Page 75 of Starlight Bay

“Syd? You ready?” I rapped lightly on the door.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” she said, her voice muffled.

“Does the sweater not fit?”

“Oh, it fits.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Sydney opened the door and stepped out and my face broke into a wide grin.

“You look hot, what are you talking about?” I did a quick spin around her, nodding my approval. The sweater clung to her in all the right places and her ass looked great in her dark-rinse tight jeans.

“Meowy Christmas? Really?” She shot a disgusted look at the green sweater featuring a huge black and white cat wearing a Santa hat.

“What? I think that’s awesome. Mine’s not any better,” I said, pointing at the brown dog holding a microphone and singing “Feliz Navidog.”

She shook her head, her dark hair falling across her left eye. “You’re absolutely right. They’re both disasters.”

“Selfie time!” I cried, whipping out my cell.

“Wait—what? We said no pictures!” she cried, pushing the phone away.

“I said I wouldn’tpostphotos, I didn’t say I wouldn’t take them. Come on—this is a great photo op!”

“Fine,” she sighed, plastering a smile on her face and striking a pose. “You are so going to owe me after this, Nick.”

I snapped several pics, our faces pressed so close together I caught the scent of her rose perfume, the smell of her vanilla lip gloss. I resisted kissing it right off her lips since my mother was waiting on us.

“It’ll be fun, swear,” I said, snaking an arm around her waist, appreciating the feel of her soft curves against me.

“It better be because I’m not wearing something this festive for nothing.”

“Where’s your Christmas spirit, Syd?” I teased, nudging her in the ribs.

“The North Pole,” she deadpanned as we walked down the stairs.

“Don’t you two look great,” my mom said, smiling. “Your father already drove Gran over. She was very concerned about missing all the good canapes. I said we’d walk over.”

Sydney and I followed my mom out of the house into the chilly night air, our breath puffs of white against the jet-black sky. My mom locked the door, then we headed down the street to the Randall’s house. They lived four doors down from us, so we’d be there in two minutes, which was great because it was unseasonably cold.

“The Lighthouse Tour is going to be brisk,” my mom said, pulling her coat tight against her body to block out the wind. “I think I might pass on it if it’s this cold tomorrow night.”

“Me too,” Sydney chimed in.

“Nope, not a chance. You have to see the lighthouses, Syd, they’re magical. Best part of Starlight Bay at Christmas.”

“I thought the tree was the best part. Then it was the Ugly Sweater party. Now it’s the Lighthouse Tour,” Sydney said, her voice teasing, her dark eyes glittering in the moonlight.

“It’s all pretty great,” I said, pulling her in closer to me, squeezing her to my body.

My mom glanced over at us, starry-eyed. “You’ll love it, Sydney. You should definitely go, it’s worth doing. Here we are.”

The Randall’s had gone all out for the party; the house was lit up like, well, a Christmas tree. Airplanes could probably see it from the sky, it was so freaking bright, all glittery white lights,complete with huge blow-up snow globes and figurines in the yard.

“Ho, ho, ho!” Mr. Randall said, flinging the door open in greeting. “Great to see you, Nick! You too, Catherine! Nick, I’m so glad you’re back home for Christmas! You locking in a Championship Ring this year?” He patted me on the back, ushering us in.

“I hope so. This is my girlfriend, Sydney.”

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