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I grabbed the butter and jam from the fridge and brought it to the island. “Yeah, well, I learned from the best. I saw how easily you lied to them the other day.”

“For you! About this. What else have you found out?”

“Nothing new. Someone is suing, but I don’t know who.”

“And you think they’ll actually succeed? That our neighborhood won’t be able to put up decorations next year?”

“I don’t know. But if I can change someone’s mind, I’m going to try.”

The town square on movie night looked like a movie. People brought camping chairs and wore Christmas apparel and festive hats. The square itself was draped in white lights strung from streetlamps to the gazebo, creating a spiderweb of stars. Tall heaters were emanating warmth, which had melted most of the snow. And the big screen was on one end, the still image of Whoville already up as people settled into their spots.

I stood on my tiptoes, looking for Fiona. She was supposed to meet us here. I shot her off a text. Left side of gazebo when facing screen.

Trying to park, she responded.

“Buddy’s here selling hot chocolate again,” Mom said, pulling me out of my phone. “I feel bad that he works so hard that he doesn’t get to enjoy these events.” She freed a chair from its carrying case and pushed it open.

I followed her gaze to where the Holly Jolly Cocoa trailer was set up.

“His name is William,” I said.

“His name isn’t Buddy?” Harris asked, disappointment in his voice as he climbed into the chair Mom had opened.

“Well, actually, his family calls him Buddy, so it kind of is.”

“Should we get some cocoa?” Mom asked.

“Yes!” Harris said, immediately jumping out of the chair.

“You coming, Jasmine?” she asked in a pretend-innocent voice.

“No, I’ll hold down our spot.”

“I can hold down our spot,” Marcus said, setting up another chair. “We all know Will would rather see you.”

I gritted my teeth. If my family thought I had a thing for Will, someone they seemed to love, was it going to make it that much harder for them to accept Ryan? Maybe they needed to see me interact with Will more so they realized there was really nothing there.

I followed Mom, who was already halfway across the square. Over my shoulder I said, “Don’t eat all the popcorn.”

Marcus lifted the huge bag and said, “This bag? You think I can eat all of this?”

“Yes.” I smiled and turned back around and ran right into someone’s chest. I stumbled back, saying, “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking,” before I even registered who it was.

Ryan.

He gave me a half smile, holding his hands out like he was going to catch me. “I think this is the second time you’ve run into me,” he said. “And I’m not sorry.” He gave me a quick wink.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” I said in a low voice, my cheeks going warm when I registered his words.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” he responded, moving his hands to his pockets as though he was deliberately keeping himself from touching me.

Or maybe that was me. I shoved my hands into my coat pockets as well because I wanted to touch him. Hug him. Hold his hand. Anything.

“Do you want—”

“Is there a problem over here?” Marcus asked from behind me, interrupting whatever Ryan was going to say. Without thinking, I took a large step backward.

Ryan looked at the new space between us, his smile slipping a bit. “No, there’s no problem.”