“Stop!” I say through my giggles. “I’m going to pee my pants from laughing so hard.”
He sticks his beard on, pushing it down with added effort. “That has to be good enough.” He smiles at me through the mirror, holding his arm out for me to loop mine through. “You ready, Mrs. Claus?”
I suck in a deep breath to try and control my unsolicited laughter. “I guess.”
We march out of the ranch to the line of waiting children. My mom bounces up and down while simultaneously clapping. I can’t even look at Juliet, Hailey, or Anna for fear that I will die laughing again.
Caleb and I sit in the huge velvety chairs, and one by one, kids come up to talk to us.
“Hey, little man!” Caleb says in his best Santa voice. “What do you want for Christmas?” He listens patiently as the little boy rattles off seven different PlayStation games. Even under that ridiculous fake beard, he still looks handsome—even more so when you add in how sweet he’s being with the children. He was even nice to the one little girl who screamed in his face and then whacked him across the cheek.
The next little boy sits on his thigh and immediately starts crying. “Ho, ho, ho! Don’t cry!”
But the little boy can’t be consoled, and his mom sweeps in and whisks him away, apologizing for how sad he is.
“Summer?” Caleb whispers. “Summer?” he whispers a little louder.
“What?” I smile at the family that’s next in line.
“I think that kid peed on me.”
My eyes shoot to his leg and the round, wet spot on his thigh where the little boy had just been sitting.
That’s when I lose it for good.
I can’t help it.
And you know what else I can’t help? Just really, really liking Caleb Davidson.
It’s a problem.
thirty
CALEB
“How many timesdo I have to wash my pants to get urine out of them?” I ask as I climb out of my Bronco in front of Justin’s condo.
Summer giggles so hard she snorts. “I can’t believe you got peed on.”
“I bet Bob Irvine has never been peed on before.”
Summer shakes her head with more light laughter as she takes the front steps two at a time. “I bet Bob Irvine has never dressed up as Santa Claus.”
“Hey, we should watchChristmas Vacationtonight. Keep the laughs going.”
“I’d love to. We could pop some popcorn and light a fire.” I twist the door handle and push open the door.
“Do you think you have stuff to make s’mores?”
We both step inside and immediately pause.
The lights are off, and candles are lit everywhere. There are some along the fireplace mantel, on the hearth, and in the middle of the kitchen table. Fancy china that Justin probably bought today is laid out for two. Soft music plays in the background, and there’s a pathway of rose petals on the floor, leading to the table.
Justin stands next to it all with arms spread wide. “Surprise!” His eyes go straight to Summer, and so do mine.
Her smile falters. “What’s all of this?”
“This is an apology and a thank you.”
