I open my eyes.
Lacee’s hunched over me. She’s biting back her smile, but she’s not doing a very good job at it. “Park, are you okay?”
“Sir,” a man in his early twenties wearing a giant elf coat and an antler headband rushes toward us, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave the reindeer farm. It’s against the rules to try and ride one of the animals.”
“I wasn’t trying to ride it.”
A small boy wails into his mom’s leg, pointing to me. “That man hurt Blitzen.”
“I didn’t hurt Blitzen.” I plead my case to the crowd of people who’ve gathered around.
“Sir?” the man repeats. “You need to leave, or else I’m calling security.”
Security?
I look around at the hokey mom-and-pop reindeer farm, doubting they have a security team for moments like this.
“Sir?” His voice is more firm.
“Don’t worry.” Lacee grabs my arm, pulling me up. “We’re leaving.”
She drags me out of the pen, a crowd of people glaring at my back.
“For your information,” I whip around my shoulder, pointing at the animal who’s calmly sitting in the snow, “Blitzen attackedme. Is that part of your interactive reindeer experience?” I swing my finger over the onlookers. “I’d be careful. Watch your children. Because that animal is not innocent.”
Lacee tugs me to the parking lot, holding back her laughter, but she’s like a bomb about to explode.
“Say it,” I mutter.
“Park!” She spits out her laugh. “You got run over by a reindeer.”
“In the moment, it felt like a bear.”
“To be clear, it was ababyreindeer.” A huge smile takes over her face. “Why didn’t you let go sooner?”
“I don’t know. I thought I was stuck or something.”
“You’re the only person I know that’s been attacked by a domesticated animal.” A giggle slowly rumbles out of her. It’s small at first, but then it erupts into full-fledged laughter. “It’s like you were hooky-bobbing behind Blitzen!”
“Hooky-bobbing? I don’t know what that is. It sounds made up or mildly suggestive.”
But Lacee doesn’t answer. Her hand goes to her chest as the laughter bellows out of her.
Normally, I’d be upset about looking completely incompetent in front of people. I’m the guy they bring in to get the job done, not make a fool of himself. But Lacee looks so cute laughing that I can’t help but chuckle right along with her.
“Oh my gosh!” She puffs out one last laugh. “You looked so stupid. It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.”
I glance at her with a crooked smile. “Does this mean the date’s over at noon?”
“Nah.” She smiles, looping her arm through mine and cuddling close. She leans in, her hot breath warming my neck, but at the same time sending chills down my spine. “I’ll give you one more hour to redeem yourself.”
* * *
“Here’s some hot chocolate.”Lacee hands me a styrofoam cup with a swirl of whipped cream on the top.
I’m sitting on a bench in front of a giant campfire at the reindeer farm, trying to get warm. They didn’t kick me out after all. Sounds like the elf employee was a little overzealous in his punishment.
“Thanks.”
