Page 194 of How My Neighbour Stole Christmas
“Total nightmare,” I say just as Cole walks up to us with Atlas.
“Darling, how not lovely to see you,” he says in a sarcastic tone as he leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek.
I cross my arms over my chest. “The feeling is mutual.”
He nods at Taran. “How’s the evil sister doing?”
“It would behoove you not to address me in such a way,” she says. She looks both Cole and Atlas up and down. “I see that you chose to wear your tight pants today. I hope they split while you’re running around.”
“So do I,” Cole says with a grin. “Martha and Mae are judging, and I know they have a penchant for men popping out of their clothes.”
I hold back the snort that wants to come out of my mouth and instead cover it with a smirk while I pretend to scratch the bottom of my nose.
“I will have you know we’ve been practicing night and day, and no one is more prepared to take this win than Storee.”
“Night and day? Huh, I thought I saw Storee around town. Couldn’t possibly be all day…and night.”
Oh my God, Cole.
“You know what I mean,” Taran says, hands on her hips. “Just be prepared because she’s bringing her A game.”
“I’m shaking,” Cole says and then comes up to me again. This time, he kisses me on the other cheek, his face blocked by mine as he whispers, “You look beautiful.”
I feel my cheeks blush as he pulls away. “Don’t trip over the rugs,” he says as he moves away from us and over to the station with his name on it. He and Atlas look over the setup and move a few things around.
“He’s so arrogant. I can’t believe you’ve even allowed him near you these past few weeks.”
It’s been a real travesty.
All those orgasms, how dare he!
“It’s almost over,” I say as Aunt Cindy makes her way toward us.
Taran spent some time curling her hair this morning at the dining room table while I speed-wrapped. I was able to get the perfect wrap job done in a minute and ten seconds. We are going to be judged by how fast and how accurate our wrapping is, so I think I have that covered. Most importantly, though, Aunt Cindy said she wanted to look her best today. Therefore, we found her best red turtleneck and paired it with a white-and-green Christmas vest and green slacks. She looks like Aunt Cindy in all her holiday glory again.
“I think we can win this, girls.”
“I think so too,” Taran says. “We just need Storee to focus.”
“I’m focused,” I say. “Okay? I’m plenty focused, but I’m going to be less focused if you keep bothering me about being focused.”
“All right, girls, all right. Maybe we should go around and say something nice about each other,” Aunt Cindy says. “Because I can feel the tensions are high, and we need to rely on each other, not battle.”
God, she sounds just like Mom…when Mom isn’t sipping margaritas down in Cancun.
“I’ll start,” Aunt Cindy says, taking both of our hands in hers. “These past few weeks have been some of the best I’ve had in a long time.” Her eyes tear up, and I can feel a wave of guilt pass through me for all the bad weeks that came before. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being around you again, seeing your smiling faces in the morning, seeing you work together, enjoying the holiday season like we used to. It’s meant so much to me. And Taran, you’ve been so wonderful taking care of me, helping me with my rehab. Not to mention, your precision with hanging the lights has been a sight to behold.” Taran smiles brightly, something I haven’t seen in a while. Then Aunt Cindy turns to me. “My dear Storeebook, you are who I’ve worried about the most.”
“Me?” I ask, confused. “Why me?”
“Because I saw you shut down after what you went through with this town all those years ago. I saw that beautiful heart of yours shrink a size or two, and to me, that was a huge tragedy. You have always been the girl who loved Christmas, who’d spend every waking moment with me participating in the holiday season. So when I didn’t see you come around anymore, I thought that maybe you’d lost your precious, infectious spirit.”
“I was only…I think I was just trying to find myself.”
She pats my hand. “I understand that, but seeing you here, seeing you smile, seeing you participate in the Town Kringle competition has been so beautiful to witness. I’m just overjoyed that you’d compete in my honor. It means the world to me.”
“Of…of course,” I say. “I want nothing more than to win this for you, Aunt Cindy.”
“Thank you,” she says sweetly and then glances at Taran. “Okay, your turn.”
