The Christmas Cookie Crush (Arcadian Falls Christmas #4)

Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Nora

I’m thrumming with anticipation the next day waiting for ChristmasFest to be over. Austin and I grabbed a quick post-Fest snack and walked around by the water downtown last night, but didn’t get to spend as much time together as I would’ve liked. But I was under strict orders from my mother not to stay out too long. “Your brothers are only here for a little while. It’ll be good for you to spend at least an hour with them.”

And she’s not wrong. Well, a little wrong. I could do without my brothers. Well, I could do without Dylan, at least. He’s still giving me the stink eye for dating Austin, sighing loudly and grousing that Austin should be hanging out with him any time it comes up. Fortunately, everyone else tells him to shut up, so at least I don’t have to. Especially since he listens to them more than me. But spending time with Lydia and Olivia is fun. Especially when they’re the ones asking me about Austin, which means they’re also the ones telling Dylan to hush the most.

So close to Christmas, every day is slammed with people trying to finish all their last-minute Christmas shopping and planning. In a town the size of Arcadian Falls, you wouldn’t think there’d even be this many kids who need to get their picture taken with Santa. And probably, if it were just the residents, there wouldn’t be. But there’s all the tourists from out of town, plus the people who drive here from the neighboring area to fill up all the slots. Sure, many of them could probably find places to get photos with Santa in their own towns, but none of them have the magic and appeal of ChristmasFest.

But the constant activity means I’m not sitting around watching the clock, and before I know it, the day is nearly done, and I’m taking pictures of the last session with Dad—a brother and sister. The brother’s clearly over the whole pictures-with-Santa thing. He looks about twelve, with the broccoli hair and attitude to match, and getting him to smile is nearly as hard as the crabby toddlers. To be fair, he technically smiles on command, but it’s that terrible faux smile that looks awful, and I pride myself on photographing as many genuine smiles as possible.

So I pull out the big guns—the Rudolph puppet and Mr. Penguin. Yeah, they usually work best on the under-five set, but the younger sister—who said she’s eight—is still young enough to think my antics are funny. I’m hoping that the combination of silliness with stuffed toys and his sister’s giggles will be enough to provoke a real smile from the big brother, but all he does is roll his eyes at my antics.

Dad can tell what I’m doing and leans in to whisper something to both kids. I don’t know what he says, but it works. A small but genuine smile appears on the twelve-year-old’s face, and I snap the picture before it can disappear again. Dad says something else that has both kids laughing, and I manage to snap a few more shots, and I know at least one has everyone looking at the camera.

Awesome.

“Good job!” I tell the kids, which gets me another eye roll from the big brother, but I don’t even care at this point. I’m glad to be done for today.

Dad finishes up talking to the kids and hands them candy canes while Madison, one of the part-timers who’s working here while she’s home from college on Christmas break, shows the photos to the parents and helps with their order.

Since everyone’s being helped, I start packing up what I can while customers are still around, getting the camera and lights ready for a quick disassemble once the last family leaves.

“Are you coming home before you go out tonight?” Mom asks. I know she’s not thrilled about the fact that I’m not spending any time at home tonight—that was part of the reason for her decree that I needed to spend at least a little time at home before bed last night—but she doesn’t telegraph her feelings in the question. I’m grateful for that, at least. I’m excited, and I don’t want anyone else’s negative vibes to bring down my happiness.

Straightening from where I’m reorganizing the stuffed animal bin, I shake my head. “No. I packed this morning and brought everything with me. I’m not scheduled to work until tomorrow afternoon, so I’ll probably be home before my shift, but I don’t know if I’ll be there before you and Dad leave.”

She nods, accepting that answer. “Okay. That sounds good. I hope you have fun tonight.” She opens her arms for a hug. “Be safe.”

Smirking, I pat her back. “I will. I always am. Also, ew, Mom.”

When she pulls back, she chuckles. “I’m your mother. It’s my job to make sure you’re safe.”

I roll my eyes and scan the area, making sure the family is gone and no one else is lurking nearby, hoping for a last-second walk-up. Fortunately, no one’s nearby, only a few stragglers I can see finishing up at nearby booths, a few others making their way to the front, hopefully so they can leave. People are starting to turn off lights and close up their booths, which is my cue to take down the camera.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” I say, still keeping my voice just above a whisper. Just because no customers are nearby to hear us doesn’t mean I want anyone else listening in on my safe sex conversation with my mother. “My health class was thorough, and I benefited from years of listening to you lecture my older siblings before I was even old enough to know what exactly you were talking about.”

She nods, satisfied. “Good. Just, you know, ladies can provide?—”

“Mom!” I hiss, cutting her off. “I know! I know it all! Pleeeeeease. Please for the love of Santa’s favorite elves, stoooop.” I set down the camera in its case and clasp my hands together, extending them toward her as I beg for an end to this. “Pleeeease.”

Rolling her eyes at me, she shoos me back to work. “Finish up so you can go find your boyfriend. I’m sure he’s as eager to get out of here as you are.”

Grinning, I do as she says. “Thanks, Mom,” I call after her as she disappears behind the North Pole to change out of her Mrs. Claus outfit and find Dad.

Like her words summoned him, Austin appears at my side, a backpack dangling from one shoulder.

I stop at the sight of him and the adorable smile on his face when he sees me. Moving around the velvet ropes that separate my area from the rest of ChristmasFest, I greet him with a hug and kiss, so happy to see him. “I’m almost done,” I tell him, glancing around to make sure no one’s going to give me grief for kissing Austin in the middle of ChristmasFest right next to Santa’s Workshop in the North Pole.

But the only one still visible is Madison, who’s studiously ignoring us as she finishes wiping down the counter and shutting down the computer.

“Good,” he says. “Hurry up.”

Laughing, I give him one more kiss, then get back to my end-of-day duties. But when I get to refilling the candy canes and organizing the picture books, Madison steps forward. “Go ahead and get changed,” she says, her eyes darting to where Austin waits. “I’ll finish up this part. No need to keep your boyfriend waiting longer than necessary.”

I hold my breath for a second when she says the word boyfriend. We haven’t been dating long, and we haven’t had any kind of discussion about the future or using those labels. But if he hears her, he doesn’t seem to care. He doesn’t even look up from his phone.

I hesitate for a beat longer. “Okay,” I concede at last. “I’ll just go change and grab my things. I’ll swing by before I leave and make sure you’re okay, though.”

“Sounds good,” she says, waving me off.

I practically run to the locker room, changing out of my costume in record time and stuffing it in my tote bag that also has a change of clothes and toiletries for tonight. Burdened with my tote bag and coat, I’m slower as I make my way back out, but I figure that gives Madison more time to finish up. I don’t want to leave before she’s done. As the Lead Elf this year, it’s my job to make sure everything’s completed, and as much as I want to leave with Austin—and any year before this, I would’ve without a second thought—I feel obligated to complete all of my duties this time.

Fortunately for everyone, it didn’t take much time for Madison to finish. She’s chatting with Austin when I come out. I quickly look over everything, then grin at her. “Thank you so much for your help, Madison. Have a good night!”

She waves and heads for the locker room as well. “You two have fun!”

Austin grins at me. “Can I take your bag?” When I hesitate, he rolls his eyes. “Come on, Nora. Just let me carry your bag. I know you can do it yourself, but I like doing things for you.”

Shyly, I pass him my tote, then pull him in for a kiss. “Why are you so sweet to me?”

His grin goes lopsided, his brows pulling together. “I like you. Why wouldn’t I be sweet to you?”

I examine his face, looking for some hidden meaning, but when I find none, I’m forced to accept his words at face value.

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, studying my face, his smile gone. His nostrils flare as he takes a deep breath, his jaw ticking like he’s figuring something out. “I’m sweet to you because I like making you smile. I like knowing that I’ve made your life better in some small way, whether it’s making you the cookies you love, opening your door, or carrying your bag. I’ll always want to do those things for you, Nora. The fact that you don’t expect that kind of behavior in a relationship seems …” His lips press together, and I’m not sure if he’s searching for the right words or holding back words he’s afraid will upset me. At length, he shakes his head. “Sad. It makes me sad that other people haven’t treated you with basic kindness and respect.”

I have to swallow hard to break up the lump forming in my throat. “I haven’t always made the best choices,” I admit, my voice raspy. I clear my throat, but it doesn’t help much. “That’s part of why my siblings are so overprotective. Well, Ty and Sarah, at least. Dylan’s just Dylan.” I flick my fingers dismissively, and thankfully, talking about Dylan helps clear the frog from my throat. I meet Austin’s eyes, taking in the way he looks at me like I’m something precious. “I think I’ve started making better choices, though,” I say quietly.

His smile is a thing of beauty—small and warm and just for me. When he kisses me, it’s gentle, perfect, healing. We stay like that for long moments, our breaths mingling, and his sweetness, his presence, his steadiness heals something inside me that I didn’t even realize was still bruised.

When he pulls back, he laces his fingers through mine. “Ready?”