Page 71 of Not Another Christmas Movie

“C’mon, babe, we gotta go,” a female voice said.

“Bailey?” Nick asked.

“Hey!” Bailey smiled, popping a piece of gum in her mouth while balancing a tray of drinks.

“You guys are a real couple?” Nick asked her, smiling.

“Um, well, we’ve never done labels. But we met a few years ago at a Phish cover band contest and ran into each other again a few months ago … and now me and this dum-dum are talking about a commitment ceremony next year at Burning Man if you can believe it,” Bailey said, giving Chris a teasing look and sticking her tongue out at him. Chris looked momentarily nervous about Annie’s reaction.

“Such a dum-dum,” Annie laughed. “I’m happy for you, Chris.”

“And I’m happy for you, Bailey,” Nick said softly.

“Aw, thanks, Nick. It’s so random to see you. But nice. And you look happy. Wait, are you two finally together?” Bailey asked. Nick and Annie looked at each other, unsure who would answer first. They laughed, opting to nod. “That’s great!” Bailey gushed and then turned to Annie, “I always thought he had a crush on you in high school, even when he was technically my boyfriend. You and Marsha were always so cool …” Bailey trailed off, her thoughts drifting down her own memory lane. Annie beamed and looked warmly at Nick, letting Bailey’s words fill her with butterflies. “Well, nice seeing you guys. We gotta hit the road. My parents are expecting us.” Bailey gestured to the parking lot.

“What are your parents up to these days?” Nick asked.

“They’re running a business—” Bailey began.

“Bakery?” Annie asked immediately.

“Oh, no. Though they do sell some baked goods …” Bailey said, her voice full of mischief. Annie and Nick stared at her, waiting for her to continue. “They own a store called Yes, You Cannabis.”

“No way,” Annie whispered as Chris got a text alert. “We are big fans of your work.”

“Speaking of, it’s my uncle again; he has a bunch of requests,” Chris told Bailey.

“Your Uncle Felix?” Annie asked.

“How do you know my uncle?” Chris asked, his face clouded with confusion. “Wait, was Felix the guy in your Instagram story last night? He looked familiar.”

“Please tell me he’s dating Noelle,” Annie said, ignoring his questions, her own voice too busy and full of hope and happiness.

“Noelle?” Chris asked, thinking it over before he lightened and laughed. “Yeah, I think that’s one of the women who lives with them.” Chris looked at Bailey, and the two of them shared a knowing look before letting out a little chuckle.

“One of the women?” Nick asked, unable to stop himself.

“My Uncle Felix is poly and lives in a commune nearby,” Chris said, his mouth still stuck in a smile.

“Oh, I remember Noelle,” Bailey said, nodding. “She’s the outdoorsy goddess one?” Bailey asked Chris, and he nodded in recollection. “She invited us to bathe naked under the full moon once,” Bailey recalled.

“Of course she did, such divine feminine witch energy,” Annie admired.

“Do you know them?” Chris asked, returning to bewilderment at this strange relationship intersection. “No, seriously, why do you know them?”

“Oh, Chris, I couldn’t even begin to tell you,” Annie dismissed. “I’m glad you and Bailey found each other at that Phish cover band contest and got a second chance at love. It’s been such a blessing to see you both again,” Annie said, pulling both Chris and Bailey in for a hug.

“Uh, yeah,” Chris said as Nick joined them in a warm group embrace.

“This has been pretty weird,” Bailey smiled. “We’ll see you guys. Have a great holiday.”

Annie grinned and offered them her token finger-guns routine, complete with pew-pews, as a farewell. As Annie and Nick moved to the door, a young girl came stomping through holding a very large chestnut praline blended drink with mounds of whipped cream and spiced praline crumbs on the top and nearly ran into them.

“Holly?” Annie asked as Holly turned to glare at her and didn’t say anything. “It’s me, Miss Annie,” Annie told her, reaching out her hand for a squeeze.

“Ew. Fuck off, hag,” Holly grumbled and took a loud sip of her drink and viciously crunched a praline piece, her eyes still locked on Annie, threatening and daring her to respond before storming her way to a car and loudly slamming the door.

“That’s my girl. I’m so proud,” Annie told Nick, her eyes tearing.