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The Holiday Date
Maybe it was my version of a Christmas miracle.
Rae Davenport wasn’t supposed to be going on a date with a guy like me. And on Christmas Eve, no less? What stars had aligned to ensure I’d be the envy of all the guys at school after winter break was over?
But I tried not to think about the ego boost. Well, not too much, anyway. It was just harder than I thought to keep my mind totally pure of self-indulgence. Sure, I could have just taken in the sight of Rae in her winter wear, but for the first time in a long while I felt like I could be someone worth noticing.
See this girl? She’s with me. That’s right. I’m on a date with the hottest girl at my school.
My dad, likely having his own high school flashbacks, had fronted me the money for tickets to the holiday light spectacular at our local botanic garden. When he had handed me his credit card to make the reservation online, he had even winked at me in a knowing way as if he were saying, “Don’t screw this up, son.”
I honestly felt like I was doing well so far. Even with all the fanfare from my parents before I had picked Rae up outside her house, I hadn’t ogled her — not too much, at least. It honestly should have been impossible for a girl to look so good in a puffer jacket that nearly went past her knees.
