Page 30 of The Snuggle is Real
“Yes!” I bounced her once before putting her down. “And we all know you’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.”
She gave an impressive imitation of Eddie’s grinch scowl.
I slid the dog onto the checkout counter and only died a little when it was over twenty bucks.
I’d been reluctant to accept Mason’s help. But I’d take it a million times over if it meant I didn’t have to show my vulnerable underbelly to Nick.
He wanted things to go back to normal between us. To be likebrothers.
But how could I do that? I wasn’t a brother anymore. I never would be again.
The sooner he accepted that, the better.
CHAPTER 9
Mason
“Griff!”
I jogged across Sugar Plum Park, my knitted scarf blowing into my face.
I spit out yarn and tugged it down, my cheeks stinging. Damn. And I thought Missouri got cold.
Griff turned from his conversation by the makeshift stage, where a group of frozen-looking choir members were singing carols in quivering voices to a small audience.
He patted the arm of an older gentleman dressed in overalls and a thick plaid coat and headed toward me.
“What brings you out on thislovelyday?” Griff asked with a sardonic twist to his mouth.
I shivered. “You’re impossible to pin down at the office.”
He chuckled and started walking. I hustled to keep up. “Sorry. I’m all over the place during the festival. Everything good for your pop-up booth at the Santa pics event?”
“Yeah, thanks for setting that up. I wanted to talk to you about something else, actually. I would have just left a message but your voicemail was full.”
He pulled a face. “I’m very popular this time of year.”
“Right. Yes. I’m sorry to be one more bee in your bonnet.”
“But?”
“I’m working on this new program for Holiday Hope Foundation. I’m calling it Adopt-A-Family for Christmas.”
“Uh-huh.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and read the screen. “And?”
“And, I’d love some complimentary festival tickets.”
Griff tapped away on his phone. Apparentlytextwas how you got him to answer. Good to know.
“What do you think?” I prompted.
“Hmm? Oh, sorry.” He tucked the phone away. “Have you heard about this Secret Santa thing? Folks are asking if it’s a festival gimmick.”
Secret Santa?That’s what my note said on the pie left on my porch. Rebecca said she wasn’t the one to leave it, but I still had no clue who had.
“Other people got things with a Secret Santa note?”
Griff scowled at me. “Didyou?”
