I held out the dog and pressed its paw. Yes, intruder—take that bell-ringing Christmas tune!

“Who are YOU is the question?!” the guy snapped back. “And what is that?”

“You okay up there?” Jess shouted, but I couldn’t turn back in case the guy did something sudden.

I held the dog out farther. “Don’t move, or I’ll call the police.”

But the intruder did something weird. He put down his bag and smiled. “The police?” He shook his head, almost laughing. “Wow, Elle really can pick them…” How did he know Elle? “You must be Holly?” How did he know me?!

“I’m Nick…” He flicked the light on and held out his hand.

My non-dog-holding hand stayed still. My jaw, however, dropped. Hard. Wasn’t he ten years too old to be Nick? And at least seven million times too hot?

“I should have known when I saw the light-up turkeys.”

The dog was still singing.

“Wattles.” Silence. “Elle said she had a little brother, but…”

Nick shook his head. “By sixteen minutes. Or didn’t she mention that?”

“No, she did not.” And nor did anyone else.

Sorry, was living with Elle’s massively hot twin brother not exactly the kind of thing that should have been put on the “urgent information” list? I had not planned for this!

Thank goodness I’d fully committed to my rules.

Catching flights not feelings.

“Now…” Nick reached out toward the dog as if it might bite. “Are you going to turn that noise off, or are we going to have to get a vet?”

And I just stared. And blinked. And the dog went wild.

Yup, I’d been in America less than two hours, and despite all my plans, I had no idea what this trip was going to have in store.

Chapter Eight

Elle

Eight Days till Christmas

I opened the curtains. Total darkness…but still cute, from what I could make out. The whole place was so quaint. And authentic! Just like Holly said.

I rolled over in bed, Holly’s sheets crinkling. Even her room felt friendly. In between her posters of Twenty One Pilots and bands I didn’t recognize, her walls were packed with smiling Polaroids with her friends. I wondered what she’d think of mine? All I had was a single board of inspo pictures for my account.

I’d woken up what felt like hours ago, too tired to get out of bed, too awake to sleep. I didn’t have the Wi-Fi password, so I’d lain awake worrying about the competition. So restful.

I’d gotten a voice note from Nick though. He’d told me he’d changed his “do not disturb,” so if I needed anything, to “call anytime,” and then a follow-up saying he probably wouldn’t sleep anyway as he was having “singing dog issues.” No idea what that meant, but I appreciated it.