Page 29 of Not Another Christmas Movie

“Play?” Perry asked.

“Why doesn’t he have to help with the show?” Annie asked Nick.

“I do have a background in dance,” Perry shared tentatively, unsure if he should dare reveal more.

“You do?” Grant asked as Annie clutched Perry’s arm.

“Join us,” Annie ordered with an intensity that caused everyone to raise an eyebrow. Annie sensed she had perhaps gone too far and backpedaled. “I mean, if you want! Think it over!”

“I don’t think Chipperton Clement III would be interested in our community events, given the nature of his task here,” Grant said curtly, taking the box and its contents to the front desk to be checked for damage. Perry watched him, a look of hurt passing through his eyes, before he turned to Annie and Nick.

“It was nice to meet you both,” Perry said tightly. Annie and Nick watched as Grant stole glances at him as he made his way back upstairs.

“All of his best parts, all of my favorite things that make Grant Grant have been dimmed or completely shut off,” Annie said when Grant returned to check on Felix and Noelle. “These made-for-TV movies are boring beige when they could be a vivid rainbow. It’s a tragedy.” Annie finished, heading back outside.

“You know what might make you feel better?” Nick asked once they were on the street.

“If you say going to that ridiculous ice-skating event, I’m going to pinch you again,” Annie warned, turning her fingers into menacing pinchers.

“It’s the Annual Simsbury Jolly Holiday Skate and Snack with Santa Extravaganza Celebration, but I was going to say, we should probably discuss this kissing thing,” Nick said and Annie’s face heated. Was this about her actions in high school or last night? Or how her body had betrayed her brain just moments ago? “How are you planning to get Chris to almost kiss you?” Nick asked.

“Oh!” Annie exhaled. Right, of course, Nick was referring to today’s mission and not at all calling her out for obviously wanting to bone him back there. “We know we can’t skip to an actual kiss but how hard can an almost kiss be?” Nick considered the question. “It’s going to be pretty hard, huh?” Annie asked and Nick winced. “Okay, what do I have to do?” Annie demanded.

“You’ll have to build some rapport. Make Chris feel comfortable. In this case, you’ll likely have to get in Holly’s good graces so that you can warm his wounded, widowed-dad heart,” Nick said.

“What’s your plan for Bailey?” Annie asked.

“Maybe I can help her in the bakery, and we can have one of those food fights with buckets of flour?”

“That’s going to make her almost kiss you?” Annie asked.

“Honestly, yeah, that could do the trick,” Nick shrugged. “And ice-skating may help us lay the groundwork.”

Annie groaned, knowing Nick had a point. She wouldn’t get any closer to almost kissing Chris if she didn’t spend enough time within kissing distance of him.

The town of Simsbury was also the home of the International Skating Center of Connecticut. The destination became rather famous thanks to gold medal winner Oksana Baiul, who, according to nineties pop culture, put Simsbury on the map when she moved to town after her Olympic success. All of that didn’t mean much in this made-for-TV reality, though. This skating rink, which seemed to only exist for the Annual Simsbury Jolly Holiday Skate and Snack with Santa Extravaganza Celebration, was outside and conveniently located next to the Christmas tree lot on Main Street.

When Annie and Nick left the inn, they only had to walk a few feet before they were greeted with a cluster of animated townsfolk worked up and talking at double speed.

“Oh, thank heavens you’re here!” Noelle cried, her voice cutting through the crowd.

“Hi, Noelle,” Nick said in surprise. “Wait. How did you beat us here?” Nick asked and was immediately silenced by Noelle’s hushed voice.

“There’s been an accident,” she breathed.

“What happened?” Annie asked. Despite Noelle’s serious tone, she was relatively confident that nothing too stressful could actually happen in this universe.

“Felix twisted his knee,” Noelle said sadly. “He’s not going to be able to play Santa for today’s event.”

“When? We were literally just sitting with him. Is he alright?” Annie asked. When her eyes found Felix, he was sitting at a nearby table, grabbing a doughnut, and he offered her an animated and friendly wave. “Um, he seems fine to me?”

“Oh no, he definitely needs to sit this one out,” Noelle continued.

“But wasn’t he going to sit and be Santa?” Annie asked.

“Nick, we need you,” Noelle begged, her voice dropping low. Felix winked at Annie, and she let out a sharp exhale.

“He winked at me!” Annie gasped.