Page 55 of Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane

“It’s always a big event here,” I replied.

“How was school yesterday?” James asked as he came around to stand on my other side.

“Pretty chill. Most classes are having makeup days or finishing up projects before state testing and finals.”

“Bleh. Finals.” James shoved his hands into his pockets. “I like that we take ours early and are off for all of December, but I do hate starting the beginning of August.”

“Yeah, mid-August is early enough for me.” I adjusted my earmuffs. “So, what did you guys get into today?”

“Dad went to go work at the diner, of course.” James rolled his eyes. “And I went to a couple places—the bookstore, Eve’s—”

“Chordcrafters?” I asked.

James looked shocked but amused. “You spying on me?”

“No,” I said, quickly dropping my eyes to my boots.

Except that one time, of course.

“Did James tell you about our upcoming Gingerbread House Contest tomorrow?” I asked Mr. Bailey, who was once again scrolling his phone.

“He did.” He looked up and put his phone back in his coat pocket. “It’s been years since I’ve made a gingerbread house, though.”

“Oh, that’s okay. We give you all the supplies.” I pointed behind us. “Everything gets displayed in The Market for the judging. And there’s live music and food afterward, too.”

Mr. Bailey pursed his lips together and stayed quiet.

I nudged James. “Maybe hide his devices so he doesn’t have any excuses,” I whispered.

“Already scoped out a few places in the suite,” he whispered back, giving me a fist bump.

Mayor Moore took the stage and after the applause died down, he was joined by several kids, including Leo, from the elementary school, all with scripts in their hands.

“What’s going on?” Mr. Bailey asked. “I thought this was a tree-lighting.”

“It is,” I said. “But with a twist.”

On cue, the crowd started humming the Whoville song from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and the kids on the stage recited the Grinch’s monologue from the mountaintop scene where he realizes that “Christmas doesn’t come from a store.” And as Leo slowed down the final line of “Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little…bit…more.” Mayor Moore flipped the switch. Hundreds upon hundreds of multicolored Christmas lights now illuminated the big tree.

Everyone clapped and cheered, although Mr. Bailey’s hands remained in the pockets of his fancy coat. “Well, I’ve never seen a tree-lighting like that before.”

I smiled proudly. “We do things a little differently here in Mullings Creek.”

“I loved it,” James said, taking my hand.

His gloved fingers threaded through mine, and I was surprised at how normal it felt. Natural, even. The butterflies didn’t dance around the way they had moments ago when I was on Sam’s shoulders, but they did flutter a bit.

“Is this okay?” James whispered near my ear.

“Yes,” I said, surprising myself at how quickly I answered.

Mr. Bailey’s phone rang, and he stepped away to answer it.

James checked the time. “Shoot, I have to head back. I’ve got a FaceTime date with Jenny in ten minutes.”

Date? I angled my face up to James and tried my best to sound indifferent. “Jenny, eh? She sounds…cute.”

“I mean, sure, she is.” He smirked. “For my stepsister.” He angled his head. “Was that a flash of jealousy I detected?”