Page 30 of Rowdy St. Nick

Tess

The strung Christmas lights twinkle across my living room as I fluff the last decorative pillow on the couch. My family’s heading over to my downtown place before we take on the Christmas festival in the town square.

I give the room another once-over, plucking a rogue strand of tinsel off the floor. It glitters in my hand as I chuckle. Shit, tinsel is like the confetti of the holiday season, showing up where you least expect it. Clothes are strewn on the chair in the corner, and I gather them up with a sweep of my arm, stuffing them into the closet.

Authenticity is at my core. That's what moves me. It's why I'm here, in this small town full of big hearts and bigger skies, instead of the bustling city that never knew my name.

My phone buzzes, and I snatch it up to see a text.

Lucas:5 minutes away!

Me:Thanks for the warning!

The doorbell chimes, and I fling the door open. There they are, all bundled up in scarves and puffy jackets.

"Hello!" I exclaim, as they welcome me with all smiles.

"Look at you!" Mom's eyes twinkle with that same poison ivy green as mine, scanning me up and down. "Thanks for letting us park here and going to the festival with us. I know you had to take the night off of work to be with us."

"I know this is something that you and Dad really like to do. It’s become our tradition since we moved here a few years ago," I reply.

Dad's mustache tickles my cheek as he leans in to squeeze me tight. "Your place looks great, Tess."

"Thanks, Dad." I step back, ushering them inside. "I even cleaned under the bed. Can you believe it?"

"Miracle on Main Street," my brother quips, and laughter erupts among us.

"Alright, let's not waste any time. The festival awaits!" I announce, sweeping my hand toward the door like a game show hostess, my other habits of avoiding undergarments and the disdain for monotony suddenly feeling like trivial matters. This is about family and festivities.

We spill onto the sidewalk and follow Heartville's Christmas to the town square.

"Can you smell that?" I ask, inhaling deeply to smell the scents of pine needles and cinnamon. "That's Christmas in Heartville for you."

"Sure beats city smog," Lucas agrees, his arm slung around my shoulders in a casual side-hug.

"Isn't that whatshisname... the lawyer?" Mom nudges me, nodding discreetly toward a man decked out in a sweater so festive it could double as a Christmas tree skirt. "You know, since the cowboy doesn’t seem to be working out. This guy was asking about you, Tess."

"Maybe," I hedge, feeling a tug in my chest, the one that comes when they start setting life's menu and forget I'm the one who has to eat the meal. Parker's image, all easy smiles and rough edges, makes a lump form in my throat, and I swallow down the conflict bubbling up inside.

"Good prospect," Dad adds, giving me a wink that's supposed to be conspiratorial but feels more like a trap.

"Sure, if you're into tinsel neckties," I murmur, scanning the booths for an escape route.

"Levi!" My brother's voice booms over the festival chatter towards the town mechanic.

"Hey, buddy!" Levi grins, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. He's got Beck, his little carbon copy, hoisted on his shoulders.

"Fixed Tess's car up real good, didn't ya?" Lucas claps him on the back, and Levi's modest nod is the picture of understated pride.

"Runs like a dream," I chime in.

"Better than any shiny new model," Levi agrees.

"Speaking of models," Mom interjects, throwing a pointed glance back at Mr. Lawyer Sweater. "That one's quite the—"

“Dad, is it hot chocolate time!” Becks interrupts with a holler.

"Sure thing, buddy!" Levi says. “You all heard the man; we’ve got important business to tend to. Please excuse us.”

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