was blessed with a decent rack, you idiot. Just like you can't help driving a jacked-up truck to compensate for whatever’s in your pants.”
Jared giggles and covers his mouth. Brock glares at me. He isn't amused but I can't help it. He's an easy target and I can get away with it because he's my overprotective brother and we're extremely close.
"This is such bullshit," he grunts, shaking his head. "My first day home for Christmas break from college and I have to take this corny ass picture."
I chuckle at his whining. "That's because you're hungover. Should've had the hair of the dog."
He eyes me curiously. "What do you know about that?"
"I'm eighteen, dummy. Have you seen how much the parents drink? I've seen and heard it all." I juggle Crystal to my other hip and feel a cool draft breeze past the back of my thighs. She bounces excitedly. "I've been raising this chunky monkey since she was born. I'm not the same sister you left behind. Honestly, while you've been away, I've been more of a parent to her than anyone."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he says, but I don't miss the concern that crosses his eyes. Brock turns to Jared to right his clothes. "Ready to ask Santa for a special toy?"
Jared stares at him. "I don't believe in Santa anymore," he says.
"Since when? Lexi still believes in Santa. She’s gonna ask him for something," Brock says, spoken like a concerned father.
"Are you?" Jared asks me with sudden bright eyes.
The line moves and we all shuffle along behind. "Yes," Brock says at the same time as I say, "No."
I glare at him and my jaw flexes.
"I am not!"
But I have to do it. If it means for one second that Jared will believe in Santa for just a little bit longer, I’ll ask Santa for a gift all day long.
Heat flames my cheeks. I already have it bad for Mr. Vaughn. Sitting on his lap wouldn't be a good thing. The thought makes me nervous as hell and my heart thumps like mad. Nerves and excitement are a crazy wild combination.
There are only a few more families before us. Butterflies swirl in my belly again. Crystal's growing impatient and bouncing rambunctiously on my hip. I follow her gaze and see that she's pointing out the jolly old guy I’ve been aching to see, only he isn’t so jolly and old, not under the fake white beard. A smile spreads across my face.
Oh my God. It’s really him. It’s really Mr. Vaughn!
"If Lexi sits on Santa’s lap, then I will too," Jared claims.
“She will,” Brock assures him, and he’s right. I will.
My heart is racing, because I’m going to do it. For real, I’m going to bite the nerves and do it. I can't wait to tell my bestie Jessica how damn brave I am. She's going to flip! Mr. Vaughn is eye candy at the high school and I'm pretty sure he knows it, like the rest of the human populous who’s ever seen him. He's got the most gorgeous blue eyes and they're a dead giveaway. Yep, there they are. I’m sure that’s him.
Baby sister squeals again and I realize we're next in line. Flashes of light are popping in front of us from the camera, Christmas carols being sung by a choir, and everyone is decked out like they just flew in fresh from the North Pole.
"Next!" the call sounds out.
I swallow thickly and step closer. Jared walks right up to Santa with a big smile. Crap. I have to go too.
Crystal screams in my arms and Santa turns my way. I lock eyes with him, and I know it without any shadow of a doubt. It’s definitely Mr. Vaughn.
Whoa. Just WHOA.
My stomach is a flustered mess. Even my ears flame with heat. He's staring at me – at all of my skin that's showing, and my grand idea for doing this suddenly seems so damn stupid, but still, still, I can't stop thinking about what he looks like under those overstuffed clothes.
Santa puts his arms out and reaches for Crystal with a ho, ho, ho. I put her on the floor and she toddles on over.
Brock comes over to stand next to me, close enough to whisper. He nudges me from behind and it forces me to step toward the ornate sleigh.
"Go on. Go sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you want for Christmas in that naughty little elf outfit.”
"I hate you," I tell him.