Blame It On The Carols (Sugarplum Falls #6)

Sixteen | Makayla

Sixteen

Makayla

“A re you kidding me ?” I laughed harder, tossing my head back at how crazy all of this was.

“We don’t joke when it comes to Christmas,” Sam said, breezing past me with two trays filled with to-go cups of coffee while a kid wearing a Sugarplum Lattes shirt followed behind him with two more.

“I can’t believe this.” I shook my head, staring in disbelief as the quiet bar was now filled with people from all over town who had joined together to help us decorate. Not only that, they brought a whole freaking party with them.

Andi showed up with containers filled with sugar cookies and stuff to decorate them. Sam brought our caffeine fix. A sweet girl named Hadley came from Sugarplum Gifts with new decorations Aiden had ordered sometime during the madness of everything. There were a few other people who all came to help out which made my heart feel all warm and fuzzy.

“I wasn’t sure if you were ready to mix up your drink options yet,” Sam said, holding a cup in each hand. “So, I brought a gingerbread latte as well as a salted caramel latte, just in case you were getting tired of the gingerbread one.”

“I don’t think I could ever get tired of it,” I said with a laugh before reaching for the other one. “But I’m learning that change can be good, so I’ll give this one a try. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“No candy canes today?” Aiden questioned as he walked past us to the bar and looked at the cups lining it with names written on them. Once he found his, he lifted it to his lips and frowned before taking a drink.

“I brought you your usual, you big baby,” Sam said, watching as Aiden’s features changed once he took a drink.

“What’s your usual?” I asked, curious what kind of coffee he drank these days.

“Nothing special. Just plain black coffee.”

“He plays it off like it’s just plain black coffee, but technically, he’s been getting a black eye, which adds two shots of espresso to it. It’s like he’s not sleeping well or something,” Sam said with enough sarcasm that everyone in the room picked up on it.

“It’s that sweet coffee crap you sent over that’s had me up all night,” Aiden countered, lifting his cup to take another drink.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, what’s the deal with the candy canes?” I asked Sam, curious to hear his explanation.

His cheeks flushed an adorable shade of red before he answered.

“My grandpa used to tell me that the key to solving a lover’s quarrel was to sit down, have a cup of coffee, and eat candy canes. By themselves, they’re just candy canes, but put them together, and they make a heart. It’s obvious that you and Aiden have had a lover’s quarrel, so I just thought candy canes were fitting.” He shrugged, but I barely noticed it as I caught Aiden’s eye.

“Alright, everyone, are we ready to get the sugar cookie decorating started?” Andi called out, interrupting the moment, which was probably for the best.

Sam smiled and walked off to join the others as Aiden placed his hand on my lower back and guided me over. It was the new thing he did, and I didn’t mind it at all. It was comforting and made me feel safe and protected, even if my body craved his touch elsewhere.

“Today we’re going to get our hands dirty and make some fun by—”

“This isn’t the toddler decorating class,” a cute guy off to the side said, making Andi pause.

“Oh my gosh,” she said with a laugh. “I swear, I do that class so often that the words just roll out of my mouth without thinking about it. Sorry, guys. Anyway, we’re going to welcome Makayla home by showing her how we do Christmas in Sugarplum Falls. Things are a lot different here than in the big city. We’ve brought plenty of cookies to decorate, but if you need anything, just holler. Zach or I will make our way around to check how everyone is doing.”

“You know you didn’t have to do all of this, right?” I asked Aiden as he led me to one of the tables and pulled a chair out for me.

“I know I don’t have to do anything. I wanted to.”

Andi set a plate of sugar cookies down on our table before rushing off to grab the stuff to decorate them with. The door opened and I expected to see the guys from my security team, but was surprised to see my mom and the ladies from the choir instead.

I got up and walked over to help take some of the bags my mom was struggling to carry.

“What is all of this?” I asked, noticing the crockpots that were being lined up on the bar where the coffee cups had been.

“Lunch.” My mom smiled and then started unloading the stuff from the bags.

“What?”

“We brought lunch. Aiden called and told me what was happening, so I rallied the ladies, and we all put together lunch for everyone since we were heading over to rehearse anyway. It made me a few minutes late, but I don’t mind. I brought pulled pork and stuff to make sandwiches. Shirley made her famous chili, and Susie brought a peach cobbler for dessert. Linda is on her way, and she’s bringing beef stew.”

“Aiden called you too?” I asked, not wanting to poke the bear by reminding her that she was more than just a few minutes late.

“He did. He also told me that you haven’t been decorating for Christmas,” she lowered her voice as she looked around, making sure no one else could hear.

“Sorry, mom. I’ve been a little busy.”

“Well, we should still make time for the important stuff. The nice thing is that you’re spending Christmas in Sugarplum Falls this year, so we’re going to make sure it’s the best Christmas ever. You better get over there and start decorating your cookies. We’re a highly competitive bunch, and I don’t want to brag, but I decorate the best cookies. I would hate to take out my own daughter, but I will.”

“Okay, okay,” I said with a laugh, holding my hands in front of me. “I don’t know what you’ve done with my mom, but I like this.”

She swatted my butt playfully as I made my way back to the table Aiden was sitting at, admiring how cute he looked as he worked on decorating his cookie.