"I really don't!"
I reach the base of the enormous Christmas tree first, stumbling to a halt and immediately bending over to catch my breath while laughing so hard my sides hurt.
The tree is even more impressive up close than from a distance. Ornaments the size of basketballs hang from thick branches. Giant candy canes as tall as me lean against the trunk. Ribbons wrap around the entire structure. A golden star sits at the very top, at least three feet across, catching the light from street lamps and glowing like a real star fallen from the sky.
This tree is so beautiful.
Grayson arrives a split second before the others, throwing his arms up victoriously like he just won an Olympic gold medal. "First place! I win! I am victorious! Acknowledge my superior speed and athletic prowess!"
Nash and Theo arrive at the exact same moment, slamming into each other as they cross their imaginary finish line simultaneously, both stumbling and grabbing each other to stay upright.
"Tie!" Theo declares immediately, hands on his knees, breathing hard. "Official tie! We crossed together!"
"Damn it!" Nash curses, also bent over trying to catch his breath. "I was definitely winning until you elbowed me in the ribs!"
"I absolutely did not elbow you!" Theo protests. "That was incidental contact at most!"
"Incidental my ass! You deliberately elbowed me!"
"If I wanted to elbow you, you'd know it! I'm trained in close quarters combat! That was just us running close together!"
"You're trained in making excuses!"
They both turn to glare at Grayson simultaneously, who's grinning smugly and not even breathing hard despite the sprint.
"The fucker cheated," Nash accuses, pointing dramatically at Grayson with his whole arm extended.
"He absolutely 100% cheated," Theo agrees immediately, nodding vigorously. "I saw him take a shortcut through the snowbank by the gazebo."
"That wasn't a shortcut, that was strategic route planning!" Grayson protests with exaggerated mock offense, hand on his chest. "I'm a writer! I visualize paths and trajectories and spatial relationships! It's literally what I do for a living! Not my fault you two are completely unimaginative and lack creative problem-solving skills!"
"Unimaginative?!" Nash sputters, looking genuinely offended. "I imagine things all the time!"
"I will have you know I imagine things constantly!" Theo adds passionately. "My imagination is excellent! Top tier! Military grade!"
"Inappropriate things about Reverie don't count as imagination," Grayson says with a knowing smirk, raising one eyebrow suggestively.
"How dare you!" Theo gasps. "I imagine very appropriate things! Like...tactical scenarios! And...mission planning! And...equipment maintenance!"
"Uh huh. Sure you do. Very believable."
"I do! Nash, tell him I imagine appropriate things!"
"I'm not getting involved in this," Nash says, holding up both hands. "Every man for himself."
"Traitor!"
I'm doubled over laughing, tears freezing on my cheeks.
Biscuit runs circles around all of us, barking happily at the chaos. His little paws leave tiny prints in the fresh snow.
This is perfect.
Grayson stops bickering and walks over to me, his maple-honey scent warm and comforting as he reaches up to fix my hair that got completely destroyed during our sprint. He gently tuckswindblown strands behind my ears, smooths down flyaways, adjusts my knit hat so it sits properly on my head.
"Are you ready?" he asks softly, his gray eyes meeting mine with excitement and nervousness and hope all mixed together.
We share a look. One of those looks that says everything without words.
