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“Damn it!” one of the high school teachers yells. The rest of the team slumps over and groans.
“Oh my god, does that mean we’re tied with Dork Academia?” Mia throws her arms around Isaiah’s neck for a hug. “Hell yes!”
All the other competing tables are bummed out but flash stealthy thumbs-up their way and a brave someone shouts out, “Nice one!” Even the trivia master gives them a big wink.
“Not bad, newbie,” says Riley, sticking his hand over the table. “Thanks for stepping in.”
“Yeah, no problem.” Ves shakes his hand, but his eyes are on Elisha the whole time.
It’s almost as if he wants her to know he didn’t do it for Riley. It’s something she’s noticed about him, the way his words are deliberate and purposeful, even when he’s laughing or bantering.
And that’s when Elisha realizes that there’s no getting around it—she is full on crushing on her emotionally unavailable new neighbor. And whatever else he might feel about her, he’s interested. She’s spent enough time fending off Mistletoe Miscreant Men at the bar to recognize it.
The rest of the evening goes by in a blur, and when it’s over, Came to Sleigh comes in first place. Ves is the reluctant recipient of back claps and vigorous handshakes from practically everyone in the pub. He shifts his weight from foot to foot, not quite returning the handful of hugs he gets, but not recoiling, either. He even awkwardly pats Mia’s shoulder when she launches herself at him with a hug, ears bright pink as he looks helplessly at a giggling Elisha.
“How is it that despite your best intentions, everyone seems to love you wherever you go?” she asks when she finally gets Ves to herself.
“Trust me, it only happens in Piney Peaks,” he says gruffly.
“Nah, you’re just lovable,” she says breezily.
With a diffident shrug, he says, “You’re the only one who thinks so.”
“Come on, I see Solana’s saving us seats at the bar.”
He scoffs, falling into step beside her. “So, what do we win for first place?”
“Our team drinks for free tonight.” She grins. “So, uh, can I buy you a drink? No Grinches, I promise.”
His laugh comes out strangled. “Would you believe me if I said I wouldn’t mind getting used to them?”
Chapter Twenty
Ves
Of all the junk Ves has unearthed in Maeve’s house, wrapping paper isn’t one of them. Great.
“I need help,” Ves says the second Arun picks up the phone.
His best friend doesn’t skip a beat. “Book, house, or mental?”
“D, none of the above. I bought a box of nice chocolates earlier today to say thanks for dinner, but I can’t just hand them over as is, can I? It needs wrapping paper or a nice gift bag, right? I want to make a good impression. But should it be Christmas related or just... regular pretty?”
“Regular pretty?” There’s a muffled conversation as Arun presumably relays the question to his husband. “Wait, did you have dinner with the girl next door?” Forgetting to lower his voice, Arun imparts to Cade, “Every straight guy I know has a thing about girls next door.”
Cade also forgets to whisper in response. “Not just straight guys. I hooked up with all the boys next door when I was a teenager.”
“And that’s why we aren’t going to your parents’ house for Christmas.”
“Yeah, that’s not why. You insisted on spending our first Christmas together as a couple.”
Ves coughs to remind them of his presence. “For the record, Elisha isn’t next door, she’s across the street. And the thank-you isn’t for her, it’s for her mother. She’s the one who made dinner.”
“O-kay,” says Arun. “So, which one are you dating?” he teases.
It takes every facial muscle Ves has to not grind his back molars. “I hate you.”
“You love me.” Arun shushes Cade, who tries to interject again. “Okay, so, first of all, was this a romantic dinner? And, more importantly! Why am I only finding out about this now?”
