I just had to stop staring at her lips, wondering if they still tasted the same.
CHAPTER NINE
CHARLOTTE
Son of a nutcracker.There might be an issue with being too competitive. Penny handed us sheets of paper explaining the rules, but she held up her finger first.
“I downloaded the app for our team. It has the instructions for us for the Lost Days of Christmas games.” Penny studied her phone with an intense expression on her face. “I split us into teams for different tasks based on our skills. For the first round, Charlotte and Hayden need to head to the lobby for wrapping and drink-making challenges. The rest of us will head to Tinsel Town for the scavenger hunt portion to solve riddles and meet up with you in thirty minutes.”
“Shouldn’t we all be together?” I asked, confused why there were two challenges at the same time. It had nothing to do with being alone with Hayden, but more about wanting to be near my brother and Penny to do whatever I could to help. They bickered a little at dinner. Nothingmajor like what Hayden and I overheard, but enough to make Hayden and me share a glance.
Penny rolled her eyes. “You hate the teams. I can adjust it?”
“Pen, no.” I pulled her into a hug, feeling awful that I stressed her out for a second. I wanted to do the opposite of that! “I’ve never done anything like this, so I was curious. Hayden and I will totally be fine.”
“My sis is just concerned that she and Hayden won’t beat us.” Christian smirked.
“Not true. We’ll kick all your asses,” I fired back, forgetting our mission to help save the wedding. Hayden cleared his throat, signaling me to stop. By some grace of a Christmas angel, I shut up.
“The app breaks down each competition with points, right, baby?” Christian slung his arm around Penny. She leaned into him, which was a great sign.
“Yes. Then, after the final round, the points are totaled.” She frowned. “Why do you have your crazy face on?”
“I have a wager for you, Char. We need a DJ for our wedding…”
“Oh! Yes, we sure do. Great idea, babe.” Penny pinched Christian’s side. “I forgot how sexy being competitive was on you.”
“Calm it down.” Garrett pointed at them. “What’s the wager?”
“If we beat Hayden and Char, then they DJ our wedding.”
I shook my head. “I love you, but I refuse to DJ your wedding.”
Penny grinned, a sparkle dancing in her eyes. “Mm, we’ll see about that.”
“Whoa, we need our side of the wager.” Hayden winked. “I say they do a planned dance. Something to really embarrass them.”
“Hm, we could do better, I think. Matching outfits too? That we pick out?”
Hayden nodded. “I’m in.”
“Now we’re talking.” I clapped. “Okay, deal. It’s on.”
Christian narrowed his eyes at me but kept his arm around Penny. That seemed really great, so maybe betting was bringing them closer?
“Now that that is settled, we can head to our separate portions and meet back up in thirty minutes for the final round. Don’t let me down.” Penny put her hands in the middle. “Let’s all cheer on three. One… two… three. Go, team!”
Garrett, Christian, and Penny bundled up, since the Tinsel Town Riddles started outside. I was grateful to not do that because I had been cold since the car accident. Wrapping presents and making drinks—even with Hayden—was more my style.
“Shall we?” Hayden gestured to head toward the main lobby. He barely took a step before he stopped, frowning at his phone. “Shit.”
“What is it?”
“It’s my mom.” He rubbed his eyebrow as he stared at his phone. “She set up an interview with her next-door neighbor’s daughter, Frankie.”
“An interview for…?”
“Watching Gwen.” He rolled his shoulders. “She wants the interview for Monday afternoon. I just… why would she think Frankie is a good fit? I’ve tried finding someone, and they never work out.”
