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nocent. “Who me? Never.”
I rolled my eyes, but headed for the door. Looking back over my shoulder, no one seemed to be paying attention, so I slipped the bells off the doorknob before going outside and getting into position next to the Salvation Army stand.
“Jingle Bells. Jingle Bells. Jingle All the Way.”
Shit. What the hell were the rest of the words? Eh. Who cares. I turned around to make sure my friend saw me and started to sing the only verse I apparently knew a second time while waving to her.
“Jingle Bells. Jingle Bells. Jingle All the Way.”
Nancy lifted her hands, palms up and motioned up and down, indicating that I should sing louder. So I did while smiling like an idiot at her.
“Jingle Bells!”
“Jingle Bells!”
“Jingle All the Way!”
Nancy gave me a thumbs up, and I continued my screaming rendition of the eight-word chorus of “Jingle Bells” as I turned around…only to find a man standing right in front of me.
And not just any man.
Chet.
“Jingle Be—“ I froze.
He arched a brow. “Second job?”
“It’s a dare. Can you just shove a dollar in the pot so I can stop?”
Chet dug his wallet out of the front pocket of his slacks and slipped a ten-dollar bill from the fold. He waved it in front of me. “So all I need to do is drop this in the bucket, and you can stop singing?”
“Yes.”
He grinned from ear to ear, then tucked the cash back in his pocket and folded his arms. Taking a few steps back, he leaned against a column. “Keep singing.”
My jaw dropped. “Are you joking? You’re really not going to help me?”
“Not until after I enjoy a little of the show.”
I squinted at him.
The jerk squinted back with a smirk.
A nice looking elderly couple started to walk toward the coffee shop door. So I stuck my tongue out at Chet and started to sing in their direction.
“Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle All the Way!”
The couple turned their heads and walked right past to go inside.
Chet started to belly laugh.
This went on for a solid five minutes. At least a half-a-dozen people passed by, all of whom ignored me. Finally, Nancy walked out. She put a five into the donation bin and handed me my hot chocolate while laughing. “The dogs in the neighborhood are howling. I had to put them out of their misery. Plus, it’s time to go to court.”
Chet nodded. “Thanks for the show, ladies. I’ll see you in court.”
* * *
“Your Honor, I have a motion to file today.”
