Rebel Without A Claus

“Are you really going to ruin the grotto over something that happened almost a decade ago?”

“You might not care, Nicholas, but I do. And it won’t be destroyed. I’ll find someone.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” The handle squeaked, and I turned to see him halfway through the door and letting a ton of snow in. “Everyone I’ve spoken to says there’s nobody else.”

“Someone will show up,” I insisted.

“Maybe, maybe not.” He pulled his hat over his head. “Either way, I’m staying at my grandmother’s old house. If you need me to be your Santa Claus, you know where to find me.”

He held my gaze, his blue eyes piercing and firm, then stepped outside and closed the door.

I grabbed the mop and wiped up all the snow. “Freaking snow. Freaking Nicholas. Freaking Christmas.”

Fuck it all.

CHAPTER FOUR

“What do you mean you told him no?” Erin asked, tying a bow around an empty cardboard box that would make up part of the present display around the Santa chair. “You need a Santa, Quinn!”

I made a ‘pish’ noise and tore some tape off the dispenser. After Nicholas had shown up, I hadn’t managed to get as much done as I’d hoped, and as usual Erin had come to my rescue by roping her aunt in to help decorate the Christmas cookies.

“I can’t work with him!” I handed the box to her so she could tie a ribbon around it. She had a finesse I would never possess, and she’d just redo mine anyway. “I wasn’t expecting to see him here tonight.”

“See who?”

I jerked at the sound of my sister’s voice in the doorway. “Ah. She hath risen.”

“Very funny. Jerk.” Verity waddled into the grotto and slowly lowered herself onto the Santa chair. “Mom wanted someone to come and find you. It’s getting late.”

“Why didn’t Gramps come?”

“He spiked the eggnog. Emphasis on the spiked.” She rubbed her hand over her pregnant belly. “I couldn’t cope with listening to Dad cough anymore, so I had Michael drive me over and drop me off here. Who didn’t you expect to see?”

“Nicholas White,” Erin answered, finishing the bow with a flourish. “Aw, look at that. So pretty.”

I glared at her. Screw her bow. “Erin!”

“What?” My best friend blinked at me with faux innocence. “You need a Santa. He’s available. You’ve just got your head up your ass.”

“Wait, wasn’t he the guy from graduation? When I bailed you out, so mom didn’t know you lied about being at Stephanie’s house?” Verity asked.

“Mhmm,” I answered. “He’s back.”

“Of course he is. His grandmother died not long ago. Are you surprised?”

“No, I’m just shocked he showed up here. I didn’t know he was coming back.”

“Was he supposed to inform you? Are you the Queen of Snow Cove now?”

“Oh, my God, Verity. Why are you here? Are you here to snark and snap at me? If so, call Michael to come and get you. I have enough to do without listening to you bitching at me like we’re teenagers again!” I threw the scissors on the ground and grabbed my coat.

“Where are you going?” Erin asked, watching me walk past her.

“I’ve been in here for hours. I need some air.” I stepped out into the snow and shut the door behind me. The square was lit up with some Christmas lights, and even though it looked like my idea of a nightmare, I knew I’d be able to get a hot chocolate there.

And I knew if I stopped into the bar, I could get it spiked.

Wow.

I really was my grandfather’s granddaughter, wasn’t I?

Oh, well.

You win some, you lose some.

In my haste to leave, I hadn’t grabbed any of my winter wear besides my coat. I zipped it up as much as I could and pulled up my hood, stuffing my hands deep into my pockets.

I was fully aware that me and my sister were grown adults. I was also more than aware that she could go into labor at any point, but I wasn’t going to sit there and let her snark at me like a teenager, especially when you considered that we lived in the same house, and it was the first time I’d seen her in two days.

And I was working my butt off doing her job as well as mine.

Perhaps I could have been nicer. I could have been more understanding. I could have been a little kinder.

But I was feeling very overwhelmed and needed to take a five-minute break before I told everyone where to shove that grotto.

It was easy to forget that my feelings were valid, even if nobody else seemed to remember that. My mom had organized the grotto for as long as I could remember, and now, it was all on my shoulders.

I was frustrated.

I was overwhelmed.

I was tired.

I was stressed.

And now, with the appearance of Nicholas, I was hurting.