Naomi laughed. “I mean, it’s not exactly a hardship.” She smiled. “But no. Give me hanging up our stockings with you guys, leaving out a half-pint of Baileys for ‘Father Christmas’ and your terrible charade of David Beckham any day.”

Oh. I’d really got that wrong. “So. Mum?”

“What? You think she’s going to tell us to come home ’cause she’s missing us?” Awkward. That’s exactly what I’d thought. “Hol.” Naomi actually laughed at me. “She knew full well you were worried about Christmas being crap this year. And how much it means to you—so of course she wanted you to go to America. But do you really not think she would have loved a Christmas at home together maybe even more?”

And that’s when it hit me. Full on in the chest.

That’s when I finally got it. What Nick had been saying all along.

I’d come here for the best Christmas, but no matter what I did, I was never going to cross “Having the Perfect Christmas” off my list.

Because having the perfect Christmas wasn’t the one with the coolest lights or biggest parties—it wasn’t about exactly following my traditions and making sure everything was perfect.

It was about hanging out with the people you love.

Ruby, Fred, Mum, Naomi and Colin. Both Colins.

Getting to do all the small, funny, chocolate-filled, pajama-wearing, normally-too-ridiculous stuff you didn’t get to do year-round.

Saying yes to things you never would. With the people you loved the most.

Having Christmas Day at Colin’s wasn’t what would make or break it. Nor was seeing Central Park in the snow, or even going to the Snow Ball—it was having my amazing friends and family around.

And as I stopped still, taking in what Naomi said, my feet wet, freezing, and a mile away from Elle’s house, I realized something.

I could spend the rest of this holiday doing all the things that I thought should make me happy. Sticking to my plan.

Or I could try and actually make the best Christmas happen. For everyone.

I told Naomi she was a genius, said bye, and allowed myself one last list.

It was time to make it up to my friends.

Tell Nick I was sorry—he’d been right all along.

And hope the magic of Christmas could help me pull off something really special.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Holly

Two Days till Christmas

The hall had filled up, but Dottie and Nick were nowhere to be seen.

Elle had done amazing work talking Charl into convincing Nick that Dottie had been asking to see the band play outside Peakstown City Hall tonight. So Nick, being Nick, had dropped his plans to take her there.