Page 63 of Merry Me
“How did I deserve to be assaulted by Christmas decor?”
“I have a ceramic nativity in my purse. Don’t tempt me,” she snapped. “That girl has been through enough without you bungling this all up. You tell her you love her?”
I ran a hand down my face, my palm dragging through sweat, regret, and a healthy dose of self-loathing. The Santa hat slipped sideways again, like even it was disappointed in me.
“Not…in so many words.”
She leveled me with a look so blistering, I half expected the hallway tinsel to catch fire. “Then you’re a fool.”
“Thanks for the emotional support,” I said, deadpan.
“I’m not here for emotional support. I’m here for action.” Shecrossed her arms. “Now go faster. Get her back before it’s too late.”
I hesitated, the weight of everything pressing down at once…Natalie’s silence, her eyes when she ran, the confession I couldn’t take back.
“And button your damn pants, Easton. No one needs to see Santa’s gingerbread.”
I blinked. “Fucking hell.”
“You’d better hope that guy’s not listening,” she barked, then spun on her heel and stomped off like a tiny, tinsel-wrapped general muttering about men and their tragic inability to use their mouths for anything other than getting into trouble.
I stood there, processing for a long beat.
Then I looked down.
Yeah. Pants. That would be good.
I yanked them up with what was left of my pride, squared my shoulders, straightened the Santa hat one last time, and marched toward the hallway.
Because for Natalie?
I’d go to war in a Santa suit.
And I’d win. Or die trying.
CHAPTER 12
NATALIE
As soon as I staggered down the hall, my phone was out and I was texting my girls.
Me: 911
Casey: …
Me: Don’t … me. This is a real emergency.
Riley: I’m not sure that you know the meaning of that word, Nat.
Me: I JUST HOOKED UP WITH SANTA CLAUS!
Casey: What?
Casey: What do you mean?
Casey: What does that mean?
Riley: Are you being serious right now?
