Page 21 of Not Another Christmas Movie

“Great. Another non-chocolate cookie,” Annie muttered miserably.

“Would you like me to escort Holly home?” a deep voice questioned from behind them. The man had a huge white beard and wore a crimson coat.

“Santa?” Annie whispered as Nick gave her a nudge. Annie couldn’t stop staring at the stranger. She was almost certain it was the same man who had been ringing that golden bell with a knowing stare that morning.

“Are you sure, Uncle Felix? I don’t want to put you out,” Chris started.

“Nonsense, ’tis the season for you young folk to enjoy some holiday cheer!” Uncle Felix chuckled merrily.

“Yes, ’tis the season!” Bailey cheered, her doll eyes still focused on Nick as she batted her eyelashes up at him. “Would you walk me home too?” Bailey asked softly, refusing to blink until Nick nodded.

“Uncle Felix, can you make me some of your famous candy cane cocoa?” Holly asked in a small voice, tugging gently on Felix’s coat.

“Holly,” Chris warned, but he smiled at his daughter warmly. “Just one cup. And thank you, Uncle Felix. I won’t be home too late. I want to make sure Annie gets back safe and sound.”

Felix looked toward Annie and winked before turning back to Holly.

“He winked at me!” Annie gasped at Nick and dug her fingers into his arm before Nick shot her a look to take it easy.

“Ready?” Chris asked Annie, offering his arm. She nodded as Nick and Bailey linked up, heading in the opposite direction.

Chris and Annie walked the short distance back to her house, making small talk about their snowman until they reached Annie’s doorstep, and he stopped to stare meaningfully into her eyes. It was the stuff of romance movies. But Annie realized, to her dismay, that this may be the first time she had ever soberly taken in his full face. Seeing him like this, so open and present, was nothing like any of their past interactions. For starters, previously they had always been at a tipsy baseline. All her memories of Chris were slightly blurry, and he only ever revealed pieces of himself. The arch of an eyebrow, the defined cut of his jaw, in between the messy make-outs that inevitably transformed into messier “made moments.” If Annie was being honest, almost all of their sexual encounters had been confusing and chaotic, and every single one had come with a regrettable hangover. If she were being even more honest, maybe Annie could admit that she couldn’t make a good decision when it came to Chris, and she didn’t actually like the version of herself who was so desperate to be in his company anyway.

But here she was, completely sober, staring back at another variation of the Chris she had previously known after the closest thing to a date the two had ever experienced. And, okay, sure, the Annual Simsbury Snowman Shaping, Sculpting, and Styling Spectacular Showcase Soiree hadn’t been the harrowing affair Annie had originally expected, but she wouldn’t exactly have described it as fun. She kept waiting for Grant to showcase some of his legendary pageantry, but, even as the event host, his performance was muted and tame. This was the kid who had once put on a one-man show of Oklahoma! in his parents’ garage and had his sister sell Girl Scout cookies before and after it so she could meet her quota, for goodness’ sake. Annie was still haunted by his interpretation and delivery of the dream ballet sequence and thought of it every time she sank her teeth into a straight-from-the-freezer Thin Mint.

Just like this new version of Grant, Annie was struggling to balance the memories she had of Chris with his made-for-TV Christmas movie counterpart. She kept waiting for the mask to slip, for him to make some inappropriate and blatantly sexual comment or joke that Annie would pretend to find clever and not at all offensive. But so far Chris was committed to this G-rated character.

“Annie Meyers,” Chris sighed, snapping her back to the present.

“That’s me,” Annie said, and when Chris didn’t follow that up with any further commentary. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here today, like this, it’s been … well, weird.”

“You’ve only gotten more and more lovely in the time we spent apart,” Chris began. Annie was happy to hear she had gotten hotter in the weeks since Halloween. “I should have shared more about my past,” Chris concluded in earnest, seeming to take the weight and full responsibility of their previous dynamic.

“Um, about you having a kid? Or a dead wife? Or owning a home in this economy? Yeah, that was all pretty surprising,” Annie answered. It still stung to think about how Chris had reacted to his own assumption that Annie was the kind of person who wanted things like a spouse and children in the future, the sentiment never earning her any of his esteem. Sure, maybe she did want those things at some point, but those were secrets she barely let herself consider, let alone topics of discussion with Chris.

“I’d love to share this magical season getting to know each other better,” Chris said hopefully. Annie could only stare back, her mouth open, unable to complete a thought, never mind a word. Chris smiled and squeezed Annie’s hand. “We’re all so grateful to have you and your outstanding talents here. I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep tonight; I’m so delighted to have you at rehearsal tomorrow.”

Annie’s pulse quickened. Was he hinting that he wanted to “not sleep” together? Should she invite him inside so they could fall back into their normal routine? Except nothing about this was normal. For one, they were both completely sober without the hope of booze to blanket some of the awkwardness. And two, Annie’s feelings were complicated. Here he was, this walking heartbreak, saying things she had only ever dreamed about, and Annie was terrified to trust it. She didn’t want to make herself vulnerable to the inevitable ending hiding in this holiday haze.

Then again, she didn’t have her phone to distract her, and she didn’t really want to go back inside alone. Her body longed to lean into his familiar warmth. Annie smoothed her hair, giving Chris a small and, she hoped, seductive smile.

“Should we talk more inside?” Annie asked, opening the door and gesturing for him to follow.

Chris grabbed for her hands again, clutching her fingers and bringing her closer. Annie looked up at him, and his eyes bore into hers, causing her breath to catch. He wants me to kiss him, Annie thought, allowing her body to inch closer to Chris. Annie closed her eyes and angled her mouth in his direction. If they made out a little on the front porch, she was sure she could convince him to stay.

“Oh, I would, but I need to get back home to Holly, I know she’ll be trying to get another hot chocolate out of Felix,” Chris said. Annie’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “Good night, Annie.”

CHAPTER NINE

Annie’s heart dropped, instantly feeling his rejection and spiraling into another tornado of confusion. She watched Chris retreat onto the street until his figure had disappeared, twisting the Santa hat in her hands in pure frustration, a small scream escaping.

Without thinking a moment longer, Annie marched over to Nick’s house and pounded on the door. She didn’t care if he had managed to lure Bailey back and they were in the middle of making a moment of their own.

“Nick!” Annie yelled at the door, using her fists to take turns banging.

“Hi?” Nick asked, opening the door. Annie barged in and glanced around for Bailey.

“You’re alone?” Annie asked.