eve, and even though Ms. Velasco and the Riveras still have a lot of stuff to work through, I know they’re going to be all right.
But I’m not worried about us. Syracuse is a short drive from Holly. And I have my own stuff to figure out in the meantime. Like the internship, which hasn’t been announced yet (even though I’m keeping my fingers crossed!), and my major, which I think I’m going to switch to undeclared. We’re still waiting on my financial aid offer (any day now, the school said), but I did sit down with Mom and Dad to work out the cost of my academic year with my merit-based scholarship and the college fund they saved for me. That alone lifted the pressure off my shoulders—they’re on my side, and whatever happens, they’ve got me too.
Teddy and I—we’re just taking things step by step. Yesterday, we discussed Holiday by the Lake, two-person-book-club style, over hot chocolate and chess.
Right now, our next step is going down this hill.
Teddy is already seated in the tube, arms held high. “C’mon, Lila, don’t leave me hanging.”
I inhale and climb in between his legs. Closer to the ground, Wonderhill is more ominous. Steeper. A shiver runs up my spine—like climbing, this loss of control is frightening—but as if he detects my fear, Teddy wraps his arms around me. In his hold, I relax, because I trust him.
“Lean back when we start going down. I’ve got you.”
I nod. And when we push off down the hill, with the wind against my face, I only feel thrill, and freedom, and hope.
All it took was one little holiday switch.
Acknowledgments
The joy I felt writing this book can only be surpassed by the gratitude I have for the people who helped me achieve this dream. Rachel Brooks—who never, ever ceases in her support, and in this unyielding effort connected me with Wendy Loggia and Hannah Hill. Wendy, thank you for seeing to the heart of me, and, Hannah, thank you for your remarkable editorial direction. You got to Lila’s story and her romance with Teddy. You carried that same vision for Holly and the Bookworm Inn. And you had that holiday spirit that transcended edits through the rest of the year.
To the absolute amazing Underlined imprint—thank you! The oh-so-talented Jacqueline Li and Casey Moses for the most adorable cover in the whole entire universe. Kristin Dwyer of LeoPR, my dearest friend and publicist—how lucky I am to have shared all these books with you. You are truly the best. To early readers Stephanie Winkelhake and Laura Brown—you are saints, I tell you! Absolute saints! To my #girlswritenight sweethearts: Annie Rains, Rachel Lacey, April Hunt, and Jeanette Escudero. #batsignal Tracey Livesay, Mia Sosa, Priscilla Oliveras, Michele Arris, and Nina Crespo. #5amwritersclub. Tall Poppy Writers.
To my parents, who made Christmas so special for us, no matter the circumstance. To my Greg, who tolerates the extended period of time our decorations are up because inside he knows he loves it all too. And my Fab Four: Greggy, Cooper, Ella, and Anna, whose utmost belief in me is the engine to all my efforts. And finally, to readers, bloggers, reviewers, and booksellers! Thank you for following me here! I couldn’t have done any of this without you!
About the Author
Tif Marcelo is a veteran US Army nurse and holds a BS in nursing and a master’s in public administration. She believes in and writes about the strength of families, the endurance of friendship, and heartfelt romances and is inspired daily by her own military-hero husband and four children. She hosts the Stories to Love podcast and is the USA Today bestselling author of In a Book Club Far Away, Once Upon a Sunset, The Key to Happily Ever After, and the Heart Resort and Journey to the Heart series.
TifMarcelo.com