“I’d love to go on a date,” Storee says with a smile on her face.
Uhhh, what?
Did I just hear her correctly?
“Really?” Tanya clasps her hands together. “You would?”
I glance at Storee, my mouth going dry as she nods. “Of course. How could I not go on a date with Cole after that…that valiant display? I’m not making any promises, but I should at least give him a shot.”
Umm, okay, I wasn’t actually asking her out, so this is awkward.
“You should,” Tanya says. “And how about tonight? Tonight would be the perfect night.”
“Why would tonight be perfect?” Storee asks as dread starts to fill me.
Shit, I completely forgot about tonight…
“Tonight is our Cupid Christmas celebration.”
Yup, this is backfiring, and this is backfiring hard.
“Oh, is this something new?” Storee asks. “I don’t think I’ve heard of it.”
“Just a few years ago, the town came up with the idea to have a date night where couples spend the evening, children-free, in the streets of Kringle, enjoying all the magic of the season. Martha and Mae head up all the festivities. Word on the street is they’ve added at least a dozen more hidden mistletoe leaves throughout town.”
Jesus.
I tug on my neck. “I don’t want to put any pressure on Storee. It might be best if we—”
“No, tonight is perfect.” Storee smiles back at me. “It sounds magical.”
Tanya claps her hands while looking between us. “I can’t wait to tell the ladies.”
Fucking great.
Look what you got yourself into now…
Storee
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” Taran says as I touch up my lipstick inmy bedroom mirror, Samantha judging me the entire time. At least I’m old enough to wear lipstick, Samantha.
“Why not?” I ask as I smack my lips together. “He knew exactly what he was doing. He knows Tanya is the judge this weekend and he wanted to make it seem like I’m the bad guy, not going out with the much-loved, if generally grumpy, Cole Black. Well, I’m not going to let him get away with it.”
“Yeah, but this…this is different. You’re going out in public, on a date, during some cupid love fest. Do you really think that’s a good idea?”
“I don’t really have a choice, Taran.” I turn to face her. “This is where we’re at in this competition, and after he took credit for the light display, once again looking like the good guy, I have to rise to his level. If that means I have to suffer a night of pretending to be on a date with Cole, then I’ll do that.” It’s for Aunt Cindy. Everything I’ve freaking endured over the past how many freaking days has been for Aunt Cindy. It’s become my mantra since I walked out of Tanya’s shop.All for Aunt Cindy.
“Don’t you think we could win this without attempting to fool everyone?”
“No,” I say flatly as I slip on my long brown boots over my jeans. I’m going to freeze to death tonight, but I can’t possibly go on a date all bundled up, looking like Randy fromA Christmas Story. “And if we were playing fair from the beginning, you never would have powdered Aunt Cindy’s face to look emaciated the first time.”
Taran shrugs. “That was easy. This is you going on a date with the enemy.”
“Fake date,” I correct her while I finish putting on my other boot.
“But is it?” she asks. I look up at her as I’m adjusting my pants. “Because I know there was some…you know…yearning there.”
“Oh my God, Taran,” I say. “There was never any yearning.”
