Tomboys Don't Love Christmas

by Christina Benjamin

  Nothing against Northwood. I loved it here and felt beyond lucky that I’d been adopted by the incredibly kind and generous Frasers. I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood. It turned out middle of nowhere Pennsylvania was pretty much heaven to me. It gave me my parents, my brother, incredible friends, sports and most importantly, Ian.

  I wasn’t knocking the place. But that didn’t change the fact that this was a small town. One where everyone in our age range had known each other since diapers. And since tonight was a Northwood High only event, it’s not like Chris was about to walk into Champs and meet some mysterious new girl who’d finally be the one to cure him of his wandering heart.

  It was probably a good thing I’d made him promise to give the flirting a rest tonight.

  You’re welcome, girls of Northwood. This is my Christmas gift to you. Chris Fraser will not break your heart under the mistletoe this year.

  Chapter Five

  Archer

  “Hey, babe.” I greeted Marissa when she came over to the arcade bank, wrapping her tiny arms around my waist. “Come to wish me luck?”

  She laughed and stood on her toes to kiss my cheek. “You don’t need it. You make your own luck.”

  “That’s my girl,” I said, sweeping her into my arms for a real kiss.

  “Who’s winning?” she asked, nodding to the game Lucas was glued to.

  “Well, I was winning, but this guy looks like he knows what he’s doing,” I replied, pointing a thumb over my shoulder at Lucas. I lowered my voice. “So, is girl-talk over?”

  Marissa’s pretty lips tugged into an uncharacteristic frown. “Not exactly.”

  I raised an eyebrow, my girl wasn’t one to frown easily. “Everything okay?”

  She sighed. “Honestly, I don’t know. I feel like there’s something going on, but I can’t get Alex or Casey to spill.”

  “That’s not like them.”

  “I know. Maybe I’m reading too much into it. It’s been a while since we’ve all been together. I just have this feeling that I’m missing something. Did the guys seem off to you?”

  I glanced back at the arcade game where Grant was heckling Lucas as he destroyed my high score on Pac-Man. From here, everything looked completely normal.

  Watching my two best friends goof around at Champs was like taking a step back in time. It felt like we were in high school again. But then again, it always felt like that when the six of us got together. Though . . . that nostalgic feeling hadn’t washed over me until we left the girls at the table and started playing video games. Which I guess was kind of strange.

  I looked back at Grant and Lucas, scratching my head. “Actually, now that you mention it . . .”

  “What?”

  “Grant did seem distracted. His phone’s been blowing up with text messages the whole time we’ve been over here, but he’s been ignoring them. And look at Lucas. Have you ever seen him so agitated? He looks like he’s playing TKO rather than Pac-Man.”

  Marissa turned to watch him. It was impossible to miss the unnecessary aggression Lucas was taking out on the old arcade. He was always the chill one of our group.

  I was frowning now, too. “I think I agree with you, babe. Something does seem off.”

  “I knew it!” Marissa said. “We have to do something.”

  “What can we do?”

  “I don’t know but there has to be something. It’s nearly Christmas. We can’t let our best friends spend the holiday fighting.”

  “Maybe we can borrow a play from my Rutgers coach and just lock them in the locker room together until they work it out,” I teased.

  Marissa grinned. “Actually, that’s a great idea!”

  I immediately regretted my suggestion when her gorgeous brown eyes lit up. They always turned the exact color of brownie batter when she had an impish idea. The girl loved to ‘right wrongs’, as she called it. But sometimes I had to rein in her theatrical side.

  “Ris . . .” I warned, but I could tell her wheels were already turning.

  “You just gave me something to work with. Thanks, babe! You’re brilliant,” she said, planting a kiss on my cheek before hurrying back to the table before I could try to reason with her.

  “What was that all about?” Grant asked, walking over to me as Marissa rejoined the girls.

  I shook my head. “Trust me, you don’t wanna know.”

  “Well, can we go back to the table? I’m hungry,” Grant complained.

  I laughed. “We just had burgers and fries.”

  “Are we getting more food?” Lucas asked, coming up behind us. “I could eat. I worked up an appetite destroying you both at Pac-Man.”

  Grant shoved him, but both guys were grinning. Maybe Marissa and I were wrong. The guys seemed like themselves right now. But then Grant burst our little bubble of normalcy. “Seriously, though, Archer. Can you ask Marissa to ask Alex if we’re allowed to come back to the table?”

  Alarm bells started going off in my head.

  That definitely wasn’t normal. But what the heck did I say here? I wasn’t the righter of wrongs like my angelic girlfriend.

  I reminded myself that Marissa had a plan. The best play was probably to let her solve this one. So I did what I did best—slapped Grant on the shoulder and made a joke. “Uh, what is this, fifth grade?” I teased. “Alex is your fiancée. You ask her.”

  Grant opened his mouth to respond, but his phone dinged again. He glanced down at the text and frowned. When he looked up there was worry in his eyes. Ever the seasoned athlete, he shook it off and refocused, slapping me on the shoulder in return. “I was just joking. Let’s go order some more greasy food.”

  I grinned. “I’m game. Ris never lets me eat this kinda stuff at home.”

  “Ah, so you’ve got trouble in paradise, too?” Grant teased.

  I couldn’t fight the smile that tugged at my lips. “Nah, dude. My girl’s perfect.”

  “So perfect that you haven’t popped the question yet?” Lucas asked. “I know you saw Lexy flashing that big old diamond in front of Marissa.”

  I snorted. “Lexy certainly isn’t going to be the reason I rush my proposal. It’s coming. I’m just waiting for the perfect moment. Marissa deserves nothing less.”

  Grant’s eyes turned stormy again. “Trust me, Montgomery, you don’t wanna wait too long.”

  “Yeah,” Lucas added, “or your dream girl could get stolen while you’re not looking.”

  Okay, there was definitely something going on. “I appreciate the concern, guys, but we’re good.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Lucas mumbled.

  Praying Marissa actually did have a plan, I slung an arm around Grant and Lucas’s shoulders. “Come on. Let’s get you guys some food. You’re starting to sound like a bunch of women.”

  Marissa

  With the boys back at the table the conversation returned to normal. We were retelling old high school stories that had everyone laughing while the guys tried one-upping each other. But the whole time I couldn’t help reading into things. The slight nervous tremble in Casey’s normally confident voice, the way Alex was biting her nails, how Grant’s gray eyes looked far away, and the constant way Lucas rubbed at the heat climbing up his neck anytime someone brought up him and Casey.

  Two things were clear. My friends would make terrible poker players, and they needed my help.

  I mentally cracked my knuckles. It was time to right some wrongs.

  But first I had to identify the problems. I’d tried the easy way, but since no one wanted to talk, it was time for another tactic. I just prayed it worked or I’d be the one in need of help.

  Alex Prince and Casey Beeler were not girls you wanted to piss off.

  But I couldn’t help thinking their forced smiles and laughter were all for show.

  But why?

  What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t at least try to figure it out?

  We’d always been there for each other and if something was making them mi
serable, I hoped they knew I was here to help. But that was kind of hard to do if they were keeping secrets.

  Luckily, I had just the plan to fix it. It might take a miracle, but I wasn’t above shooting for the stars. I was an actress after all.

  I was channeling my inner diva, getting ready to put my Christmas miracle plan into action, when Chelsea elbowed me in the ribs. “Who’s that?”

  Following her line of sight to the door, I saw who she meant and couldn’t contain my grin as Chris and Nicole Fraser stomped inside, dusting snow off their shoulders. “That’s my friend Nicole. I told you about her. We went to Northwood together. She’s a freshman at Whitman now. Since her campus is so close to Rutgers we meet occasionally at Archer’s games.”

  Chelsea gave me an impatient look.

  “Ooooh . . .” I drew out the word, torturing her. “You meant the super cute guy she’s with?”

  “Seriously,” she whispered, “what’s in the water here? Your friends have the hottest boyfriends.”

  “It’s true,” I said proudly, “But just in case you were wondering, that tall drink of water with Nicole isn’t her boyfriend.”

  I watched Chelsea’s eyes fill with hope. “He’s not?”

  “Nope. He’s her brother.” Leaning in, I whispered in her ear. “Told you. You never know who you might meet here.”

  Chelsea cut her eyes at me, but I didn’t miss the encouraging way her lips twitched into a smirk as she sat a little taller. Grinning myself, I added one more task to my Christmas miracle to-do list. After all, why should Cupid get to have all the fun? That lazy cherub only surfaced once a year, but there were plenty of other opportunities to play matchmaker.

  Straightening my elf hat, I waved at the two newcomers and went to work. “Nicole! Chris! We saved you a seat!”

  Chapter Six

  Chris

  “Who’s that?” I asked, when Marissa started waving wildly at us.

  Nicole rolled her eyes. “Did you hit your head or something? It’s Marissa Munns.”

  “Not her, the angel sitting next to her.”

  “Oh, I think that’s her roommate. She mentioned that she might be coming.”

  “Is she single?”

  “Chris! You promised!”

  Nicole’s voice took on that shrill tone I hated, making me wince. “I know, geez! No flirting. I didn’t know that meant I couldn’t ask a simple question.”

  “I don’t know if she’s single or not, but it doesn’t matter because you’re not going to hit on her. It’s Team Fraser tonight.”

  Like I could forget. I was about to give Nicole another lecture about how much I didn’t enjoy this new clingy version of her when the hostess showed up. “Hey, you,” she purred, placing a hand on my chest. “I was hoping I’d see you tonight.”

  I blinked at her for a moment, at a loss until she glanced up at the mistletoe and winked.

  Riiiight! She was one of my Mixer Minxes from last year.

  One I hadn’t called . . .

  Awkward!

  Luckily, Nicole’s prickly attitude saved me from further embarrassment when she grabbed my arm and yanked me away as she rudely muttered that we were joining another party.

  “Are you sure?” I asked as Nicole dragged me through the crowded restaurant.

  She stopped bulldozing underclassmen and glared at me. “Why? Do you have a better offer?”

  “No.” Actually, I was dying to join Marissa’s table and get to know the goddess by her side, but that wasn’t the problem. “I’m not sure there’s enough room for us there.”

  “What are you talking about?” Nicole muttered, glancing at the large booth.

  It was plainly obvious that there was room for us, and Nicole’s bubbly brunette friend was still waving us over. But it was also clear that something was really troubling my sister, and I wasn’t going to be the guy to push her over the edge.

  “There’s plenty of room, Chris. If you don’t want to sit there—”

  “There’s not plenty of room,” I interrupted. “Not if you’re planning on bringing all this my-life-has-no-meaning-without-my-boyfriend baggage to the table.”

  “Chris . . .” Nicole crossed her arms impatiently.

  “Look, I’ve been giving you a hard time, but it’s only because you’re being miserable. This isn’t you. And it isn’t who Ian would want you to be.”

  Some of her anger drained and she bit her lip.

  Crap!

  I preferred an angry Nicole over a sad one. Anger I could deal with. But not tears. Never tears. It’s how she’d gotten me to paint my nails in middle school. I’d been called Prissy Chrissy for months over the neon pink polish.

  Thankfully, my little sister had discovered soccer that year and turned into a tomboy rather than a tyrant, but that was beside the point. “Listen, I meant what I said. It’s Team Fraser tonight. Whether you want to hang out here or maybe somewhere less distracting.”

  I watched her mull it over.

  “What do you wanna do?” I asked when she looked close to tears again.

  “Team Fraser?” she asked, timidly.

  “Of course.”

  She seemed to make a snap decision, straightening her shoulders confidently. “I think a distraction might be the best thing for me right now.”

  I offered her my arm. “Then distraction it is.”

  I led Nicole toward the table of her friends, but before we reached them her phone dinged and she practically jumped out of her skin, bobbling the thing like a greased football before managing to get control of herself. She looked at the screen, and I leered over her shoulder.

  Okay, so I was giving her crap, but as her older brother, that was my job.

  Truthfully, I was starting to worry about Ian, too. He wasn’t the guy who forgot to text. He was the guy who went above and beyond. He was the guy who sent flowers for no reason. The guy who mailed his girlfriend a pillowcase with his face on it so they could ‘sleep together’.

  I shivered, trying to get that thought out of my head, since the girlfriend I was referring to was my little sister.

  Ever since Ian and Nicole had finally gotten together, he’d been the world’s most perfect boyfriend.

  Seriously, look up the word and I’m sure Ian’s face is there.

  I was happy for them. I mean, at first it was weird, but I was beginning to realize how lucky I was that my two favorite people in the whole world loved each other.

  I’d been worried that I’d hate sharing them, but I figured out that having my sister date my best friend meant I’d never have to share either of them with anyone else. Which was pretty freaking awesome.

  Okay, sometimes it was nauseating, but usually it was awesome—except when Ian takes trips to Puerto Rico and my sister turns into a neurotic clingy jellyfish.

  But I reminded myself that this was a rare occurrence. One that I could deal with. Because as long as Ian and Nicole were dating, nothing had to change—which to a kid who’d spent the first few years of his life in foster care, was the dream.

  Ever since the Frasers adopted me and then Nicole, we’d been inseparable. Then Ian moved next door and that was it. A freakishly strong, unspoken bond was formed and the three of us were never apart again.

  Some might call it co-dependent. I called it awesome.

  I mean, how could it not be? We were the Three Musketeers for life.

  Seriously though . . . I was deeper than that. Finding each other when we needed connection and consistence most. . . it was serendipitous. Three kids who’d all faced some serious abandonment? Yeah, we were co-dependent alright. But I was fine with that. It was better than the alternative.

  When we’d met, we’d needed each other as much as we’d needed air to breathe.

  Over time, the unwavering support I got from Ian and Nicole gave me confidence. Knowing I’d always have them in my corner made me believe I was strong enough to face anything.

  But if something happened to Ian . . .

  No, I
wouldn’t even let my head go there.

  I was letting Nicole’s paranoia get to me. So, when I saw the text was just some stupid push notification from her favorite soccer club, I snatched her phone from her hand. “Enough of this.”

  “Hey!”

  “Nope,” I said, raising her phone over my head. “If I can’t flirt, you can’t cyberstalk.”

  “That wasn’t the deal, Chris.”

  “Well it’s the new deal. Take it or leave it.”

  She crossed her arms and glared at me. I fought my urge to laugh. Nicole might be a beast on the soccer field, but in my company, she looked like a kitten hissing at a grizzly.

  At barely five foot, my little sister looked ridiculous trying to intimidate all six foot four inches of me. But I had to give her credit. She did have that scary scowl down. “Poor Ian,” I teased. “Do you give him that menacing glare?”

  “Chris, I’m serious. Give me my phone back. I need to check on his flight status.”

  “No. We came here for some sibling bonding and to catch up with old friends. That’s not gonna happen if you’re glued to your phone the whole time. Ian will text when he texts. In the meantime, you’re gonna hang out with me as promised or I’m gonna find my own distraction,” I said, my eyes immediately drifting to the gorgeous blonde sitting next to Marissa.

  Nicole looked like she was ready to stomp her foot like she used to when she was little, but instead, she huffed impatiently. “Fine! But you suck!”

  “I love you, too,” I crooned, ruffling her hair as she tried to duck out of reach, before stomping the rest of the way to the table.

  I smirked as I watched her sidle up to her friends, welcomed by a big hug from Marissa, who started making introductions. When I was certain Nicole was distracted, I pulled my phone out and fired off a quick text.

  Me: Alright, Ian. I know you’ve got a lot going on, but help a brother out and text Nic. She thinks you’ve gone AWOL or something. I’m pretty sure I just saw her eye twitch. It’s not a good look.

  Then, I slipped both phones into my pocket and joined the mini Northwood High reunion.