Page 8 of Kringle and the Kraken

“Just because you’re all partnered up doesn’t mean we all have to be.” But even as I said the words, I realized I was looking forward to seeing Levi again. Hopefully soon.

“Oh, there it is again!” Karla bounced on the balls of her feet, her dark brown braids swinging. “Who is he?”

“Who is who?” I was starting to get annoyed. I’d barely met Levi, and my family had already picked up the scent, hounding me about someone who was barely an acquaintance. And they wondered why I never brought anyone home to meet them.

“Whoever it is you keep thinking about.” Kimmy rubbed her belly.

“I’m not thinking of anyone. Leave it alone.”

But they didn’t. Instead, they started talking among themselves, working their way through all the eligible bachelors in town.

“Oh! I know!” My youngest brother’s voice cut through the din. “Is it the new guy setting up the record shop? Kori said he’s cute AF. Apparently, he’s stopped by Mizu Mizu for dinner a few times.”

I felt my cheeks go hot against my will.

“That’s it!” Kennedy crowed. “Is it true? Is he cute? Are you guys dating?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Pump the brakes there, Ken.” She scowled at the hated nickname, which was exactly why I’d used it. “He’s literally been in town for, like, two minutes, and I just met him yesterday afternoon.”

“He’s new in town?” my mom asked. “Does he have family here?”

I shrugged. “Like I said, I just met him. We haven’t gotten into family history and blood type yet.”

My mother shook her head while a few of my siblings giggled. It had been just as bad for them when they’d started bringing their significant others around.

Not that that was what Levi was.

But that zing I’d felt when we touched wasn’t nothing.

So maybe we could be.

He was gorgeous, all lean lines and broad shoulders, a full swimmer’s body, and his golden amber eyes were stunning.With as much time as I’d spent thinking about him since yesterday, I was definitely interested in getting to know him better.

“You should bring him for Thanksgiving,” my dad said, and I shook my head before he even finished speaking.

“No way. I’ve literally spent five minutes with Levi. I’m not bringing him for Thanksgiving so you can put him to work.”

“Fine, but if he doesn’t have any family around, the least we can do is extend an invitation to Christmas.” My mom nodded like it was final. “If you don’t invite him, I will.”

It wasn’t an idle threat. If I protested, she’d pick up her pocketbook and head out to invite him to the Kringle holiday festivities right now. I pushed back from the table and stood. “I’ll get back to you on the traffic pattern, but I have lecture notes I need to prepare, so I need to get going.”

I gave my mom and sisters quick kisses on their cheeks as they all tried to convince me to stay for dinner, but I’d had enough family time for now and politely declined.

In the relative safety of my truck, I took a deep breath. I loved my family. I really did, but spending time with them was exhausting sometimes. Key in the ignition, I put my car into drive and pulled away from the curb.

Lifeboat wasn’t a big town, and while my family lived on one side and I lived on the other, the whole trip only took about fifteen minutes, depending on whether I hit a red on both traffic lights in the center of town. When I turned onto Main Street, my eyes immediately fell to Levi’s record store. The storefront was dark, but there was a light on in the apartment above the shop. I wondered if that’s where Levi was living. Probably. It made the most sense.

My stomach rumbled as I hit the intersection of Main and Pine, and the white neon sign over the door for Mizu Mizu caught my eye. Some miso soup and crab rangoon woulddefinitely hit the spot, and the second I turned the corner onto Pine, a parking spot opened up right out front like it was some sort of sign.

The restaurant always smelled the same, the warm scents of ginger and chili floating on the air. I took a deep breath, letting the warm scents drive the chill from my body. This was one hundred percent the right decision.

“Hey, Kris.” Kori greeted me from behind the host’s stand. He and his older brother owned the restaurant, but he preferred to spend his time in the front of house while his brother, Tai, manned the kitchen. “How are you?”

“I’m good. Craving some miso soup.”

He smiled knowingly. “Had to deal with your family today?”

“Yeah. How did you know?”

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