Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
OLIVIA
Olivia scolded herself as she fiddled with her ponytail for what felt like the hundredth time.
She’d worn her hair up and borrowed a pair of her mom’s dangling earrings for the Santa breakfast. She wanted to look mature and sophisticated for Malik, who was supposedly coming to help check people in for the event, but so far, he was a no-show.
Shocker. She couldn’t help being disappointed even so.
Hugo brought her a peppermint tea and a plate of pastries. “They said we could have whatever we want. I’m going back for seconds. Maybe thirds.” He plopped into the chair next to her. “What’s my duty, Ms. National Honor Society Pres? Lay it on me. Your wish is my every command.”
“If you can hand out tickets, I’ll check everyone in,” Olivia said with a smile, handing him a roll of red raffle tickets. “Be sure to tell everyone to write their name and number on the back so that if they win, they can be notified.”
“That’s a tough task, boss, but I’ll do my best.” He ripped a hunk of a cherry turnover in half and offered the other piece to Olivia. He looked grown-up and cute, although slightly uncomfortable in his black slacks, button-down white shirt, and green Christmas tie.
“No thanks. I’ll start with tea.” She wrapped her hands around the mug. “Did Malik text you?”
Hugo chomped on the sweet pastry for a minute before answering. Olivia suspected it was because he was buying himself time to come up with a reply. “No. I texted him last night to be here by eight, but I didn’t get the impression he was super into the idea of being up this early on a Saturday.”
“Yeah.” She blew on the tea. “Tell me the truth: He’s not into me, is he?”
“Honestly, I don’t know, Liv. He’s a weird dude. He doesn’t say much to me, either. I think he’s a loner. When I asked him about being on the team, I was shocked when he showed up, so I don’t know, maybe there’s something there.”
Olivia appreciated that Hugo was trying to make her feel better. She knew the truth—Malik was out of her league. She changed the subject. “So tell me about your mystery crush. Cass said that you have a plan to ask her out?”
Hugo choked on the turnover. He coughed and pounded his hand on his chest. Then he jumped up. “Sorry, I gotta go grab a drink of water. Be back in a second.”
Olivia watched him disappear into the ballroom. They had told each other everything for as long as she could remember, except for this. Hugo had told Cass all about his crush, but he’d left Olivia out of the loop. Was it her? Was she being too demanding?
She knew she tended to over-organize. Was it too much—Project Candy Cane, schoolwork, this?
Was she pushing her friends away in the process?
As much as she wanted—needed—to win the cash, she also wanted to have fun.
This was their last year together. Who knew where they’d end up after graduation?
She, Hugo, and Cass had been inseparable through middle and high school, but she could feel that shifting.
Their friendship was starting to fragment, and Passport to the Holidays might be one of the last experiences they shared together.
She needed to forget about Malik and focus on her friends. This was their senior year, after all, and she couldn’t let her obsession about someone who barely acknowledged her existence ruin the holidays.