Page 34 of Flake It Til You Make It

“Not me, but I can try,” Taylor said wryly.

“Hey, you’re doing pretty good so far,” Rocco said, even though he really wasn’t. He handed Taylor an empty snow globe. “Let’s make some ornaments.”

“What am I supposed to do?” Taylor sent him a beseeching look. “I was too busy panicking that I fucked everything up, I didn’t really listen to Griff.”

“Panicking that you fucked everything upandstaring at me like I had pizza smeared across my face,” Rocco corrected.

Taylor laughed. “Yeah, yeah, uh, that’s it.”

“You’re gonna fill your globe with snow,” Rocco instructed, shaking his own. “Then we’re going to make it look all cool.”

“That I can do. Or at least I can try.”

Rocco reached out and squeezed his forearm. Ignored how good it felt under his fingers. “You got this,” he promised.

They spent the next hour finishing their ornaments, Rocco carefully writing the year andChristmas Fallson his, so he’d never forget his first ornament since moving to town.

“I can’t wait to hang this on my tree. It’s full of all these incredibly generic ornaments,” Rocco said as he shook his snow globe and watched as the white flakes showered down over his buildings.

He’d attempted to construct a replica of Blitzen Street, with Jolly Java at the center.

“I love yours,” Taylor said earnestly. “That’s Jolly Java, in the middle, isn’t it?”

Rocco nodded. “At my parents’ restaurant, they had this old tree they put up every year, and it was full of ornaments they’d bought on trips, that I’d made in school, even ornaments ourregulars brought us. It was full of memories. Looking at mine last night . . .it was just depressing.”

“At least you have a tree up. I keep meaning to get out to the farm—Bruce set a tree aside for me, as a favor—but I’ve been so busy at work. It feels like there’s always a hundred fires to put out during festival season.”

Rocco felt guilty, instantly. Here he’d been all upset that it had beendayssince their first “date” and Taylor hadn’t texted him or called, but of course he had big, important things he needed to take care of for his job.

Rocco might framehisjob as important—after all, keeping people caffeinated was vital to the happiness of the town—but Taylor’s job helped keep the town actuallyrunning.

“Oh yeah.” Rocco felt so awkward. “Maybe tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I hope so. Have you heard about this Secret Santa?”

Rocco shook his head. “There’s a real-life Secret Santa in town? Who is it?”

“Nobody knows. That’s the problem. They’re doing a hell of a lot of good, already, but I’ve gotten probably a dozen phone calls about it and even more emails. Everyone wants to know if it’s something the town’s doing and I have to keep telling them no.”

“Let me guess, they don’t believe you.”

“No. Not after the graffiti last year. They just think we’re pretending we’re not involved, but honestly, we’re just as much in the dark as everyone else.”

“Well, if they’re doing good . . .” Rocco trailed off.

“They sure are, butugh, it’s added some tomyplate, that’s for sure.”

“What does the mayor think?”

“Oh, she loves it. Not surprisingly.” Taylor chuckled. “Between that and fitting in more of these events because Mona thought it would be helpful, it’s been crazy. But ithashelped. I’ve definitely had an opportunity to talk to a few city council members.”

“That’s great, Taylor,” Rocco said, meaning it. “Did you finally meet your competitor?”

“Ugh,no. I keep missing him. Maybe that’s for the best.” Taylor made a face. “Maybe I’d say something I couldn’t take back. Something that isn’t very advisable. But I keep hearing stuff about Steve Mills. How he fronts about how much he cares about Christmas Falls, but then turns around and does some shit that proves he couldn’t possibly.”

“That sucks.” Rocco put a hand on Taylor’s back and told himself he didn’t enjoy how it felt—the way he tensed and then relaxed under his touch—and then let his fingers linger. Just because, damnit, he wanted to. “But we’re going to make sure you get this job.”

Taylor flushed, ducking his head a little. “You’re kind of the best,” he admitted in a low voice.

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