Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Santa liked snacks but Santa had lots to say about snacks.
“Dessert?” Pointing to the cupcake flavor, I waited to see what Santa would say.
He sighed. “I don’t know about that one.”
Nodding, I pointed to the s’mores bowl. “Dessert?”
Santa smiled and reached for more. “Those are a do again.”
Then he frowned and looked at the naughty crackers. “But that hot one…I must’ve fat fingered that one. I don’t remember ordering it.”
Snickering, I wiggled my fingers at the lots of cheese ones. “Mine. Please, Santa. Mine.”
“Here you go.” Kissing my head, Santa gave me my bowl and snuggled me tight. “Ready for one more chapter?”
Nodding, I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed as the witch got abducted. “Like fairy tale, Santa.”
He snorted. “I will not agree with that.”
“Good men. Naughty men. Scary thing. Save the day.” Oops. “It’s okay.”
Goldfish didn’t get dirty if they fell on shirts and tummies and laps and chairs.
Santa made a silly sound. “If those hit the floor, you can’t eat them.”
“Oh no, Santa.” Cheek kisses. Snuggle. “Saved the day.”
“You saved your snack. Not the day.” Santa grumpy.
“Hugs.” Careful. Careful. “Now hugs.”
Santa snickered. “I can’t decide if you put the Goldfish down because I’m more important and you didn’t want to spill them on me or if you didn’t want to take any chances on your snack falling.”
“Kisses.” Helper was smart. “Hugs and kisses.”
Climbing around on Santa’s lap as he giggled, I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a big hug. “Cartoons?”
Santa liked cartoons.
“Transformers?” Santa liked those.
“Really?” Santa was suspicious. “Okay.”
Oh, big Santa hugs and kisses.
“Cartoons and snacks and then we’ll go snuggle in bed.” Santa was trying to hide his yawns but it was big hard. “Santa has had a long day and so have you.”
Maybe.
Hands up. Wide fingers. “See? Awake.”
“Making your eyes wider will not make you more awake, silly goose.” Santa kissed my head and reached for the remote. “But you look like a cute bug that way.”
“Monster?” Not bug. “Monster.”
Santa glared at me. “A scary monster or a naughty one?”
Santa was silly goose.
Closer.
Closer.
Whisper.
“Naughty.” Ha ha ha.
“Ugh. I knew it.” Frowning and huffing. “I shouldn’t have even asked.”
Naughty monster.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t ask and we’re going to watch the funny robots.” Snuggle. Snuggle. “Here we go. Let’s turn you around. You know, if we keep watching the show together, then next season I can show you my favorite queer couple. They’re really cute.”
Huh?
“Santa?” He snickered. “Teasing?”
“Nope. You’re just going to have to watch and see.” Santa smiley but Santa serious? “They’re definitely queer coded and in a relationship. Most of that had to be off screen of course, but there was romance.”
Hmm.
“Santa silly.” But Santa happy. “Snuggle Santa.”
“Aww, thank you.” More kisses. Big cuddles. “Here we go.”
Yep, Santa big smiley.
“You laughed and smiled. I saw you.” Santa giggled and hugged me big-big. “I knew you’d like it.”
Silly goose.
“Oh, no pretending. I saw you laughing.” Santa growled and tickled. “Ha. There’s your laughter.”
Santa…
Santa…
Santa cheated.
Big hugs. “Love you.”
Being tickled was hard work. Santa made me yawn too.
“I saw that too. Time for bed.” Santa looked like I was sneaky. “Arms around me. Bedtime for Santa and his helper.”
“Monkey.” Tight. Tight. “Santa’s monkey.”
Santa giggled. “I don’t know about that. I’ve got a helper. I don’t need a monkey. They’re messy.”
Messy monkey.
He was so funny.
Hug. Hugs.
Hold tight.
“Bedtime for the tired monkey.” Kisses. “He’s had a long day and now we’re going to cuddle.”
Santa needed cuddles.
Bedtime for Santa.
****
“Whatcha thinking?” Rhett’s soft voice sounded like he was only half-awake, but all the brains that were working were focused on me.
“That the world didn’t end.” Instead of telling me I was crazy, he simply nodded and wrapped himself around me, pulling my back tighter against his chest. He was always a really good big spoon, but he did it the best when he was only half-awake.
“I’m glad it didn’t.” Kissing my head, he let out a deep breath that tickled my neck and sounded like he could’ve easily gone back to sleep. “I was…I was worried it might, but I didn’t want to stop you from exploring.”
He’d trusted me.
“You were the best.” Closing my eyes, I tried not to sound stressed or worried, but I knew the slow exhale I made gave me away.
Being too relaxed was as much of a tell as being too tense.
Rhett kissed my head and made a thinking sound, letting me know he’d heard me and he knew what my careful breathing meant.
“I woke up thinking you might be frustrated with me, but you’re not.” He had a few reasons to be, though. “You even had Goldfish crackers delivered for me.”
Shaped food was for kids and littles…and I’d spent a really long time ignoring everything even remotely childlike.
“I love you delivery apps and fees, baby.” He didn’t seem to think that was ridiculous judging by how sincere his tone was. “If anyone deserves a dozen bags of Goldfish, it’s you. I was really proud of you. Confused. But proud.”