Home for Christmas by Jessica Burkhart

Author:Jessica Burkhart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

15

I’M DREAMING OF A KISS THIS CHRISTMAS

Lauren

A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER, Ana Pumped her fist in the air. “First to ten, baby!” she said. “Game over!”

“Awesome job,” I said.

Ana smiled at me. “Why, thank you. I think I’m just a good guesser. That’s probably why I always do pretty well on those fill-in-the-right-circle tests at school.”

My friends and I laughed. We had been playing Totes Honestly for what felt like minutes. But the refilled Cokes, second and third cups of Candy Cane Lane tea, and more hot chocolate signaled otherwise.

“Props to KK for coming up with the best game ever,” I said. “I think she deserves to be crowned Official Game Chooser for all future parties.”

“Agreed!” Lexa said.

“Miss Scorekeeper?” Clare asked Carina. “Who has the lowest total?”

“Wow,” Khloe said, uncurling her legs. “I was having so much fun—I kind of forgot about the score. But now I totally want to know.”

Carina looked at the legal pad and glanced up a few seconds later. She shifted her eyes to me. No way. I didn’t do great, but I lost?!

“Laur,” Carina said. “I’m sorry to say . . . you are not the loser.”

“Mean!” I said.

Carina looked at Clare. “Clare, I’m sorry, but you scored the lowest.”

“What?! Argh!” Clare shook her head at herself. “I think we should stick with Khlo on this one and go with the fact that we’re having so much fun that who cares about a silly score?”

Khloe reached over to hug Clare and rock her like a baby. “Oh, bestie. Did you not hear the second part of my response?”

Clare tried to frown, but the sparkle in her blue eyes gave her away. “Okay, okay! I’m going to wash my mug. You guys come up with my dare.”

She stood, smoothing her red cotton pj pants. They had silver glitter candy canes along the bottoms. Très holiday chic.

I formed a huddle with Ana, KK, Carina, Lex, and Bri.

“It’s obvi, right?” Khloe asked in a whisper.

“Garret,” Ana said, tucking a loose light-brown wave behind her ear.

I looked over to make sure Clare was still gone. “Definitely. I don’t want to do anything embarrassing, but what about a little push?”

We stopped whispering when Clare padded into the room. The six of us broke our huddle and re-formed a circle. Clare, eyeing us warily, sat back down.

“If you tell me I have to run your neighborhood in my pj’s,” Clare said, “I’m going to be very cold and very mad.”

I waved my hand, dismissing the notion. “You’ll be plenty warm, Clare. We promise. Let’s go to the living room and I’ll grab what you need.”

Clare looked at me sideways but didn’t say a word. She followed us out of the game room and into the living room.

“You guys chill in here and I’ll be back in one sec,” I said.

“Are you going to give me any hints?” I heard Clare ask the other girls.

“How long have we been friends?” Khloe asked her.

Giggling, I went into the guest room where Clare was staying and swiped her phone from the night table.

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