Santa Loves Curvy Girls

29. Nick

29

NICK

I t was New Year’s Eve.

After a long sleigh ride with Belle around town, cuddled under a thick red blanket, we were ready to warm back up.

We made our way hand in hand toward Cocoa Corner for some hot chocolate. I knew it was her favorite, and it was starting to be mine too. Even though it had been less than two weeks, it felt like so long ago that we sat together in the coffee shop, getting to know each other.

As we passed the Christmas tree, we couldn’t help but stop and gaze up at it. The lights had gone from sparkling red, green, and gold to just gold in honor of the new year. It was a sight to behold, especially with Belle on my arm.

I couldn’t believe everything had worked out, although my mom could. She was so happy for me, and I loved that she was the kind of person who never lost faith, even after everything she’d been through.

Even though she deserved so much more.

“I’m going to be sad to see it gone,” Belle said quietly.

“Me too,” I replied, looking over at her, the gold lights reflecting in her eyes.

After a moment, we kept walking. The sun had set not long ago, and the plan was to meet my mom later at Scrooge’s. She wanted to meet Belle, and I couldn’t wait for them to see each other. I knew they’d get along.

“You know,” Belle said, giving my hand a squeeze, “I made a wish this year, at the star ceremony. But I really didn’t think it would come true.”

I thought about that for a second. “Did it?”

She stopped at the corner between Cider Center and Cocoa Corner and smiled up at me. “Yeah, I think it did.”

“Well, as it turns out, I made a wish too,” I admitted.

She gave me a small smile. Everyone in Garland made a wish, whether you believed it could come true or not. “What was it?”

I brushed back a piece of hair that had escaped from her braid. “To be seen for who I really am, beyond all the external stuff.”

She nodded in understanding. “And then you ended up in the Santa suit.”

“Crazy, huh?” I said.

“Good crazy,” she replied with a smile. Then her face flashed with awe. “Wow, Garland wishes do come true.”

Almost as if on cue, soft white snowflakes fluttered down to the ground all around us.

It reminded me of the first time we kissed. It made me want to kiss her again, so I did.

When we made it to Cocoa Corner, we found that it was closed.

“Come on,” I said. “Let’s head to Scrooge’s. I’ll buy you a milkshake instead. And we can see how Scrooge is doing too before my mom comes along and gets him all flustered.”

“Scrooge gets flustered?” Belle asked.

I smirked. “You’d be surprised.”

I texted Mom, letting her know where she could find us, only to find her already at Scrooge’s, sitting at our usual spot at the counter.

She appeared to be talking Scrooge’s ear off, and he looked like he didn’t mind.

“Is it me, or is Scrooge looking sort of happy for the first time ever?” Belle told me.

We began making our way over to the counter but then I stopped, not wanting to ruin the moment for them. “I think you’re right. They both seem happy.”

“And what do you think about that?” she asked.

I knew what she was really asking—if I was okay with my mom dating again. “Honestly, if he makes Mom happy, that’s all that matters.”

She gave my hand a squeeze. “Maybe she can convince him to finally shave off that scruff. I bet he looks pretty handsome under there.”

I grinned at her. “Coming from someone who couldn’t get enough of mine.”

That made her laugh.

Then we made our way over to Scrooge and Mom, enjoying just another piece of the magic in Garland.

Return to Garland with more holiday romance stories in the Curvy Girl Christmas series !