“Yes.”
He tossed back his head and laughed. Laughed! Roared with it. If I weren’t so irritated, I might admit that it was a warm sound that coated me like gooey marshmallow fluff and curled my toes inside my green boots.
“Go screw yourself,” I grated, jabbing my elbow into his side. His surprised grunt was satisfying, and his laughter faded into quiet chuckles until he was silent again.
A handful of uncomfortable seconds ticked by before I couldn’t take it anymore. “Ya know what? I’m going to prove it to you.”
After a couple commands, the hover transport redirected, looping around the town square and back toward the Reindeer Bowl Café or, as most residents called it, The Bowl.
I had enough time that I could still make it across town to the meeting after a quick stop. I could use a little something-something in my cocoa since I’d have to see Perry, but I needed all my wits about me.
Raincheck on the boozy cocoa.
“Come on. You’re gonna learn today!”
I opened the shop’s door, the cozy café smelling of fluffy pastry, sticky sugar, and various sweet and savory beverages. Townsfolk and tourists alike—human and alien—were scattered around tables and comfortable armchairs, sipping and munching.
It didn’t escape my notice that Kye drew a few curious stares. Krampus was pretty popular around Tinsel this time of year and Kye looked like a real one.
“Hi Holly, welcome back!” Shira greeted when we got to the counter. I might’ve been a regular around here, but hey, can’t beat free. “Same as usual?”
“Make it two, please.”
Her inquisitive brown gaze floated over Kye before she nodded. “Comin’ right up.”
For the past few years, I always came in here alone. It did feel a little weird to be here with someone.
I side-eyed Kye for a stealthy glance. He was standing much too close. I made a mental note to ask him if he had any shirts. While I figured he was plenty warm with his full body pelt, his hairy chest was just bare for all to see.
“Here ya go!” Shira slid a tray toward me, loaded with two giant mugs of their famous cocoa, tons of mini marshmallows, enough whipped giotoro cream to drown in, topped with shaved chocolate, caramel bits, and a peppermint stirring stick.
“The hell is that...”
“Uh huh,” I taunted, waggling my eyebrows as I took my mug. “Wait until you taste it.”
We moved to stand at the bar by the windows at the front of the shop, his hooves clip-clopping against the floor.
I’d learned long ago how to properly drink this beverage. It took skill to come away unscathed.
Skill Kye didn’t have.
He took his first sip...
And came away with a huge, messy whipped cream mustache. He even had a little on the top of his flat nose.
“Shit, that’s good!” He took another gulp, and I had no idea how he wasn’t burning his lips off.
“I told you!” I grinned, eating all the whipped cream on mine before I took a sip. No mustache that way.
I handed Kye a couple napkins and gestured to his face. “Should probably clean that up.”
He tried. Failed.
“I get it all?”
“Here...” I grabbed more napkins and, before I could think about it, I reached up to dab at his nose. His pupils widened slightly, and my smile slowly faded.
What was I doing? Dabbing cream off his nose like we knew each other. Like we were friends. Like he wasn’t a convict—for crimes of which I didn’t know yet—and I wasn’t about to ask him for a huge favor.
“Holly?” A nasally voice I knew all too well snapped us out of our locked gazes. “I didn’t think I’d see you here!”
I balled up the used napkin and turned, eyes landing on the person who offended every sense I had.
“Perry,” I greeted, not even bothering to smile. We’d both know it was fake anyhow, and that was her gig, not mine. “Yep, I come to The Bowl, just like everyone else in this town.”
“Always so funny.” She swatted a manicured hand through the air—the left one, I should add. The one with the big ol’ dark blue aerulian gemstone that George’s great, great grandmother had passed down. A gift from the tenth dynasty of planet Aeru’shek.
Yeah, it’s a big deal in his family.
At one point, everyone was sure I’d end up with it on my finger but alas...
Perry’s blue eyes darted from me to Kye, who’d set down his mug and was silently standing by.
“Who’s this?”
‘None of your kixwax’ my inner child wanted to scream.
“This is Kye,” I started, rushing for some excuse as to why I was hanging out with anyone, but especially a furry, hooved, and horned alien. “M-my new Krampus!”
So, it just came out.
I’d been meaning to talk to him about that, but then the cocoa distracted us.
Perry’s smile faltered on one side before she recovered. Always had to look perfect.
“Oh! How nice! I thought for sure you’d take George up on his offer.”
It gave me smug pleasure to rile Perry. There were few things in life I enjoyed more these past few years.
“Nope. Had a few better prospects. Kye couldn’t be more perfect for the role. Right Kye?” I rolled my eyes toward him, hoping he got my silent message again.
I was gonna owe this guy so much.
Without skipping a beat, he rumbled, “Aye, I’ll have my bundle of branches to swat some naughty ass. Holly’s will be mighty red.”
It didn’t register at first but—
What?!
I nervously chuckled, clenching the handle of my mug so hard I thought it might snap off in my palm while I hoped and prayed I didn’t accidentally chomp on my tongue.
If he had feet, I’d covertly stomp on one right now.
“Such a jokester,” I said, trying to recover. The mental image of Kye swatting my ass was something I shouldn’t think about.
Not now. Not ever.
Oh my god.
Now I couldn’t get the image out of my head!
“Hmm.” Perry squinted. “See you at the meeting. Don’t be late.”
And then she turned on her expensively booted heel and walked away.
I took a giant gulp of my cocoa to distract myself, even though it scalded my entire mouth. It was better than throwing the mug at the back of Perry’s head and messing up her perfectly bobbed honey brown locks.
“She seems nice,” Kye commented, but his sarcasm was palpable. And comforting. See? I wasn’t the only one who thought she was a devil!
“The nicest.”
“Who is she?”
I crunched into the peppermint stick, probably looking like the grumpiest person at The Bowl. “George’s fiancée and head of the Evergreen Queen committee.”
Kye hummed, leaning on the counter and sipping more of his beverage. “Principle Huckle? What happened between you two?”
He was so close now that his arm was rubbing against mine as we watched the tourists and residents happily walk past the café, shopping bags in hands and bundled up. I envied their cheer.
“Nothing you probably haven’t heard before. Boy meets girl, girl falls head over heels blind in love, boy finds new girl, end of story.”