Page 7 of Santa Loves Curvy Girls

After another beat, I added, “Are you one of my elves?”

She blinked a couple times after that and stepped out of my way. “Uh, yeah. I guess I am.”

I took a seat in Santa’s armchair. This chair was comfier than it looked.

“Sort of a last-minute thing… Didn’t expect to,” she went on.

Now I was looking up at her from my seat. She picked up a large tray of sugar cookies, like she was about to run off. But I didn’t want her to leave yet.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Oh,” she said. Was it me or was she pretty nervous?

It had to be the suit. The costume was not like something you’d pick up at your local party store. It was the real deal. Between the large beard and the fake brows attached to my face, the special gloves, and the velvet suit that looked like it had been stitched by real elves, I couldn’t even recognize myself in the mirror.

Best of all, I was really liking the anonymity.

“I’m Belle,” she told me, her voice quiet.

I knew that, but I didn’t want to let her know that. In fact, she couldn’t know that.

I almost felt like a real-life Spiderman. I’d walked into the mall Nick St. James, then walked out of the bathroom as Saint Nicholas. No one knew it was me.

“Hi, Belle.” I glanced down at the cookies she was holding. “Did you make those?”

“I did,” she said, finally seeming to relax a little and smiling. She had a nice smile, the kind that made me forget who I was for a moment. “Would you like one?”

Sugar cookies were my favorite. I looked down and spotted a Santa Claus cookie, beard and all.

I picked it up and took a bite. “Mmm.” I couldn’t help myself. It was warm, buttery, and melted right in my mouth. I stared at Belle. “This is the best cookie I’ve ever had,” I managed.

Her cheeks flushed pink. “Really?”

“Really,” I said, taking another bite. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you that before?”

She shook her head. “I just bake as a hobby.”

“You should open your own store in town or something. These are incredible,” I replied.

She blushed again. “I wish. Maybe someday.”

Belle was a junior like me at Garland High. We were in all the same classes and were friendly, but we hung out in differentfriend groups. I knew her dad worked for the city doing road maintenance, but I didn’t know much else about her.

After that, her mom appeared out of nowhere with a kid in tow. Belle scurried off with the rest of her cookies, and I focused on the little boy in front of me.

He looked excited but also very hesitant to come near me.

“Well, hello there!” I exclaimed, making my voice as deep and jolly as possible. “What’s your name?”

He bit his lip and stared at the floor. “Ryan,” he practically squeaked.

“Nice to meet you, Ryan,” I replied. I noticed his Spiderman sneakers. Ryan was my kind of guy. “Do you like Spiderman?”

He nodded, a smile lighting up his face. “He’s my favorite! My bed is Spiderman too!”

I grinned back. Yes, I was doing it. This was the part I’d been nervous about. “And do you have any Spiderman toys?” I asked.

He took a step closer, close enough to where I could put my arm around him. “Is it alright if I touch you?” I asked.

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