18. Feeling Festive
18
Feeling Festive
How was I supposed to dress for my first date with Harvey? I wore my uniform five days a week and sweatpants on the other two. Random get-togethers with friends never required a sexy factor. I tore through my closet and finally found a cute oversized sweater and skinny jeans that seemed promising. Especially if I wore a lacy camisole underneath.
After getting dressed and applying extra deodorant, I sat to do my makeup in front of the tiny vanity mirror over my desk. Mom only let me keep it so she wouldn’t have to clean glitter off the sink.
But I’d been doing Sugarplum-esque makeup for so long, I hesitated to try something new. Especially since Harvey knew and liked me like that. But I wanted to show him another side of myself, so I dug into my bag of goodies. Red was Christmassy. And passionate, right? Light lipstick with some mocha eyeshadow should be grown-up enough for date night. I got to work on my masterpiece.
Mom knocked, but didn’t wait before coming in. She balanced a bowl of slightly bruised fruit on her yellow notepad. “Where are you going?”
I swooped mascara through my lashes. “The Winter Festival.”
“Oh.” She sounded so disappointed. Setting her stuff on my desk, Mom turned away. “You should take your little cousins. I’ll call their parents.”
I grinned wide and dusted blush on my cheeks. “I can’t, I have a date.”
“What? With who?”
“A nice guy named Harvey.” I danced in my seat.
She eyed my reflection, then drew herself up to full height. “I want to meet him.”
Was she serious? I pushed back from the desk. “Mom, no.”
“Why not?”
“It’s our first date. Most people my age don’t meet each other’s parents until a couple months in," I said.
Mom scoffed. “Anyone worth going out with would want to meet your family, first.”
This was going to take forever.
“Zack met him. They even shook hands,” I said, snagging a piece of fruit and rushing to my escape.
She followed me through the hall as I shoved my boots on. “What do you mean? Zack approved of him?”
In some ways, he did. “They had a good first impression. I’ll call if we’re going to be late.”
She crossed her arms. “I still want to meet him.”
I sighed and flipped my hair out from the confines of my coat. “You will. If and when he becomes my boyfriend, he’ll meet everybody. We’re just going to go on a couple dates, first, before I introduce him to the full realm of chaos that is my life. Love you. Bye.” I yanked the house door shut behind me and bolted for the car, grateful my mother hated the cold. She peered through the blinds, squinting at me, then raised her phone to her ear.
Oh, great. She was probably calling Aunt Coral to verify everything.
I waved, smiling sarcastically. I see you, Mom. I drove to the end of the block, then pulled over to call Zack.
“What?” he asked.
Nice greeting. “I told my mom you approve of my boyfriend.”
“What boyfriend?” He slurped a drink. “Is this the guy that made you cry? Because screw him.”
I squirmed. “No, you liked him. Well, you liked his coffee.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, his mouth still half-full.
Aunt Coral’s voice pierced through the microphone. “Zack!”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Please cover for me? I’ll owe you big.”
“Fine.” He sighed. “ What? ” he shouted to his mother.
I flinched and ended the call. Hopefully, our mothers didn’t give him the full inquisition. I just wanted to enjoy the Winter Festival–and a first date.
Thankfully, I found a good parking spot, so I didn't have to worry about ice skating across the lot with Harvey after this. I waited near the festival entrance, blowing warm air in my hands and resisting the instinct to wave to families walking past. Sugarplum could get away with smiling at strangers. As Shelby, I’d look ridiculous.
A few minutes later, a tall man in an olive cap caught my eye.
“Harvey.” I waved, bouncing so he'd see me in the crowd.
He perked up and smiled, striding over on long legs. “You’re early.”
“I was excited.”
“I am, too.” His cheeks flushed and he stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Aw, was he nervous? I clasped my hands, trying not to swoon, and spun towards the winter-renovated park next to the golf course. “What do you want to do first?”
He jerked his chin at the entrance. “This is your domain. I’ll let you lead.”
“Okay.” I twisted my hands behind my back and meandered down the path. The smell of apple cider tickled my chilly nose. “I think we should start with a hot drink. It'll ease you into something familiar before going to the Sparkle Zone.”
“The sparkle zone? No wonder you’re so excited.” He chuckled.
“It’s more about the company,” I admitted. “Whenever I’m here with my family, I end up babysitting.”
“Don’t you like kids? Relatively speaking,” he said.
I sucked in a deep breath, looking up at the dusky sky. “I don’t mind entertaining. I love making them happy. But actually being responsible for them?”
A kid who could barely walk in their snowsuit took off running and promptly tripped over their own feet. The dad had to snatch them mid-air and scoop them into his arms.
I shook Harvey’s arm and whispered, “See? I bet he’ll have to carry them for the next two hours. And they’ll fight it, squirming. Now times that by three and you’ve got a night out with my cousins.”
“You’re enough trouble as it is,” he suggested dryly.
I knocked into his side. “Hey, I’m a delight.”
“I’m just saying, I can’t carry you through this whole thing. I’ll stick to escorting.” He nudged his elbow out.
Snickering, I looped my arm through his and explored the venue. Snow owl and reindeer puppets floated through the air. I watched them dance as Harvey studied the bags of beans by the coffee kiosk.
“I’ll take that specialty dark roast.” He turned to me. “What do you want, Shelby?”
Startled, I backed up. “You don’t have to pay for me.”
He tugged his wallet out of his back pocket. “I invited you here, so let me treat you for something. Do you also want a cookie?”
“Yes,” I said emphatically. This guy was amazing. He really knew me. Or he knew my order, at least.
After we got our orders, I bit into a gingerbread cookie tree. At the faintest hint of cinnamon, I wiggled my hips. “Mm, so tasty. Do you want to try any?”
“No, you enjoy it.” Harvey blew on his coffee before taking a sip.
I hugged my hot chocolate. “How is it?”
He licked his lips and narrowed his eyes. “Kind of nutty. But good. Like you, maybe.”
“Hey.” I pushed his arm, laughing.
“No, you’re sweet. And smart. And funny. And super pretty,” he said, toasting me. “And yet you ended up on a date with a bitter, black coffee-drinker like me.”
I bumped his elbow. “You’re not as much of a grinch as people might think.”
He raised his eyebrows. “No?”
I hummed, appraising him. “You’re cool. Like Frosty.”
“The snowman?” He gaped.
“What would you prefer? Jack Frost, nipping at my nose?” I teased.
He grinned. “Maybe. Your face is probably less sugary than everything else they’re serving.”
“So, you plan to eat my face?”
His cheeks flushed as his laughter rang out in the field. “I’m not that bad at kissing.”
I held the tip of my tongue between my teeth. “We’ll see.”