Page 104 of How My Neighbour Stole Christmas
The boys give each other pats on the back and…are they waving to the crowd? Good lord.
“In third, we have Ursula with thirty-four points, following with a tie at twenty-three points each between Jimmy and Beatrice.” Bob removes his spectacles and continues, “Nothing is set in stone, though, and therankings can change with one single competition. With our coveted candy cane-making competition next, I have a feeling the tides will turn. So good luck to our Kringle-ees and ho-ho-ho! Merry Christmas!”
The crowd offers a “Merry Christmas” as well and then starts dispersing. I take that moment to turn to Cole, a smile on my face. “How’s the view from second?”
“Not bad,” he says, his teeth pulling over his lip.
“Ew, don’t be a pervert,” I say, pushing at his shoulder.
“You’re the one who asked.”
“Yeah, and I wasn’t talking about my backside.”
“Shame.”
“Stop that,” I say, getting closer. “The fake flirting.”
“Why? You getting confused?”
“No, but you’re annoying. I liked you better when you were a grump. This…this act you’re putting on is frankly inappropriate.”
“Inappropriate?” he asks with a raised brow.
“Yes, you are—”
“Wonderful fruitcakes,” Tanya says, coming up to us. “Storee, how could I not pick Cindy’s for first? It’s easily the best I’ve ever had, and you executed it so brilliantly.”
Switching from irritated to happy within a blink of an eye, I say, “Thank you, Tanya. That means a lot to the both of us. I know how hard Aunt Cindy has worked on that recipe. I’m glad I could bring it to life.”
“You did a wonderful job.” Tanya then turns to Cole with a warm smile. “Cole, I was shocked with yours. Honestly, I expected a Jimmy-type fruitcake from you two and that’s not what I got at all. I think the only thing that lowered you on points was that there was a lot of pineapple, which took it in a more tropical direction instead of Christmas. But I will say this, if I was served your fruitcake while celebrating Christmas in Hawaii, I would have been absolutely tickled.”
“Thank you, Tanya. And thanks for the note—we will have to go back to the drawing board and refine.”
She pats him on the shoulder. “Great showing, though, for it being your first time with a change in recipe, and I have to admit I was grateful you didn’t make me eat Atlas’s mom’s recipe. She thinks the jam makes it, but she couldn’t be more wrong.”
Cole smirks. “I told her the same thing.”
“Oh, you naughty boy.” Tanya laughs and then waves. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”
“You too,” I say as Tanya takes off.
Cole turns to Atlas. “I fucking told you it was too much pineapple.”
Atlas, with his hands in his pockets, nods. “Yup, you were right, dear.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Storee
And just like that, the tables have turned.
Thanks to mashed potatoes, first place was earned.
But the winds seem to be changing; is romance really in the air?
In love and Christmas competitions, is all really fair?
Could his crush blossom to something that’s so much more?
