So, here I was, drifting in that hazy land between wakefulness and sleep. My eyes were shut, but my ears were open as the sounds of more snowballs haunted my dreams.
But wait…maybe they weren't in my dreams.When I opened my eyes, I could still hear them in the darkened bedroom. I bolted upright and looked through the shadows toward my bedroom window, the one facing Cole's front yard.
On the wide window ledge sat Fred and George. They were facing outward, as if mesmerized by something outside.
I was still getting my bearings when a snowball plopped against the glass and slid downward, squeaking as it went. The kittens didn't even flinch.
Instead, they kept on staring, as if the snowballs were old news compared to whatever they saw below.
That was odd.
I threw aside the covers and scampered out of bed. When I reached the window, I gave a little gasp. Santa was standing in the front yard, winding up for another throw.
But no.It wasn't Santa.It was Cole.
There was no padding to his costume, and the white Santa beard was hanging loose around his neck. His Santa hat was sitting askew on his head, and he was wearing sneakers instead of black Santa boots.
But it was definitely him.
What the heck?
With my heart in my throat, I yanked up the window and called out through the screen. "Cole?"
His name had barely left my lips when a snowball splattered against the screen's fine mesh. The kittens sprang off the windowsill as a loose splattering of snow dusted my pajamas.
When I looked back to Cole, he gave an apologetic laugh. "Sorry, it got away from me."
His laughter was a balm to my battered soul, and I felt a spark of hope kindle in my Christmas heart, especially when I noticed something new. His house – it was all lit up for Christmas.
Maybe Iwasdreaming.
I gave myself a hard pinch and almost yelped in surprise. I was wide awake, alright, even if itdidfeel like a dream.
I called out, "What are you doing here?"
He smiled up at me. "If you wanna know, you're gonna have to come down."
And so I did.
Chapter 43
Cole
When Lexie opened the front door, I felt a ridiculous grin spread across my face. She was wearing red flannel pajamas and fuzzy white slippers. Her hair was disheveled, but her eyes were bright.
She was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, and I soaked up the sight of her. I moved forward to say, "It's gone."
Her brow wrinkled in apparent confusion. "What's gone?"
I almost laughed. "The curse."
Her face broke into a wide smile. "Really?"
I still didn't believe in curses, but I did believe inher. The girl in front of me – she had so much heart, it was hard to imagineanycurse withstanding her efforts to break it.
And if she believed in Christmas magic, well, I guess I did, too. When I replied with a decisive nod, she let out a happy squeal. "So the ice thing…it worked?"
I shook my head. "Nope."
