Page 107 of Meowy & Bright

Krampus only hisses louder.

“Fine. You’re a brat.” They glare at each other until Eve finally breaks. Krampus wins their staring competition. He always does. “I don’t know why he dislikes me so much.”

I’ve explained to her time and time again that if she would just leave him alone, then maybe he would come around. That’s a bigmaybe.But she can’t help herself when she’s near him. I think Eve enjoys the challenge. If there is no challenge, it’s no fun.

She hops up onto the checkout counter, her dark ponytail bouncing. “He doesn’t like anyone,” I remind her. Except me.

“If he hates people, why do you bring him to work with you?” Krampus sits on his new bed that I got him so he could relax while I work. Of course I had to get him a new one for Christmas. Something more festive.

I didn’t find anything online good enough, so I ordered a plain green one and decorated it myself. I even put it on a stand that has lights strung around the bottom. It’s a small Christmas throne for him to sit upon and judge us all.

“Because he’s an introverted extrovert,” I respond.

“What does that even mean?” Eve gives me a look like I’ve lost my mind. It’s the same one she’s been giving me since she moved to town three years ago when she took a job as my mom’s executive assistant.

“He enjoys getting out of the house, but he doesn’t enjoy social interaction. He only wants it in small doses, if at all.”

“So what you’re saying is he wants to people watch.”

“Pretty much.”

“I love to people watch. We would do it together if you’d retract the claws, Krampus,” she tells him.

He ignores her and starts to clean his front paws, dismissing her completely. I don’t always bring him to work. Only when he nudges at me before I’m about to leave or if I know I’m going to be out of the house for a long period of time. It’s only the two of us, and I hate leaving him by himself if I don’t have to.

Also, the Christmas lights are being hung on the house today. I know that would drive him bonkers if he was alone with strange men outside the windows. He’d have a hissy fit. Literally.

“What are you up to?” I ask as she starts to go through the pile of books I have piled up in front of me.

“Did I read this one or is it new?” She holds up the holiday romance book that has a winter bride on the front. I bet a winter wedding would be the most magical thing in the whole world. At least to me it would be.

“It’s new. You’ll like that one.”

“Secret baby?” Her eyes get big. I give a nod. That’s all I’m willing to spoil. “I love when you do the holiday romance section.” She lets out a dreamy sigh. “Too bad there aren’t any good men around here.”

“There are some nice men around,” I rebuff. There’s the veterinarian, Clark, or Deputy Anderson.

“Then why aren’t you dating them?” She lifts one of her brows.

“Because it’s weird for me. I grew up with all these people.” Clark is a nice guy, but he’s gotten around. Who wants to date someone who has dated someone you know? And I know everyone in this town. Plus, I’ve never felt that sort of attraction for anyone.

“Yeah, so you know them super well and wouldn’t date them but think I should?”

“Anderson is nice.”

“Nice.” She gags. Now I’m the one that gives her a crazy stare.

“What’s wrong with being nice?”

“I want naughty.” She wiggles her brows. I push my glasses up my nose as I try to hide the warmth that fills my cheeks. “I see it. You want naughty too. Don’t even try to deny it.”

“Take these over to the table.” I push the stack of books toward her before I point to the table I’ve already strung lights around. To me, it’s not only about making the outside festive; the inside has to be decorated too.

The spirit of the holiday needs to flood out from each building. You can put up lots of decorations on the outside, but if there is no warmth behind it, I think it takes some of the magic away. People always ask why we win the holiday competition each year. I believe it’s because you can feel our Christmas spirit, not just see it.

It’s not about winning; it’s about all the fun we have doing it. Well, it is for me. Eve and my mom can be a bit competitive. Okay, maybe it’s more than a bit.

“Fine.” She jumps down from off the table, pulling another book out of the stack to keep for herself before she hauls one load and then another over to the table for me.

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