December looks around sneakily and nods. She holds a finger up to her lips. “I’ll tell you a secret, though. Everyone is a princess when we come to skate here.”
“We are?” Cammie whispers.
“Yes, so you get to be a princess, too.”
“Daddy, did you hear her?”
“I did, Princess Cammie.” Dec winks at him as he mouths,thank you.
“We should let the princess and her prince skate now, don’t you think?”
“Uh huh,” Cammie nods. “Bye-bye.” Waving, she places her hand in her father’s and toddles off.
“And you said Imadeyou be a prince. Clearly, you just have a royal air about you.” She stands, and we both laugh. The moment’s lost, but the conversation is far from finished.
CHAPTER3
Dec
I can’t stop the giggle from escaping from my lips as E brushes his lips across mine.
“You’re the cutest elf I’ve ever seen.”
“Stop it.” I push at his chest playfully.
“What? Just passing along my thoughts before I have to hide until the grand reveal.” I smooth down the material on the front of his Santa Suit.
“You better sell the holy jolly tonight, Scrooge.”
“What? Just because I hate donning the suit doesn’t mean I can’t play the role. This thing is itchy and hot.”
“And the kids look at you like you hang the moon. You make their entire year.”
“Way to pour it on thick, Santa’s helper.”
I move to pinch his side lightly and find fluff. “Nice to know the padding is good for something.”
I like the feel of his hand wrapped around my hip, warming me through the green dress with the red Peter Pan collar. My red tights and green elf shoes with yellow bells on the ends set off my jagged hemline.
“It’s kind of disturbing finding Santa hot.”
“You think I’m hot?” he flashes me a dimpled smile.
I roll my eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Santa, we’re ready for you in the back,” one of the organizers calls.
“Duty calls. Be good for Santa while I’m gone.”
I open my mouth to cut him down to size, and he silences me, stealing my snarky response. I melt against him, placing a hand on his chest. He pulls away, winking as I turn to watch him leave, slightly dazed, and stare into the fiery blue gaze of my other best friend.
My stomach plummeted, and I swallow.
Nora stalks forward with a stack of white boxes with the Shore’s bakery logo on the front and a narrowed gaze that tells me I’m in trouble.
“Back room.”
Hurrying ahead of her, I hold the door and allow her to enter. I’d put off talking to her about my scheme for selfish reasons, and it bit me in the ass. I hate finding myself on my bestie’s crap list.