Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
“Maybe we should limit your cookie intake next Christmas.”
“Huh! Good luck with that, Brody-bear. Cookies are my spirit animal. They’ll have to be pried from my dead hands when I die.”
He just shook his head. “Are you going to leave some food out for Santa?”
She bit her lip. “Is that okay? You don’t think it’s silly?”
“Silly? Why would I think it was silly? Tutu, I want you to be yourself around me. I just want to be with you, whether you’re big or Little.”
She smiled up at him.
“Besides, I might like to put some food out for Santa too.” He gave her a shy look.
Ooh, maybe his Middle would want to play with her. She’d thought he might be too old for Santa.
“Yay! And I bought a special plate. It’s got Santa’s face on it so he knows it’s for him. Otherwise, he might eat the carrots for the reindeer.”
“That would be terrible! Then what would the reindeer eat?”
“The cookies! I bet reindeer can’t eat cookies, or they’d poop out chocolate chips. Hmm . . . on second thought . . .”
“I think the reindeer should have the carrots, Tutu.”
“Brody-bear, you’re always such a rule follower. You’ve got to loosen up. Cake for breakfast, remember?”
“I remember. But I’m not the one with the sore tum-tum.”
She rubbed her tummy. “True that.”
Just as they were setting up the plate of food for Santa, the doorbell rang. She jumped, then raced behind Brody without thought.
He stared down at her in shock. “What are you doing?”
“Sorry,” she whispered, moving out from behind him. “I just . . . I’m not expecting anyone.”
“And you ran behind me because . . .?”
She shrugged. “You make me feel safe.”
Amazement filled his face. “I make you feel safe? Me?”
She frowned up at him. “Why wouldn’t you make me feel safe?”
“Maybe because I can’t even defend myself against two men trying to mug me in an alleyway.”
“What?” What was he talking about? That seemed awfully specific. “Did someone try and mug you?”
He grimaced. “That’s something else I need to tell you.”
She gasped. “You were? Oh my God! When? Why didn’t you tell me? What happened?”
The doorbell rang again and she jumped, burying her face into his back.
“I’ll tell you about it later, okay? Right now, I need to get the door.”
“But you don’t know who it is. It could be the Grinch come to steal Christmas.”
“It’s not the Grinch. I know who it is and it’s fine. You just stay here.” He gave her a soft smile.
It was tempting to stay in here and hide. But she was trying to be braver. So, as he moved forward, she matched him step-for-step. She even put her hands on his hips. No way anyone could see her. She was invisible!
When he stopped to check the camera first, she peered at the screen. A man was standing on her stoop. Who was he? What was he doing?
And why was Brody just opening the door?
“You should ask who it is first,” she told him.
“It’s fine. Hi,” Brody said as he opened the door. Cold air blasted inside and she shivered. Shoot. It was freezing out there.
“Hey, you Brody?” the man asked.
“That’s me.”
“Got your tree for you. Sign here.”
Tree?
Brody signed the electronic form on the man’s phone.
“I’ll help you get the tree,” Brody offered.
“Don’t worry about it, man. You’re not exactly dressed for it.” The man disappeared, and Brody started muttering under his breath.
She couldn’t help but giggle as she realized they were both dressed in their Christmas PJs.
Brody glared at her over his shoulder. Uh-oh, was he really mad?
The guy came back quickly with a small Christmas tree. She gasped, loving that Brody had managed to get her a tree so close to Christmas. How amazing was he? The delivery man caught sight of her and sent her a wink before she ducked behind Brody again.
“You two have a wonderful Christmas. Take care. And get back inside quickly, it’s cold out here and you don’t want to get ill.”
Jeez, he was a bit bossy for a stranger. But she put him out of her mind as she helped Brody carry the tree into the living room. It was only around four feet tall, but it was full and just perfect.
“Brody-bear!” she said, clapping her hands. “I can’t believe you bought me a tree!”
“I can’t believe I answered the door in these pajamas.”
She grimaced. “Uh, sorry?”
He shook his head, a grin filling his face before he burst into laughter. She joined in, giggling.
“Guess he probably sees all sorts on Christmas Eve. Come on, let’s decorate the tree, and then it’s bedtime. We have to get to sleep early, otherwise Santa might not come.”
She gasped. That would be terrible. She couldn’t let that happen.
They decorated the tree with Christmas carols blasting. She had a truly terrible singing voice. And she seemed to think she was great. Which was adorable. Those moves, though, they were definitely inspired. He watched as she shook her booty.