Kevin releases Spencer and I and moves to where he’s facing all three of us, and waves his hands over himself.
“What are we supposed to be looking at?” I ask, because he’s just wearing a neon yellow sweater with nothing on it.
“It’s supposed to say ‘Santa’s Balls’, but I never got around to putting it together,” he says with a wink at Spencer. “We were supposed to show up as Tinsel Tits and Santa’s Balls, but now it’s just Phil looking like a Yeti’s worst nightmare. Walking around with those shiny, hairy tits. It’s a travesty really. Phillip will never meet a nice girl looking like that.”
Kevin is officially drunk, and I pat him on the back before going to fetch the poor dude some water. When he drinks too much, he gets twitchy and starts trying to hook everyone up with somebody. We’ve got to sober him up before he starts marching around like the drunken matchmaker of Noelsville. But, that was the side of him I fell in love with, so even though we’re totally done in the relationship department, it’s very nice to see his playful side come back out.
I run into Austin at the beverage table and notice that his sweater is wrapped weirdly on his body, almost like half of it is hanging off. “Austin, what is your sweater supposed to be?” I ask him as I dig through the ice chest for a bottle of water.
“I can answer that!” Piper’s sing-songy voice says from behind us.
Austin turns and smiles brightly at her and then puts his soda back on the table. “You ready?” He asks Piper. I watch in fascination as she climbs into the baggy part of his sweater and pops her head out from a hole I didn’t notice before. Her arm slides through the second sleeve and before I know it, they are both wearing the same sweater.
I shake my head and giggle when they both raise their hands up like they are doing spirit fingers.
“That is actually sort of amazing,” I tell them through my laughter.
Austin beams at me. “Thanks, only $39.99 at Target.” He and Piper high five each other across their massive joint body. “Too bad someone decided to go all out and is totally going to beat us this round. Your sweater is badass, Pheebs. I can’t believe you had time to make both yours and my brothers in one night.”
“Phoebe has always been a superstar with crafts, I expected nothing less from my little sister,” Piper chimes in with a hint of real pride in her voice. “But we are totally winning the next one and taking the Mistletoe crown!”
They high five each other again and then both walk away in some weird choreographed crab walk.
“Alright folks, it’s time for the Ugly Sweater contest judging!” Dad yells loudly over the crowd. “Everyone who is participating head up to Larson's driveway so we can get this thing started!”
Spencer meets me halfway, and I hiss at him playfully, moving my head so my snakes all wiggle around. He freezes in place with a terrified expression on his face and his arms held over his head. A smile paints my lips when I see him flash a wink at me before setting his body back to normal.
“We got this one in the bag, Pheebs,” He smirks and holds his arm out for me. I snake my arm through his, relishing in his warmth and the scents of cinnamon and evergreen that seem to always radiate off his skin.
I really hate that I’ve accidentally fallen for Spencer-freaking-Larson.
Later that night, both our families are sitting around the big bonfire that we put together in the Larson’s backyard. We’re fully equipped with everything we need to make s’mores, and Mrs. Larson has Christmas music playing softly on the Bluetooth speaker near the back porch.
Today was nearly perfect.
Spencer and I won the ugly sweater contest, and we haven’t fought again. Though, I guess it’s not really fair to call it a fight. I asked him a question—one he refused to answer. So, now we are at this weird standstill in whatever this relationship thing is. Was?
All I want to do is go sit next to him on the other side of the fire, grab his hand and disappear together for some alone time. The heated looks we’ve both been giving each other are torturous.
I want him.I want him badly.
“Just go over there already,” Piper nudges me and motions towards Spencer. Apparently, our heated glances aren’t as subtle as I thought they were.
“I can’t, Pipes.”
She scoffs at my answer. “The hell you can’t! What’s stopping you? You’ve both been in love with each other for like, a billion years. And now, you’re both finally able to act on it. What’s the problem?”
I bite my lip and stare nervously into the fire. I didn’t want to have this talk with her, but I guess it’s about time I act like an adult. I blow out a steadying breath. “You. You are the problem,” I whisper to her. I feel like the worst sister in the world when I feel her body stiffen next to mine.
Instead of responding to me, she grabs my hand and tugs me up from my seat.
“Come on, we need to talk,” she says quietly. “Pheebs and I are going to have a twin night. We will see you all in the morning for the next task!”
I barely have time to wave goodbye to anyone before she drags me out of the backyard and towards her car. “Piper, where are we going? We’ve both been drinking. It’s a dumb idea to drive right now.”
She unlocks the car and gets into the driver's seat. I momentarily debate going back into the house, and leaving her to make stupid decisions by herself, but I reluctantly get into the passenger's side. She slams the key into the ignition and fires up the car, then she turns the headlights off and reclines her seat all the way back and opens the shade for the sunroof.
I don’t say anything, I just follow suit until I’m reclined onto my back and we both gaze at the stars from the comfort of her heated car.
