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“If you say so,” she said.

“Should we go to that Taco Bell by your house so you can see when things start to clear up?” Fiona asked.

That was the place a lot of people from my neighborhood went when waiting out the crowds.

“He won’t be there,” I said.

“You never know,” she responded.

“Who are you two talking about?” Nova asked.

“Her hot neighbor,” Fiona said at the same time I said, “Nobody.”

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Ryan: Of course I haven’t told my parents we talk. I told you, they’re giving vibes.

I didn’t understand why I was disappointed by that answer.

“Yes, let’s go to Taco Bell,” I said.

Chapter 12

The Taco Bell was crowded with a bunch of people I recognized. Out the front windows we could see one of the entrances to my neighborhood. Right now, it was backed up all the way down the street and to the stoplight, which was also backed up. We were going to be here awhile.

“I could walk,” I said as we sat down with our food. “If you want to leave.”

“You drove,” Fiona reminded me.

“I know. I’d pick up my car tomorrow. You can go home with Nova.” Nova had followed us over in her car. She had barely gotten her license. Much like Marcus and me, Fiona and Nova were very close in age.

“I’m not going to let you walk home in the cold all by yourself,” Fiona said.

“Too bad it’s not a walking night,” Nova said. Her face was still bright white with green eyebrows and rosy cheeks from her stage makeup. Twice in the month of December my neighborhood blocked the roads off from cars so people could walk the streets. And they did.

“The day after tomorrow is,” I said.

“What does everyone do in your neighborhood on walking nights?” Nova asked.

“Plan ahead,” I said. “Move our cars to that park.” I pointed across the street. “Or we don’t leave our houses.”

“Is that annoying?” she asked.

“It’s the price we pay for living in the best Christmas town in the state.”

She laughed.

“Not everyone agrees, though,” I said.

“What do you mean?” Fiona asked.

I looked around, lowered my voice, and told them what Ryan had told me about the potential lawsuit.

“Oh, wow, that would be so sad if Cherry Ridge had to scale back,” Nova said.

“Are you going to protest?” Fiona asked me. “Sit on your roof wearing lights and saying, You’ll have to take me first!”

That sounded more like a Fiona stunt, but maybe I’d have to put myself out there for something that was this important to me.

“First, I need to figure out who is behind the lawsuit,” I said.