Page 189 of How My Neighbour Stole Christmas
Her brow pulls together in a frown as she pops her hand on her hip. “That is not funny. That was a very traumatic moment for me.”
I tilt her chin up. “It’s okay to laugh about it now. It’s been over a decade.”
“Yeah…but still. There may be whisperings of what happened.”
I shake my head. “Trust me, the things they whisper about now are how Jimmy Short accidentally peed himself by the make-your-own-wreath display.”
“Wait, really? He peed himself?”
I nod, and we move through the ornament aisle pretty quickly, soon heading into the clothing section. “He peed himself. He said he had a burst water bottle in his pants, but no one believed him, especially after the security footage was passed around.”
“What did he do in the security footage?”
“He was talking to his now ex-wife, looking at the display. He was shifting side to side, looking like a three-year-old trying to hold his pee, and when they got spooked by one of those motion-detecting decorations, the pee was scared right out of him. His wife was humiliated, and shortly after the season, they divorced.”
“Because of what happened in the store?”
I shake my head. “No, I think they were headed in that direction to begin with, but I don’t think the incident helped. He’s been trying to recover ever since. Hence why he keeps trying to win the Kringle competition. I think he sees it as the ultimate way to get back at his ex and show her what she’s missing out on since it’s such a huge honor in this town. I don’t know if you’ve seen her in the crowd watching, but she’s the one in the bright green jacket and large peppermint candy earrings.”
“Oh my God, I know who you’re talking about. That’s his ex-wife?”
“Yup. At the Caroling Café, Max told me she was licking her lips a lot while watching Jimmy.”
“Licking her lips?”
I nod. “Yup, like she was enticed. Word on the street is people saw them talking outside the café. Who knows, maybe they’ll find love all over again.”
“Aw, a second-chance romance. Well, if he wants that, I hope it happens for him. What about Ursula Kronk? What’s her story?”
“She’s one of our first responders,” I say as Storee picks up a scarf. She wraps it over her own scarf and smiles up at me, looking adorable. I unwrap it and shake my head. “Ursula wanted to represent her team, so she decided to join in. She does some side hustling with donations, and then at the end of the year she announces how much she raised for the town’s first responders. Last year, she raised enough to make repairs to the firehouse that were desperately needed. Also new beds for the living quarters and updated computers. And she also won last year, so I’m sure she entered looking for a repeat.”
“Oh, that’s pretty cool. I kind of feel bad that she’s struggling this year. What place is she in again?”
“Fourth. It’s a weird showing for her. I’ve heard—and when I say heard, I mean Max telling me the gossip—that she liked competing against your aunt and that it hasn’t been the same this year.”
“Well, she could compete against me.”
“Not the same, apparently.” I pick up a pink crewneck sweatshirt with red lettering that saysthere are hos in this houseand hold it up to Storee. “This feels fitting for you.”
She glances down at it and then laughs. “Oh my God, I love that. Grab me a medium.”
“Seriously?”
“Oh yeah, I’m going to need that in my wardrobe. Thank you.” She moves to a green one and holds it up to me. It has a picture of Santa onthe front, and around it the wordsBig Nick Energy. “I think this one was made for you.”
A rumble of a laugh comes out of me. “Damn right.”
“What size? Because you’re getting it. Maybe you can wear something other than a flannel shirt.”
“I happen to like my shirts, but an extra-large will do.”
“Ooo, beefy man.” She pulls out an extra-large and drapes it over her arm.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask.
“Getting you this sweatshirt.”
“I can get them.” I reach for it, but she shies away from me.
