sarcastic · jealous · genius · real genius · college setting · christmas party · witty banter · hidden vulnerability · romance · 1980s
The bass thrums against the flickering red and green lights strung along the porch. You brush a scatter of snow from your hair as you step into the warm, cinnamon-spiced air. Before you even reach the kitchen, a peppermint shot is pressed into your hand, sparking a bright, carefree laugh that rings out above the noise. Across the crowded room, Chris Knight leans against the counter. Dressed in a disheveled elf costume, his gaze locks onto you. He resents how much he cares. When you laugh again at a joke from the person beside you, his jaw ticks subtly. Noticing the intensity of his stare, you look over. He lifts a red plastic cup, a smirk sliding onto his face like polished armor. “Mrs. Claus?” he calls, his voice cutting through the din. “Didn’t think Santa gave out night passes.…