Page 67 of Holly and Nick Hate Christmas
“Until lately.” His brow furrowed. “Maybe.”
“I can relate, a little. I know I gripe about gettingdownsized,but everyone knows I wasn’t happy at my job. Too much Christmas year-round.” I shuddered exaggeratedly.
“Ironic.” Nick’s eyes danced, teasing, his dimple on full display. And for the first time, I realized the danger Operation: Jack & Sally could bring to the front door of my heart. Was this going to backfire, like Piper implied?
“So what are you going to do next?” Nick asked.
“Haven’t gotten that far yet.” I drummed my heels against the cabinet. “Maybe Santa will put a new career in my stocking.”
“You should ask him when we take the kids to the mall.” Nick smirked.
“I’ll do that. But first…” I casually bumped his shoulder with mine. “Are you ready for today?”
“What’s today?” Nick rinsed his hands in the sink, sending powdered sugar down the drain. “Our big announcement?”
“That too. But I meant horseback riding.”
Nick paled, his hands still dripping over the sink. “On real horses?”
“Can’t ride fake ones.” I frowned. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of—”
“Yeehaw!” Axel burst into the kitchen on a stick horse he must have snagged from Mom’s old toy closet. So, apparently youcouldride fake ones. “Just heard the news.”
Chloe was close behind him, fussing with her high ponytail. “I told him we aren’t leaving for, like, two hours but he insisted on getting ready early.”
“Only two hours?” Nick’s face washed paler as he grabbed the towel again.
I reached for his other hand, which had gone slightly clammy. “You okay?”
“I love horses.” His voice sounded like he’d sucked helium.
“Clearly.” I squeezed his hand. “Also, breathing helps.”
He sucked in a breath. “No, I really do like horses.”
Uh huh. “Like…on a poster?”
He glared at me. “More like from on the ground.”
Ah.Apparently today would be interesting in multiple ways.
Olivia strode in next and headed straight for the coffeepot, flanked by Kat, who somehow managed to both frown and yawn simultaneously. She scowled at Axel. “Some of us were trying to get beauty sleep.”
“Aww.” Chloe patronizingly patted Kat’s cheek. “It’s going to take more than one morning for that, babe.”
Kat jerked away from her touch and glared. Olivia snickered.
Axel galloped his horse up to Nick, who had regained a little color—more manila folder than ghost. “Man, I need a slick Western shirt like that for today. I only brought T-shirts.”
Nick looked down at his flannel and back up, brow furrowed. “Western?”
“Yeah. Buttons, a collar,anda pocket.” Axel shook his head in awe. “Super dope retro fit.”
“You can probably borrow Dad’s gardening hat, babe.” Chloe opened the fridge and grabbed the bottle of orange juice from the door. “It’s almost like a cowboy hat.”
Axel’s face lit. “That’d be so rad.”
“Hey!” Kat barked as she picked up the empty donut bag on the counter. “Who feasted without me?” Her stomach growled, loud enough to be heard over the clatter of Axel’s next gallop around the table.
