Chapter 18 #2
Nick and I exchanged amused glances, and my heart jump-started. Were we so good at pretending now that we were actually acting like a real couple? Sharing nuts and inside jokes and…banning kisses. Okay, maybe not all that real.
Still. Being with Nick felt so easy. Natural. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. At least I could be sure our friendship was legit by this point.
Now to figure out how to be content with that.
Mason bounced again, unable to help himself. Janie scrambled onto the stool beside Santa and leaned over to whisper.
Santa’s eyes widened, then he pursed his lips and nodded. “Ho, ho, ho. That’s a new one.”
“Yep. I’m toast.” Olivia pocketed her phone.
Axel bounced on his toes like Mason. “What did she ask for? Toys these days are so cool, man.”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” Mason crossed his arms over his chest. “It doesn’t work if you say it out loud.”
“Really?” Axel frowned. “I thought that was just for shooting stars.”
“It’s for birthday wishes too.” Mason’s tone held more duh than a Nickelodeon sitcom.
Janie started to hop down from the stool, then her eyes cut to her brother. Mason glared. She quickly cupped her hands and said one more thing to Santa, who looked directly at us, and winked. With a grin, Janie ran back to Olivia.
A frown creased Mom’s forehead as she adjusted the folds of her long cardigan. “Wonder what that was about?”
Dad offered her another nut, and she shook her head.
“You should see her Christmas list—it’s a mile long. I’m sure she just forgot something.” Kat good-naturedly rolled her eyes.
“I tried to get her to put it in alphabetical order the other day.” Lydia shook back her blond braid, her other hand holding Ryan’s. “But the teaching moment passed when she couldn’t decide if that doll should be categorized under D for doll or V for vomit —”
“We get it.” Olivia quickly pulled her phone back out as Mason headed to take his turn. “Thanks for trying.”
As Mason crossed the green-velvet walk to talk to Santa, the rest of us maneuvered around to the exit, near the giant foam candy canes to collect Janie. One of the elves handed Mason a peppermint stick before he hopped on the stool.
“Five bucks to anyone who can confirm he actually asks for that basketball.” Olivia whispered as we all bunched together.
“Don’t do that! If you hear what he says, he won’t get it.” Axel pushed up the sleeves of his thin athletic jacket. “Those are the rules apparently.” He waggled his eyebrows in jest, but I’m pretty sure I was the only one who caught it.
“It’s okay for moms to hear. That’s different.” Chloe tucked her hand around his bicep.
Axel visibly relaxed. Ryan scowled. Dad shook his head at their exchange and slid one palm down the length of his face. Mom smiled and patted his arm.
The rest of us leaned in to eavesdrop on Mason. Nick’s arm wrapped loosely around me in the huddle. I glanced at him, and he winked. Ah, yes. Operation: Jack & Sally—this was the perfect time to be affectionate in front of Ryan without Mason seeing.
“…favorite brand.” Mason was clearly trying to keep his voice down, but he was too excited.
I struggled to stop focusing on the heat from Nick’s arm searing through my sweater and attempted to make out roughly every other word. “…all the pros…best.”
Olivia tilted her head and squinted. “Maybe?”
“That’s got to be it.” Kat shrugged, tossing her dark hair off her shoulders. She’d worn her favorite Wildcats ball cap again. “What other pro sport does he care about?”
Olivia ticked off her fingers one by one. “Baseball. Hockey. Football.”
“Wait—I just heard NBA.” Nick shot his fist in the air in victory.
“Perfect!” Olivia hiked her purse up on her shoulder. “We’re golden.”
“…but really, all I want for Christmas is the truth.”
Mason’s innocent voice rang loud and clear that time. We all stopped and stared at each other. Then Kat’s eyes darted to the ground. Olivia winced and glanced away. Mom and Dad exchanged a long look. Chloe studied her red-and-white-striped nails. Ryan’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Nick.
The mall buzzed with activity, but you could have heard a peppermint drop in the circle of Sinclairs hunched together. Did we all look…guilty? Or was that my own conscious projecting?
Then Mom shook her nearly empty bag of nuts. “Well, I better go find a trash can.” She hurried off. Dad followed with a frown.
“I’ll get Mason and meet you guys down by the parking lot.” Olivia took Janie’s hand, still avoiding everyone’s eyes. “Let’s go.”
“I’m going to hit the restroom before we leave.” Kat gestured vaguely toward the customer service corridor the opposite direction. “See you back at the car.”
“Wait.” Chloe turned a full circle, her carefully constructed curls swinging across the back of her white sweater dress. “Has anyone seen Axel?”
“He’s in line.” Nick pointed behind us, to where Axel had joined the line of kids to see Santa. A determined expression was set on his thin face.
Chloe sighed and went to join him.
I glanced at Nick as everyone dispersed. “Do you think Mason meant us?”
Nick looked down at me and started to shake his head. Then his eyes drifted to something behind me, over my shoulder, and went wide.
He didn’t get a chance to answer before Ryan’s fist came flying directly toward his face.