Stuck in Christmas (Holiday Magic #1)

Chapter 19

Nineteen

The town square seemed alive under the soft glow of twinkling fairy lights strung across the pavilion, where a lively band played traditional and popular Christmas tunes. Couples swayed gracefully on the makeshift dance floor, their laughter mingling with the music. Nearby, groups of friends gathered, cups of steaming hot chocolate in hand, sharing stories and warm smiles as they reveled in the crisp nighttime air.

For the first time in more than a week, the holiday scene and scents didn’t seem to bother me much. But that might have more to do with the handsome man at my side who stopped to introduce me to everyone as we passed.

“It looks like the entire town is here.” I couldn’t even see Bonnie’s Inn from where we stood in the crowd.

Eli looked around. “Not quite, but close.” He held his hand out to me and wiggled his eyebrows. “Shall we?”

We took the dance floor for a death metal version of “Jingle Bells” that somehow worked. Eli’s attempt at head-banging while playing air guitar made me laugh, especially when he stopped head-banging because he got dizzy. That’s when he decided to make me as dizzy as him and began twirling me around to the frantic beat. My cheeks and sides hurt from laughing so much, and it was a good thing we hadn’t drank any hot chocolate, or I probably would have ralphed on the Mayor and her wife dancing nearby.

We were out of breath when the band switched to a slow song, but Eli pulled me into his arms and began swaying to the music.

My heart felt like it was about to burst. It was so full. “I think we’re there.”

“Where?” Eli asked.

“Having fun. Joe said, ‘You’ll know it when you get there’ - he’s right.” I shook my head in amazement and realized Eli was staring at me. “Do I have more flour on my face?”

“You’re glowing.”

“We did go two rounds of death metal dancing in winter clothes.” I waved at my face. “Not glowing. Sweat.”

“No. Glowing.” Eli whispered. “You’re beautiful.”

I blinked at him. “Listen. I need to tell you something.”

“May I cut in?” Kris/Santa interrupted my moment. If he weren’t dressed in his ridiculous red suit, I would have axe murdered him right there.

I wonder why I can think about murder, but smexy time is off limits. I needed to think about that another day because Eli handed me over to the jolly old elf .

“Anything for Santa.” Eli stepped away and walked toward the edge of the dance floor.

Kris/Santa offered a proper old-fashioned dancing position, and I accepted his hand. “How’s it going?”

“It was going pretty well until you cut in. I didn’t know Santa was allowed to dance.”

He shrugged. “I talked it over with Mrs. Kringle, and she said she’d allow it this time.”

I rolled my eyes. “And what is it about this time that makes it different?”

“An emergency.”

“Emergency?”

Kris/Santa stopped our dancing. “What exactly were you about to say to him?”

I let out an exasperated sigh and dropped my arms. “I was going to tell him about this re-setting my day thing. I’m on day eleven. I only have one more chance left. I need his help.”

Kris/Santa shook his head, and I swear I heard jingle bells. “You can’t tell him about it.”

“I told him before - at the ice skating rink.”

He gripped his chin with his gloved hand. “And how did that work out?”

I narrowed my gaze at him. “Not very well - but that was when I thought this was all a dream.”

“It won’t go over any better now.”

“I need his help.” I stamped my foot.

“No, you don’t.” Kris/Santa sighed. “You have everything you need to figure this out and learn your lesson. After all, it’s your lesson to learn, not his.”

I took a deep breath through my nose and blew it out slowly. “Why don’t you just tell me what I must do to fix this?”

“Then you wouldn’t learn anything.”

“This is nuts.”

“Only because you refuse to accept the truth,” Kris/Santa said.

The song faded out, not that we had been dancing. I had enough of fake Santa and his vague-booking nonsense. I searched the crowd for Eli, but when I turned back to my dancing partner, he was gone. Again.

“Special lady,” Eli greeted me as he stepped through the crowd. “Getting to dance with Santa.”

“Is it hot in here?” I fanned my sweater to get some air flowing underneath.

“We’re outside.”

“I need some non-crowd air,” I announced, walking toward Bonnie’s. Eli didn’t say a word but followed me.

The crowd seemed contained to the town square, with a few stragglers walking arm-in-arm along the sidewalk. Eli wrapped my hand around his impressive bicep, which is stating a fact, by the way, not making a judgment on his hotness.

“Renee, I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but it feels like I’ve known you forever. It feels like - coming home,” Eli said as he paused on the sidewalk outside Bonnie’s.

“Listen, about that. I need to tell you something,” I started. And I never got to freaking finish my thought because a giant wall of snow fell off the awning, knocking me down…

…into a snowbank.

“COME ON!” I pounded the sidewalk beside me.