Ideal situation—sneak out of the house with absolutely no one seeing me.

But this wasn’t a day for ideals. This was a day for the person you least wanted to see standing at the bottom of the staircase, throwing their hands to their face in shock.

My stomach clenched so hard, I almost missed a stair.

“Oh. My. Actual. Gee.” Dove put her hands on her hips in that effortless way she had of making everything look like it was a perfected pose. Why did this have to be her house? “What are the chances?”

Okay, at least we were going down the knowing-each-other-exists route. Guess setting up camp in someone’s house definitely moves a relationship along.

“Dovvvve?!” Yup, I managed “pleasantly surprised.” Real me wanted to sprint the hell out of here, but if I wanted any chance of pulling this back, I needed to channel the only Elle Dove really knew—the online, confident one. “I had no clue you lived here.”

I should have guessed though—I looked around the huge hall, Christmas tree stretching up, perfect square gifts already wrapped under the tree. Oh—and her family picture on the wall. Must strike detective off potential career ideas. “Your house is…incredible.”

“Thanks.” Dove tossed her ponytail as she walked up the stairs toward me. She looked like a real-life Anna from Frozen—but somehow even more perfect. I lifted my box higher to hide how much of a mess I was. “You and those guys outside have made it SO ready for the holidays. I had no idea you worked for that little company… What was the name? Good for Your Elf? Worst pun everrrr, right?”

“Uh-huh.” Why was I nodding? She was going to find out anyway, so I might as well own it. “It’s my parents’ business, actually.” I winced, to show I felt the same as her.

Dove’s big, blue eyes got even wider. “I am SO sorry. Like, no offense intended or anything.”

“None taken. My little brother thought of it. I’ll be sure to pass on your feedback on to him.”

I laughed so she knew I was joking.

“And is this your hot brother who was outside doing something kinda weird with a reindeer?”

So she liked Nick—interesting. She didn’t need to know that he was about as open to a relationship as he was to starring in one of my videos.

“The very same. Although not so much of the hot, IMO.”

But she’d already gotten distracted—and had pointed her finger. Right. At. Me.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” She’d definitely come from a fresh mani. “Is that…Blur?”

Was she impressed or disgusted at my vintage top?

“Uh-huh?” I left it open so I could go either way depending on what she said next.

“Greatest band EVER?!” She started to hum “Song 2”—Mom’s favorite. Well, that was an unexpected result.