Page 17 of Santa Loves Curvy Girls

Garland citizens prided themselves on staying here for life, and rightly so.

“That would be my second choice too,” I said.

“What about you?” he asked. “Favorite Christmas present?”

I smiled. “Easy.” I held up the gift he’d given me earlier. “This.”

“You’re just being nice,” he said.

I scoffed. “I’m not! No one’s ever given me something like this before. It was very thoughtful.”

There was a beat of silence after that. The kind where it was hard to look at each other.

His hand covered mine for a second, and my breath hitched.

Then his hand was back on his mug.

I couldn’t believe he had really reached over to touch my hand.

I also couldn’t believe what a cool person he was.

And it was driving me crazy not knowing who he really was.

All this time, and we’d never become friends until now?

We finished our hot chocolates and kept talking. This time about what we wanted to do after high school or college.

“I can totally see you opening up a bakery,” he said.

“Thanks. You’ll get free cookies for life for being my first investor,” I teased.

He gave a “Yes!” and made a motion like he’d gotten the high score.

I smiled. “What about you?”

“I don’t know yet. I like talking to and helping people.” He shrugged. “If wearing this suit has taught me anything, it’s that.”

Aw, who was this guy? He was not like any jock I’d ever met.

“Maybe you’ll be the next mayor of Garland,” I quipped.

He grinned. “Maybe,” but he sounded sarcastic. “I don’t know if I’d want to be in the spotlight, though.”

He looked like he wanted to go on, but he didn’t.

That made me think he was familiar with being in the spotlight, but I didn’t ask.

Instead, we got up. He had somewhere he had to be, and I had to get home.

He walked me a couple of blocks before turning toward Tinsel Terrace.

With my gift in hand, I walked the rest of the way home, grinning like a complete doofus.

10

NICK

The next time I saw Belle, I had a proposal for her.

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