Page 46 of The Christmas Dash

I’m reading between the lines and going to take a wild guess—judging from the way Calvin is looking Beth up and down with a hungry gaze—that she is what he missed around here.

I also have to wonder if the city didn’t just chew Calvin up and spit him back out . . . all the way to Dasher Valley.

But there I go, being judgmental again.

Beth flushes bright red and looks down.

Her eyes widen when she catches sight of me, and she gasps. “Where are my manners? Cal, this is Gabe McKenzie. You’ve met his mom, Elena, down at the café. Gabe, Calvin Kell.”

He goes by Cal? Cal Kell? I have so many thoughts about that, but I shove them aside for now.

I reach out my hand and Calvin shakes it.

“You two are working on the Christmas Dash.” He smiles at me, but it’s a calculated smile.

“We are,” I say. “How’d you know?”

“Saw the post on the Dasher Daily Download.” He winks at Beth. “What’s that we always said whenever news went down?”

“Where’s Wallace?” they chorus together.

Calvin laughs and Beth giggles.

“I’m thinking about gifting him a red-and-white-striped shirt this year for Christmas,” she says.

“I’ll go in on it with you.”

Okay. I officially feel like a third wheel. Not just any third wheel either. I’m the third wheel of a tractor that’s just been driven through reindeer dung. Everything stinks.

Also, if I get a say, I would way rather see Beth end up with Where’s Wallace than I would with Cal Kell.

Beth glances from Calvin to his parents. Lorissa and Richie are standing opposite me, with Calvin and Beth between us. I can’t get a read on the older Kells. Their faces are void of emotion.

“Mr. and Mrs. Kell, we don’t want to keep you, but we’re hoping for your help with the Christmas Dash,” Beth says.

“Go on,” Richie says.

“We want to throw a Christmas ball as the last stop of the Dash, and this is the perfect spot for it.” There’s a smile in Beth’s voice. I love how excited she is about this. It’s how she is about most of the things she’s undertaken in life. Enthusiastic. All in. It’s making me excited. She has that effect on people, I guess. Bringing them in on her joy.

“When’s the event?” Calvin whips out his cell phone. “I’ve got the building’s calendar right here.”

“Saturday, December nineteenth. I know this is last minute, but we’d really appreciate it.” Beth fills him in on the rest of the details.

“Hmm.” Calvin frowns. “It is short notice but”—he cracks a grin and pockets his phone—“we’ll make it work. It’s good for the town, right?” He flicks his gaze to his dad, who inclines his head in approval.

Beth watches this exchange, and when Calvin grins over at her, she throws her arms around his neck. “Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

I look down at the ground. My, what lovely wood grain it has!

Beth clears her throat, and I glance up as she remembers herself. She steps back from Calvin and smooths down her jacket, turning to face the elder Kells. “We also were hoping to ask for some donations. Sponsorships, actually.”

Richie arches his brows. “Let’s hear the pitch.”

Beth takes a deep breath. “Well, I was thinking that—”

“Consider it done,” Calvin says, cutting her off before she gets any further.

“A-are you serious? Don’t you want to know what we need the funds for? I have a whole spiel,” she adds with a nervous chuckle, shooting a glance at Lorissa and Richie.