Page 31 of Not Another Christmas Movie

“You’re expecting us to ice-skate? In these costumes?” Annie asked, shaking her head.

“Well, Santa will sit,” Noelle explained, “once he’s been situated.”

“And what am I supposed to do?” Annie croaked.

“You’ll help guide the children over to him, of course,” Noelle said.

“I think it’s pretty problematic that you’d assume I know how to ice-skate!” Annie gulped.

“Honey, you’re from Simsbury. Of course you can ice-skate, no need to be modest,” Noelle told her, handing each of them a pair of black skates. “I’ll walk you out when you’re ready!”

“Nick!” Annie whisper-shrieked.

“I think it’s going to be okay. Everyone is always a strangely good skater in these movies,” Nick explained thoughtfully.

“You’re not scared?” Annie asked.

“I have all this padding in case I fall,” Nick grinned and stuffed his shirt with a small pillow meant to round out his belly.

Annie had been so distracted by Noelle’s entrance that she hadn’t had a chance to make sense of what might have happened if they had been left alone a moment more. Would they have been blocked by another barrier? She had been more than ready to climb into that Santa suit with him. What was happening to her? Were these feelings real or another fatal symptom of the made-for-TV sickness currently consuming their lives? Annie had no idea, honestly. Instead, her mind drifted to Nick’s lips or if she might actually taste those candy cane pancakes once his mouth touched hers …

“Annie? Are you okay? You look flushed,” Nick asked, his voice full of concern. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there on the ice with you in case you need help.”

“I don’t want people to assume Mrs. Claus needs Santa for everything,” Annie pouted. “For this portrayal, I’ll be channeling an unapologetic feminine confidence,” Annie covered, relieved that Nick hadn’t caught on to her obvious horny face.

“Remember, stay in character while you’re out here,” Noelle told them through a tight smile once they were out of the shed. “Everyone is counting on you two,” she warned and helped lace up their skates before walking them to the entrance. “As you can see, Santa’s chair is in the middle of the rink. Mrs. Claus will skate you there and then bring the kids over one by one to sit on your lap. We have some elf helpers who will be taking pictures,” Noelle said, waving at Bailey and Chris, who were skating laps around the rink in bright green costumes. Annie thought they looked like a perfect pair of competitive ice dancers.

“Not sure why poor, overworked, and underappreciated Mrs. Claus has to skate around when Santa has elves to help. Maybe I can go take care of Rudolph or something?” Annie asked, pleading with Noelle.

“Nonsense! Santa needs his Mrs. Claus!” Noelle chided.

“Yes, Mrs. Claus. Santa needs you,” Nick smiled at Annie.

“I hope you’re aware of how full-on creepy and not normal this is,” Annie whispered to Nick.

“You’re right, Mrs. Claus, it does look like a wondrous day for a skate!” Nick said loudly in his deep Santa voice. Annie did a double-take in surprise, and Noelle gave them a big thumbs-up of support.

“Why don’t you do a nice slow loop around the rink together and hand out candy canes to the families? Then we’ll begin!” Noelle said. Annie took the basket of candy canes from Noelle and sighed, looking at Nick. He stepped out onto the ice and offered his hand to Annie to help her get her footing. Annie’s first moves were trepidatious, but Nick steadied her and didn’t let go as they took a slow first glide. When Annie didn’t fall, she looked at Nick and beamed.

“I’m skating!” she said, her cheeks colored with delight.

“I knew you could do it,” Nick said quietly but still using his Santa voice.

“I wish we could have had this event as kids,” Annie said, looking around at all of the people walking around outside of the rink waiting for their turn to talk to Santa and share their secret wishes for the season. The air itself was thick with unspoken cheer, and Annie pulsed with an unexpected pride for her hometown. Even when it wasn’t starring in a made-for-TV movie, Simsbury was charming. A place committed to honoring its historical heritage while also showcasing an active appreciation of modern culture set inside a pocket of local farms and scenic hiking trails. Such a lovely place to raise a family, Annie mused, grateful for her upbringing and trying to ignore the ache of wanting a future where she could confidently plant seeds destined to grow until their happy ends. “I’m skating so well,” Annie said, plucking herself from the daydream. Her body was easing into the rhythm a bit more each time one of her feet hit the ice. “I’m, like, really good!”

Two figures making rapid movements across the rink caught Annie’s attention. Bailey and Chris were each performing a series of tricks on the ice to the cheering of the children. Bailey spun with her arms above her head so quickly that she became a beautiful green blur of movement, like some sort of fairy on fire, or possibly, just absinthe itself. Chris, meanwhile, was attempting to speed skate and jump over large decorative boxes of presents.

“You should join them! You’re, like, really good,” Nick teased.

“Geez, is there anything those two can’t do? They’re unstoppable,” Annie said. Annie narrowed her eyes. Chris’s body was much more muscular and taller in this reality. The elf costume looked particularly strained as he gracefully jumped over a silver package, and Annie swallowed, ready to focus on the task at hand. “First person to get an almost kiss wins an iced coffee in the real world,” Annie whispered quickly to Nick, sending a big wave in Chris’s direction. Before Nick could respond, Bailey called out to him, finishing her spin with a flourish.

“It’s Santa!” Bailey boomed.

“Looks like that elf may try and sit on your lap too, Santa,” Annie said as Bailey gracefully glided toward them. “Or your face,” Annie smirked, and Nick let out a choke of surprised laughter.

“Santa, let me help you to your chair!” Bailey said in a loud, high-pitched elf voice. “I’d hate for you to break a bone, Mrs. C., considering you’re so much older and frailer than I am!” Bailey said, directing her words mostly to Nick. Annie’s mouth hung open in surprise, momentarily too stunned to retort. Bailey let out a loud whistle with her hand and signaled Chris to join them. “Brother Elf, can you help Mrs. Claus find her way? I’ll take care of the big guy over here,” Bailey grinned, playfully poking Nick’s prop pillow belly. “You are the cutest Santa ever,” Bailey whispered into Nick’s ear. Annie’s chest warmed. Was it annoyance? Jealousy? Before she could think about it, Chris glided closer and forced her to refocus her feelings.

“Anything for you, Sister Elf!” Chris told Bailey, nodding as she took Nick away. “Hi, Mrs. Claus,” Chris whispered, smiling at Annie. “I must say, I’ve never seen such a pretty Mrs. Claus in all of my many days working at the North Pole.” Chris kept his eyes on Annie. He seemed so sweet and sincere. Annie wanted to remark on the weirdness of Chris and Bailey calling each other “brother” and “sister,” but she was pretty sure this was the closest thing to flirting she had experienced so far with Chris, and she needed to push it as far as it would go.