Page 27 of The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay (Blitzen Bay)

“Well, you know, it comes in handy for things like driving, but knock yourself out.”

I start taking bobby pins out of my hair and throwing them on his dashboard. “My dad just wanted peace in the house. I could have robbed a bank and as long as I didn’t get caught, he wouldn’t have cared.”

“I can appreciate that. Peace is underrated. That’s all I want. It’s the reason I moved to California. I just want to be alone.”

“Yeah? How’s that working for you today?” I look over at him again. He’s trying not to laugh.

“Not too good. I had almost escaped to peace when a crazy woman crawled into the back of my truck.”

“Wait. What do you mean escape? Were you going into the wedding or were you leaving?”

“I was in the wedding when some lady with blue hair started singing “Jingle Bells.” It was the worst thing I’ve ever heard. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“That was my cousin Kit!” I say, pointing to his phone. “She was creating a diversion for me so I could escape.”

“You mean she wasn’t a planned part of the wedding?”

“No! Do you think I’d have someone sing “Jingle Bells” at my wedding? I’m not crazy.”

“All evidence to the contrary.”

“Funny,” I say as I throw one of my bobby pins at him.

“I thought you were really into Christmas. Like all the lights and that big life-sized Santa . . . I don’t think “Jingle Bells” is much of a stretch from there.”

“The decorations are all my mom. She’s the crazy one. My idea of a perfect Christmas is much more chill than that.”

“I don’t believe you have a chill bone in your body.”

I sigh. “You’d be surprised. My favorite part of Christmas was snuggling on the couch with my grandma, watching movies, and drinking peppermint hot chocolate.”

“That sounds more my speed.” He looks over at me and sees the tear rolling down my cheek. He reaches over to pat my hand. “Maybe you can do that with your grandma this year. Might make you feel better.”

“She died four years ago.”

“Oh man, Elle, I’m so sorry.”

I wipe the tear away and smile at him. “Wait. Did you call me Elle?”

“Yeah. Sorry. I have this thing about shortening people’s names. Bad habit. I meant Noelle.”

“You can call me Elle. There are only two people who call me that and they’re two of my favorite people ever created—Kit and my grandma. Now three of my favorite people call me that.”

He raises his eyebrows and laughs. “Now I’m your best friend and one of your favorite people?”

“Well, it would be silly if my best friend wasn’t one of my favorite people.”

He shakes his head and looks back toward the road. A slight smile comes to his lips. I rest my head against the window. For the first time in months, my body feels completely relaxed.

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