Page 58 of Flirting with the Scrooge

“Music is my life. It’s in my veins. In my blood. I don’t know what else I would do. I don’t know what else Icoulddo. Right now, the thought of playing in front of people gives me hives. Not stage fright or anything, but what comes after. I give them a song. Then they want another. Then they want an album. Or they want photographs and interviews. Or an appearance at their events or to be a guest on their podcast. Then it becomes a vicious cycle, and I don’t want any of it.”

“That must be so hard. Just remember, they want all that from you because you’re amazing. I downloaded your album. It’s been on repeat for the last two days.” She beams up at me.

“Did I convert you to the dark side? You’re a rocker now. We can toss out your cowboy boots?”

A laugh bursts out of her. “I’ll wear the cowboy boots while waving the devil horns.” She holds her hand up with her pointer and pinky fingers in the air while her middle and ring finger are folded down.

“You’d be a hot rocker chick. You could let your hair down and head bang.” I hold up the devil horns and jerk my head to the imaginary music.

“I’d probably get dizzy and fall over.” She giggles and rests her head on my shoulder. A wall clock loudly ticks several times before she says, “Thank you for the decorations. It means a lot to me.”

“Of course. You probably won’t win the contest, but at least you’ll be in the running.”

“Where did you get everything for my yard?”

I run a finger softly up and down her arm. “I went down to the basement figuring Grams must have something since you mentioned you’ve helped her decorate. That’s where I found boxes of random decorations. Sorry they’re a little dated. Grams keeps everything and never got something new unless she had to. She still has a Crock Pot that’s twenty years old.”

“No. It’s perfect. But I want to get a closer look.”

Once we’re dressed, we head across the street to her yard and inspect my handiwork. Grams had some plastic snowmen that are mostly faded but still light up. There was an inflatable Santa, a blowup Teddy Bear, along with some stand up cut outs of a few gingerbread houses. In the backyard, I uncovered some old wood pallets that I nailed together to create something that resembles a manger. I also found Mary and Joseph, but only two of the Three Wise Men, so I had to create my own band of Christmas misfits. At the bottom of a box, I found an inflatable elf which could pass as a wise man once I wrapped it in a brown blanket. I also didn’t have a donkey or a camel, but I found a Snoopy in a Santa hat and a lighted reindeer that could pass as acceptable substitutions. But most importantly, baby Jesus was missing so once again I had to improvise.

“Is that… a plastic snowman wrapped up in a Scooby Doo blanket in the manger?” Tatum steps closer, then laughs. “I didn’t know Mary gave birth to a snowman. Or that Scooby Doo was a thing back then.”

“Did you miss that day in Sunday School? Plus, Scooby Doo is timeless. Actually, that was my blanket growing up. I snuggled with it all through high school. I suppose it’s time to pass it along.” I wrap an arm around her shoulder and give it a squeeze.

“You’re lying.”

I lift a shoulder and let it drop. “You’ll never know.”

She shakes her head, but her wide smile never falters. “This is really incredible. Thank you. And you were able to save my nana’s two angels. That means so much to me.” She wraps her arms around my waist.

“I know.” I press my lips to the top of her head. “It might be a far stretch on winning, but maybe you can get some sympathy votes. I’ll vote for you, anyway.”

She exhales a sweet laugh. Considering everything that’s happened, I’m glad I can give her that. Even though I’m partially to blame for some of her sadness. I’ll do everything in my power to make the last days we have together be the best possible. But fuck, it’s going to be hard to say goodbye.

TWENTY-NINE

CAUGHT CHEATING

Tatum

“I really have to go.” I tug on the sides of his coat to pull him closer.

“Are you sure?” He kisses my cheek. “You don’t seem to be in a rush.” His lips skate down the side of my neck.

His hot breath mixing with the cool air sends a tingle down my spine and right between my legs. I fight back a moan when he sucks on my sensitive skin. “Screw it. They can wait five more minutes.” I cup his cheeks and bring his mouth to mine, kissing him. His body presses against mine, pushing me against a tree. My tongue presses at the seam of his lips and he opens up.

“Where is Tatum?”

“She should have been here five minutes ago.”

“She’s never late.”

Voices from the neighbors around the corner pull me from my Connor make out fest. Reluctantly, I pull away. “Ugh. If I don’t get out there, they’ll send a search party.”

“She could be in trouble. We better go find her,” a muffled voice says.

“Or trouble, aka my dick, could be inside you,” he mumbles against my lips.

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