“Yeah, that sounds great. Give me your email address, and I’ll forward this to you, then we can decide who’s doing what.”
Over the next twenty minutes, we go through the list and assign the tasks. There are still a few things we’ll need to do together—picking up the chairs, the meal tasting, and Steph wants me to okay the fit of Carter’s tux when he goes to try it on. Though I’m sure the man can handle that one on his own. He manages to dress himself every day, and I begrudgingly admit that he does a good job. Maybe she doesn’t trust him not to swap out what he picked for a bright blue tuxedo with ruffles as a joke.
The only task that makes me uncomfortable is trying on her wedding dress to make sure it fits properly. She had her high-end designer ship it here a few days ago. If I try it on ahead of time, there’s still time to get a minimal amount of alterations done in town. One of the benefits of us being twins is that we’re still the same size and similar body shape. Still, I never thought the first time I’d try on a wedding dress, it would be my sister’s dress.
I’m closing my computer when someone yelps, then a pained groan rings through the house. Carter and I exchange a confused look and jump off the love seat to investigate.
The moaning sounds as if it’s coming from the staircase, so I head in that direction. When we reach it, we find Nick arched over at the bottom of the stairs with one hand on the railing, his other hand on his lower back. His skin looks clammy, and his face is contorted in pain.
“Nick! What happened? Are you okay?” I rush over to him.
“My damn back,” he grumbles and winces.
“Did you fall?” Carter glances at the curved staircase, then at me.
“Nah, just lifted my leg to go upstairs, and something gave way. It’s not the first time and won’t be the last.”
He’s breathing hard and clearly in pain. I feel horrible. “What can we do?”
“Can you help me up to my room? I have some medication, and I need to lie down for a day or two, then I’ll be fine. I’ll take a heating pad too, if you have it.”
“Of course.” I gesture for Carter to help support Nick’s other side. “All right, put your weight on us while you walk up the stairs. Go as slow as you need.”
We make slow progress up the stairs, Nick cringing and biting back a few curses with every step. Worry settles into my chest. I know he’ll be fine, but I hate seeing him in pain. He’s my favorite guest right now.
About halfway up the stairs, Carter starts talking in what I think is an effort to get Nick’s mind off the pain every time he shifts his weight to move up to the next stair. “Don’t think you’ll be running any races anytime soon.”
Nick stops all forward movement at Carter’s comment.
“Nick?”
His face pales, and his shoulders sink. “The reindeer race is today. I won’t be able to participate.” He sags a bit in our arms, and Carter and I use more strength to hold him. “I was really hoping to win that money. Have a few things that need fixing atmy place, and the prize money would’ve gone a long way toward that.”
“I’m sorry, Nick,” I say.
Carter’s tipped-down lips say he feels as bad as I do. Then his eyes light up, and he nods at me as if we’re in this together. What is he thinking?
“What if I try to win it for you?” Carter asks.
I mouth “what the heck” to Carter.
Nick’s eyes widen, and he turns to me before giving Carter all his attention. “You’d do that?” The relief in Nick’s voice almost brings me to tears.
“I can try. No guarantee I’ll win.” He shrugs at my questioning look. We have a lot on our plates without him taking part in Santa Fest.
“Carter, what do you know about racing reindeer?”
“How hard can it be?”
He’s delusional, drunk on Christmas cheer, but I have to admit, the confidence turns me on.
Chapter Eight
CARTER
I’m not sure what I expected when I offered to fill in for Nick at the reindeer race, but being stuffed into a Santa suit, put on a pair of skis, and dragged behind a reindeer isn’t what I envisioned.
Ashley is talking to the coordinator and letting him know that I’ll be racing in Nick’s spot, so I pull my phone out of the pocket of my Santa pants and pull up my family’s group chat.
