But they talked.
They worked.
They stood at the same cart without holding their breath.
It wasn’t what she secretly wanted. But it wasn’t the coldness, either.
Harper followed her glance and hummed knowingly. “You two seem normal again.”
Sav pushed her hair behind her ear. “We’re fine.”
“Sure,” Harper said, voice too light to be neutral. But she let it go. “Henry says meeting in two.”
“Thrilling,” Sav muttered. “Can’t wait to see what heartwarming holiday content we’re pushing tonight.”
“Ten bucks, it’s last-minute shopping.”
Sav lifted her pen like a toast. “I won’t take that bet.”
They joined the small circle forming around the assignment desk. Henry stood in the center with a rundown in one handand a half-drunk coffee in the other. The colored lights flickered above him.
“Alright, folks,” Henry said, clapping once. “We’re on skeleton crew tonight, so let’s not make me regret showing up.”
Harper raised her hand before he even finished listing assignments. “Please let me interview panicked shoppers. I need this.”
“That tracks,” Henry said. “Fine. Harper and Andrew on the mall crush.”
He shifted his focus. “Wells, want the toy drive at Engine Three?”
Sav nodded. “Yeah.”
“Tilly?” Henry called toward the gear room.
Sav felt her pulse jump as Tilly stepped into view, camera strap already across their chest. “Yeah?”
“Toy drive with Wells,” Henry said. “Kids, Santa, firefighters, the usual. Package for the ten.”
“Got it,” Tilly said.
Assignments wrapped fast — half the staff wasn’t even there — and the circle dissolved.
Harper passed Sav with a nudge. “Toy drive’s a good one. Fewer stampedes.”
“Improvement,” Sav agreed.
She grabbed her notepad and headed toward the gear room. Tilly rolled the cart out at the same time, and the tripod balanced neatly on top.
“Hey,” Sav said.
“Hey,” they echoed.
Simple. Steady. Something inside her loosened.
“You ever been to Engine Three at Christmas?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Tilly said. “Last year. They go all out — giant wreaths, hot chocolate, firefighters in sweaters like they’re auditioning for a calendar.”
Sav snorted. “Holiday thirst content.”
