“My mom was obsessed.” She always had music on in the house—probably what kicked off Nick’s lifelong obsession with UK bands.

“Mine too.” And something I’d never experienced before happened. Dove smiled. At me. “Guess that’s where we get our good taste.” Our good taste. “I used to have a fan account all about British stuff back in the day.” She stopped suddenly as if it wasn’t something she liked talking about. “Wait. Someone told me you’re actually British?”

“Who?!” I asked way too quickly. But Dove had been talking about me. Me?! With someone who knew about my mom? I thought no one at school knew anything about me.

She shrugged. “Just people…”

“Well, they’re half right, I guess. My mom’s from there, and we lived there till I was four.”

“Literally the coolest.” She nodded in approval. “I HAVE to show you the pictures I got in London a few years back. Legit perfection.” So she was lining up another conversation? Mom, where were you when I needed you to witness something?! “Was the candy cane idea yours?”

“Can’t take credit, but I can say you’re all gonna smell great. For months.”

Dove laughed. I made Dove laugh. Weird—I always figured she’d be more frosty than funny. Maybe I’d gotten her all wrong.

“I bet your house is on point this time of year.” She sounded impressed, so I’d let her believe the dream—that I lived in a picture-perfect grotto—rather than the truth that my parents were so bored of Christmas that it might as well be April inside our front door. The outside still looked amazing, of course—Dad made sure they pulled out all the stops. Had to drum up business.

“Well, who doesn’t love the holidays?” I wasn’t a big fan of lying—I considered myself a semipro answer swerver instead.

“Speaking of great ideas.” She waved her phone. “That post this morning? INSPIRED.” I smiled as if it was no big deal, rather than it having taken all of yesterday, and hid the current state of my nails. “And I’m sorry, but commenting? @Realdeallogan must be into you!”

I hadn’t thought it was that big a deal, but clearly it was from the way Dove was fanning her face.

And if she was impressed, maybe I could go bigger—maybe Dove could be the key to getting me the new followers I was after. “He threw in a follow too.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Wow, you work that!”

“Why, thanks.” I laughed. “I mean, my account’s tiny compared to yours.” Flattery, check. “But I had to shut down my old one. @NoWayNoelle.” And sympathy could never hurt. “Long story. Trolls, all that pathetic stuff. So now I’m all about getting followers up on this new one.”

“ELLE? ELLLLLEEEE?”

It was Dad.