Snow in Love
Page 16
“Wow.”
“Can I say something?”
“Of course.”
Harper sits up and shifts so she can look Leigh in the eye.
And now their knees are touching.
(Leigh thinks she might be dying.)
“Just want you to know I’m here for you, Leigh-ski.”
Leigh is officially dead now. That’s what Harper used to call her back in the day.
Leigh gulps. “Okay.”
“Any questions, comments, concerns, you let me know.”
“What are you, a flight attendant?”
Both girls laugh and the tension breaks.
“I really do appreciate that, Harper. It’s admittedly a lot. This … shift.”
“It is.”
“My turn to tell you something now,” Leigh goes on.
Harper smiles (and Leigh’s stomach swoops like the flock of birds on the digital jungle sky). “I’m listening.”
“So the whole cruise thing—” Is she really about to say this? “Well the reason I ghosted, as you so aptly put it, is because I … uhh … well, let’s just say you’re the first girl I ever noticed. In that way.”
Harper’s drops her chin, but Leigh can tell she’s smiling.
“And like, I thought you noticed me … noticing you. And maybe weren’t okay with it?”
“Ah.”
“I was embarrassed,” Leigh goes on.
Harper’s eyes lift and lock onto Leigh’s again—
And then someone shouts “Merry Christmas to all!” jolting both of them out of what was a certifiable Moment. They look up just as a skinny guy in an oversized Santa suit steps onto the moving sidewalk, waving like he’s Miss America.
“Bro, I can’t,” Harper says, and they both collapse into sidesplitting laughter.
They talk.
And talk.
And laugh.
And talk.
The snow stops (or so they hear from passersby).
Touching knees become melded sides become Harper’s arm around Leigh’s shoulders and Leigh’s cheek against Harper’s clavicle.
Hands find their way together.
More talking. Laughing. Smiling. Reminiscing.
Learning.
Growing.
(Re)Connecting.
Eyes meet.
Time slows.
Noses touch.
Lips collide.
As Leigh steps out of the plane-to-gate tunnel into Palm Beach International airport, Harper Kemp smiles at her and steps forward with her hand extended. The two girls weren’t able get on the same flight out of Atlanta once the ground stop was lifted, but now here they are. Together again.
Their fingers entwine.
“I missed you, Leigh-ski,” Harper says, kissing Leigh on the cheek.
Leigh giggles.
As they make their way toward baggage claim to meet both sets of parents, Leigh’s heart speeds up. She knows Harper is out to her folks (“Though I’ve never brought a girl home. Til now, hadn’t met one worth bringing.”)—which likely means Leigh’s parents also know Harper’s gay. But Leigh’d be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous about what Tisha and David Wells will say/think about their daughter’s … new status.
“I have a joke,” Harper says.
And Leigh smiles and exhales. Gives Harper’s hand a little squeeze of appreciation.
Harper squeezes back. “You ready?”
“Hit me.”
“What did the fish say when he swam into the concrete wall?”
“Mmmm …”
“DAM!”
Leigh snorts.
The exit doors loom large.
“Wait,” and Leigh stops walking. Harper jolts back, and Leigh looks down at their interlinked fingers.
Harper turns to face Leigh. Lifts Leigh’s chin with her free hand and looks straight into Leigh’s brown eyes. “You sure about this?” And Harper lifts their linked hands. “You know we can keep it between us for now. Walk out as old homies. The parents don’t need to know at this point.”
Leigh’s eyes trace over Harper’s face. She takes the whole glorious package in. “I want them to know, Harp.”
“Yeah?” (And there’s that smile Leigh loves so, so much.)
“Yeah. This is the happiest I’ve been in a long time. It’s a little scary, yeah. But … it’s good. We’re good. You’re good.”
“You think I’m good, huh?” Harper’s eyes drop to Leigh’s lips.
“Yeah. I do.”
“Dope.” Another smile. “So you ready?”
Leigh looks at the automatic doors that will release her and Harper into the world. As a … thing. A pair.
A couple?
A couple.
She doesn’t speak. Just pulls Harper to the holly-trimmed exit and through the doors.
(The parents are thrilled, by the way.)
MELISSA DE LA CRUZ is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages, including her most recent hits: Disney’s Descendants series; the Blue Bloods series; the Witches of East End series (which was adapted into a two-season television drama on Lifetime); Alex & Eliza: A Love Story; Something in Between; and Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe. Melissa is the codirector of YALLFest (Charleston, South Carolina) and the cofounder of YALLWest (Santa Monica, California). She grew up in Manila, and she now lives in West Hollywood, California, with her husband and daughter. Learn more at melissa-delacruz.com.
AIMEE FRIEDMAN is a New York Times bestselling author of several novels for young adults, including Two Summers and Sea Change, which was adapted into a television movie for Lifetime. Aimee also works as an editorial director at Scholastic Inc., where she edits books for young readers. Born to immigrant parents in Queens, New York, Aimee attended the Bronx High School of Science and Vassar College. She now lives, writes, and works in Manhattan, but loves to travel whenever she can. Learn more at aimeefriedmanbooks.com.
NIC STONE is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Dear Martin and Odd One Out. She was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, and the only thing she loves more than an adventure is a good story about one. After graduating from Spelman College, she worked extensively in teen mentoring and lived in Israel for a few years before returning to the US to write full-time. Growing up with a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, she strives to bring these diverse voices and stories to her work. Learn more at nicstone.info.
KASIE WEST is the acclaimed author of ten YA novels, including The Fill-In Boyfriend, P.S. I Like You, By Your Side, Lucky in Love, and Listen to Your Heart. Her books have received numerous accolades and have been named as ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers and as YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. Kasie lives in Fresno, California, with her family. Learn more at kasiewest.com.
Screenshot by Donna Cooner
It’s Not Me, It’s You by Stephanie Kate Strohm
Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten
Lucky in Love by Kasie West
P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West
Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
Two Summers by Aimee Friedman
Compilation copyright © 2018 by Scholastic Inc.
“Snow and Mistletoe” copyright © 2018 by Kasie West
“Grounded” copyright © 2018 by Andrea Nicole Livingstone
“Working in a Winter Wonderland” copyright © 2006 by Aimee Friedman; previously published in Mistletoe by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
“The Magi’s Gifts” copyright © 2006 by Melissa de la Cruz; previously published as “The Christmas Choos” in Mistletoe by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available
First edition, November 2018
Cover photos © Shutterstock: main (AlexMaster), fire (Vitalina Rybakova)
Cover design by Yaffa Jaskoll
e-ISBN 978-1-338-31019-1
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