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“Ugh,” she grumbled, and turned around, stomping across the house. “You’re lucky I’m in this outfit and you’re holding cookies.”
“And what would you do?” I taunted, following her outside.
She whipped around. “You really want to test that?”
I chuckled as her elf shoes jingled. “Pearl, I’ve been bigger than you your entire life. And if I recall correctly, every time you threaten something like that, I end up winning.”
She threw open the trunk of her Escalade. “I don’t know if I’d count getting in trouble with mom in the end as winning.” Pearl smiled as I placed my baskets beside hers. She shut the trunk and grabbed my arm, stopping me from leaving.
Knitting my brows together, I looked at her.
“Whatever you’re hiding, I hope it’s for a good reason,” she quietly said. I nodded, and then she picked at some fraying strands on my sweater. “I don’t think you realize how happy Millie is that you’re wearing the Christmas sweater she helped Keaton make for you last year.”
I gave her a soft smile. “Yeah, well. I’m trying out some new things,” I replied, brushing it off. Pearl shook her head and walked off with a smile.
I knew she wasn’t the only one suspicious about things. Several long glances and double takes were sent my way from my family this morning. Especially since I was wearing something that my four-year-old niece and nine-year-old nephew made. I wasn’t one to get dressed up or make a big fuss about it. But Tenley loved it. My family loved it. It mattered to the people I loved.
And so here I was, looking like a big oaf wearing this green and red sweater. Pom-poms were crudely sewn onto the tree knitted in the front. A lopsided golden star was hot glued on to the top with random, assorted presents crocheted crookedly around the trunk's base. It looked ridiculous, but there was something jolly about it.
Even if it looked strange to be wearing with my boots. Normally, I’d have a hat too, but this morning I put a little more effort into doing my hair for our date. It was Tenley’s first time at the Christmas Festival, and there was mistletoe hanging about, a giant Christmas Tree to light in town square, and lots of activities to do with her.
She liked romance, and I was more than determined to give her the romantic gestures she craved. Even at the expense of a snarky little brother.
Cassidy walked by and paused, his gaze raking up and down my sweater then began laughing his head off. I rolled my eyes and shoved my hands in my pockets.
“Looking good there, Weston,” Cassidy teased, wiggling his brows.
“Shut the hole on your face, or I’ll shut it for you.” I glared at him, and Cassidy threw his head back laughing even harder.
“Better not let Mom hear you say that. She might not take kindly to you threatening her baby.”
“You know what, you’re right. You are a baby.”
Cassidy stuck out his tongue so I quickly spun around and ran after him. Cassidy dodged away, but I managed to wrap a hand around his waist and tackle him to the ground. Grinning, I slid my arm around his neck, putting him into a chokehold just as a shrill voice pierced the air.
“BOYS!”
Cassidy groaned as I released him.
“Sorry, Mom,” we said in unison, and I slowly turned around to see my mom, dressed in her Mrs. Claus outfit, glaring at us with her hands on her hips.
Brushing the snow off, we stood up as she shook her head. “You two will never grow up, will you?” Cassidy’s sheepish grin was mirrored on my own face. Sighing, she rolled her eyes. “Get in. Both of you. You’re not ditching out on the festival this time, Weston.”
I reluctantly followed Cassidy to my parents' truck, piling in the backseat with him. Little did she know I hadn’t planned on skipping out again. Tenley was going to be there. I was going to actually join in and see what had changed over the years. Hopefully, they still had the gingerbread house making contest and the little shops that she could find cute tiny trinkets at. Ones I would buy her without hesitation.
And maybe, just maybe, I’d manage to drag her away for a little alone time that we were so desperately in need of. My family would be preoccupied with everything at the festival, and I knewnothingcould go wrong this time.
Chapter 7
**TENLEY**
Town square was crowded, much like what I used to experience at a mall back in L.A. Though, unlike California, there was a massive pine tree, different from anything I’d seen outside of the Duke Ranch, that stood extravagantly decorated in the middle. It hid the gazebo that sat in the center of the park, rising tall in front of it. The grass was covered in a trampled, snowy path, shaped like a horseshoe that rounded all of the vendors and booths filled with people.
There were even little pens of animals for kids to pet, dressed with cute Santa hats or Christmas headbands. Even a couple goats had on little elf shorts, and I could’ve sworn I saw some pigs with little elf shoes that jingled. It was adorable and overwhelming all at once.
It smelled like peppermint and gingerbread, mixed with that fresh, pine scent I was all too fond of. There were bakery stands, different Christmas games, contests to enter and even snowball fights going on. Mixed amongst the loud chatter, you could hear a very muted cheering coming from the indoor arena at the far side of thefestival—aChristmas rodeo. One that apparently would last all day, only ending when the sun sank and the tree lighting began. I also assumed most of Weston’s family would be there, even if he was not, and that was why he didn’t seem too concerned about getting caught.
Even with all of this exciting hullabaloo going on around me, I was desperately searching for the one person I truly cared to see. I’d managed to sneak away from my parents and grandparents, texting Weston the moment I could. Now, I waited near the velvet, crimson barrier beside the tree, waiting for him.
