There are two seats saved for us at the table where Summer’s family sits.
“Don’t you two look cute,” Juliet says as we walk up. “I need to get Rick a pair of pants like that.”
“These old things?” I twist, lunging one leg forward, maximizing the tightness around my butt.
“That’s what I call eye candy,” Aunt Carma says with absolutely no emotion.
“You like that, Carma?” I spin so she has a better angle of my butt.
“I may be old, but I can spot a firm butt from a mile away.”
“Carma!” Janet chastises. “That’s not appropriate for a Christmas event.”
“Since when arefirm buttsnot appropriate at a Christmas event?” Marty asks his wife.
She laughs, pushing his shoulder.
“Do we need to ask Justin and hisfirm buttto leave?” Jeff jokes.
“I bet Summer’s not bothered.” Rick laughs. “You know she likes Justin in his Wranglers.”
“I haven’t even noticed.” She turns her head in the other direction, avoiding my butt.
I straighten, placing my lips next to her ear. “I don’t believe that at all.” She pulls her shoulders back, fidgeting like my closeness affects her more than she’s letting on. “I’ve noticed how good you look.” I inch my foot forward so I’m even closer and take a chance by lightly placing my hand on the small of her back. “Tonight and the other night at the party.”
Her head flips as if I’ve said something that has piqued her interest. Her blue eyes peer up at me, and there’s so much tension bubbling between us we’re like a wine bottle ready to pop and spill over. “Jordan was dressed like a golden goddess. I guarantee you didn’t even notice me.”
I lean in more, lowering my voice to just whispers that graze her ear. “Red dress that perfectly matched your red lipstick.” I lightly brush my finger over her lips, feeling her shiver below my touch. “Fitted on top, then it fanned out like one of those dresses from the 1950s. But the best part was when you were dancing, because your dress twirled upward, and I saw a little more of your legs,” I tease.
Summer playfully elbows me in the side, causing me to step back. She gives me the first natural smile of the night and lowers her voice so only I can hear. “Justin would never say that.”
“I’m not Justin right now.”
SUMMER
* * *
Caleb standsin the middle of the dance floor with a crowd around him. “When I sayMerry,you sayChristmas!Merry!” He points to everyone else.
“Christmas!” the crowd yells in unison.
“Merry!” He does it again.
“Christmas!”
“Merry!”
“Christmas!”
Then Caleb starts jumping up and down, and the whole crowd, including me, joins in on the merry mosh pit until a Christmas version of “Cotton Eye Joe” starts playing.
Caleb hunches over, stomping one foot and clapping his hands. Everyone follows his lead, stomping their feet. The wood floor below us moves and vibrates, sending dust flying in the air.
He looks at me, charming me with a smile that threatens to win my heart completely. He’s just so much fun to be around. He’s happy, the life of the party, the one that brings the energy and makes everyone else have a good time too. But Caleb’s more than a good time. He’s sweet, and thoughtful, and remembers small details. And at this moment, in the middle of the Mistletoe-Down, I’m wondering why I’m with Justin and not with him.
All the reasons we started this swap have vanished. I’m happy, my mom’s happy, my family isn’t questioning my life choices anymore. I haven’t even thought about my family problems for over a week. Caleb solved everything—not because he was pretending to be Justin, but because he’shim.
“Conga line!” he shouts, grabbing my hands and putting them on his waist to follow him around the dance floor. In a second, the rest of the crowd joins in and marches behind us until the song ends.
