Page 171 of How My Neighbour Stole Christmas
“But, Taran—”
“What’s going on, dears?” Aunt Cindy says from her seat beside us. For public appearances, she’s moved from a wheelchair to a walker, which we put green-and-red tennis balls on and then decked out the rest to show her Christmas spirit.
“Storee is feeling nervous and pukey,” Taran says. “And she’s trying to sabotage the whole competition by fainting or screaming ‘rat.’ I’m trying to reassure her that she’s fine.”
“You’re not the one who embarrassed herself ten years ago and knocked an ornery woman into the river.”
“That was ten years ago,” Taran says. “And she was fine, just wet.”
“Not to mention,” Aunt Cindy says, “you did the Judy Garland rendition so well.”
“That was different,” I say. “I was still nervous, but I just had to sit there and look out a window while mouthing lyrics. This routine has me moving all around…and singing.”
“Yes, but we practiced,” Taran says. “Now just watch on my phone one more time, and everything should be—”
“Ready to lose?” Cole says as he comes up behind us.
I turn around to catch a smirk cross his lips.
“Get out of here, you pariah,” Taran says. “We don’t need you over here messing with Storee. She’s already flustered.”
“You’re flustered?” he asks, and I can see the concern in his eyes.
“No,” I say, crossing my arms, trying to play the part. “Taran is just saying that so you think you can win this when in reality you don’t have a routine half as good as mine.”
“That’s the spirit.” Taran fist-pumps the air. “You tell him.”
Okay, Taran, bring it down a notch.
“I’m sure it will be great,” Cole says in a sarcastic tone that I know he doesn’t mean. “But I need to pull you to the side for a moment. Tanya wants to say hi to the new couple. We must give the people what they want.”
Taran rolls her eyes. “This whole farce you have going is completely ridiculous, and there’s no merit to it.”
“The reason you’re in first right now is because I put you girls on the map with this idea.”
“Oh, please,” Taran says. “We’re in first because we’re the better team.” She shoos at him with her hand. “Now hurry along. I need to get my Kringle-ee mentally prepared.”
Cole grabs my hand and brings me to a secluded corner of the café, away from the ruckus and near the bathrooms. I glance around. “Where’s Tanya?”
I can barely get the sentence out before his lips are on mine. My hand floats up the soft flannel of his shirt as he pulls me in tighter, his mouth opening just barely.
This is exactly what I needed. This kiss. This moment of ease.
Him.
His comfort and reassurance.
When I pull away, I glance up at his beautiful eyes. “Thank you.”
“Feeling better?”
“A little,” I say.
“Don’t be flustered or nervous, okay? It can’t get worse than Beatrice up there.”
I chuckle and nod. “I think she’s scaring the children.”
“I saw a mom block her child’s eyes.”
