Page 32 of Merry Mischief List
“Did you write that on there yourself?” he accuses.
“Excuse me?” I scoff, throwing a hand over my chest. “I am many things, Coach, but I amnota cheater.”
He nods his head. “Well, good work. Guess you get to keep your Only Feet money.” He drops his mouth to my ear. “For now.”
A laugh escapes me. “It’s called Only Fans.”
“My name is better,” he says, walking off to buy the tree. I use the moment alone to take a selfie next to our little spruce and send it to Stella.
Me
About to complete the seventh item. Game on, lady!
Stella
Slacker. I’m at eight
Ugh, what the hell.
* * *
Porter carries the tree into his townhouse, and we set it up in the stand. I admire the little spruce, name tag still attached, and think about how fun it’s gonna be to—
“Shit,” I groan.
“What?” he asks, worried eyes meeting mine.
“We forgot decorations.” He ignores me, disappearing down the hallway. “Hello? This is an emergency!”
There’s a bit of rustling before he reappears with arms full of shopping bags stuffed to the brim, a shiny silver garland dragging behind him.
“Crisis averted,” he says, unable to fight the smug smile on his face.
“What in theMiracle on 34th Streetis all this?” I say, rushing over to him and grabbing a bag to look through it.
“I may have gotten a little carried away when I went for groceries this morning.”
“This morning? I woke up at eight, and you were here making breakfast.”
“Okay… and I was up at four,” he says, setting boxes of lights on the coffee table.
My face pulls together. “Why would any sane person get up at that ungodly hour?”
He shrugs. “Daddy had things to do.”
“Oh god,” I groan. “I’m creating a merry monster.”
12
PORTER
“She’s perfect,” Andi says, hands on her hips, staring at our “masterpiece.” Twinkling colorful lights and shimmering tinsel she spread like glitter adorn the small tree, ornaments weighing down each branch.
It’s hideous and gaudy, but gorgeous all at the same time. We had so many supplies leftover, Andi insisted on decorating the rest of the downstairs, and now it looks like Santa’s workshop.
“Great job.”
“It was a team effort,” she says, plopping down on the couch. “But now I’m exhausted and starving. Can we order from Dragon Wok?”
