Shake it Up

by Lila Arden West

The holidays have a way of bringing people together in unexpected ways. 

This story is part of The Manuscript Editor’s Holiday Romance Contest, where writers are challenged to explore romantic connections through a seasonal lens. Each entry brings its own interpretation of what a holiday romance can be.

Take your time reading. Let the story unfold. And if it resonates with you, don’t forget to show your support.

Note: This story has not yet been proofread.

Callie Stewart strode through the parking lot, bracing herself against the inevitable. It was a blustery, misty evening in December, one of those days when darkness seems to come even earlier than usual. The promise of a hot chai latte drew her on, while the urgency of her shopping list pushed her from behind. 

But first, she had to make it past the bell-ringers.

There was only one today. At the entrance, she saw an older man, sitting alone on a stool. Even without the usual piped-in music, she didn’t even hear the bell until she was close enough to see it in his hand. It was small, and he rang it slowly, just flicking his wrist every few seconds. He seemed content enough, but the whole scene screamed “phoning it in.”

She’d never wanted to hug a bell-ringer before. 

Callie felt her shoulders drop an inch, smiling brightly at the man as she fished in her purse for a bill to drop into the donation kettle. “Merry Christmas,” she told him, actually meaning it this time. He nodded politely and rang the bell again.

Sweeping inside, she wondered if she’d come across as any other happy shopper soaking up cozy holiday vibes. When the truth was that her nerves were shot, and walking the Bell Gauntlet was just one of many dragons she’d dreaded facing today. That the warmth of her greeting was not from festive enthusiasm, but from gratitude for sparing her the sensory onslaught that usually guarded the door this time of year.

She was making a beeline for the cafe when her phone rang. 

“Hey girl! Just wanted to confirm for tomorrow. I have you and Case down to bring a dessert.”

She held back a sigh, forcing herself to sound upbeat. “Hey, Josie! Yep, just picking up ingredients now.”

“So what are you making?”

“I was thinking divinity. Mom usually makes it, but, well…”

“Hmm. Good idea.” Her friend’s tone softened. “Not exactly up for pulling out all the stops this year, huh?”

Callie sighed. “Hard to go Christmas crazy without a Santa.” Her dad had barely been gone a year. Nowhere near long enough to adjust to the idea of having Christmas without him playing Santa at all the parties. Josie’s bash for downtown small business owners was the first party of the season, before the retail crush became too hectic. 

“Well, at least she got the lights up outside,” Josie said. “Unless… that was all you?”

“It was…” Callie sighed. “Mostly me, yeah.” 

Josie changed the subject. “You are okay working with Case, right?”

“Of course,” Callie said smoothly, using the same tone she used with clients who were anxious about getting their end-of-year accounting done on time. Except she never lied to clients. It was too embarrassing to admit that her childhood rivalry with Case Milligan had persisted into adulthood. She was aware that it made her look childish. Hell, it made her feel childish. But he was the least of her problems.

“I’ve got it covered. I doubt he’s much of a cook anyway.”

“Okay, well, try to get along, huh? Remember, the whole point is to build community by getting people to work together. And be here by seven.”

After acquiring her latte, Callie headed for the personal care section. Unsurprisingly, they did not carry the glycerin she needed for her non-culinary craft project, so she sighed and backtracked to the baking aisle, picking up sugar, vanilla, and after a moment’s thought, two bottles of corn syrup. Just in case. She swung by the egg case and was on her way to the self-checkout when a familiar voice called out.

“Great minds think alike, huh?”

She turned, and there he was, the town’s golden boy, standing next to a display of candy canes. Her low-key nemesis, trying to look all non-threatening in a barn jacket and knit hat, his dark hair curling slightly up from the brim. 

Not that anyone ever actually called him “golden boy” – it wouldn’t even make sense, not with his dark hair and short beard – but she’d thought of him that way ever since they were kids. The words “why can’t you be more like Case” hadn’t exactly been a constant refrain, but it hadn’t taken many repetitions for her to get the message. She’d always been a fast learner. 

Did he really need to smile at her like that? “Getting ingredients for divinity? Me too.”

What did he mean, him too? “I told you, I have it handled. You don’t need to do anything.” She tried to keep the edge out of her voice.

“I thought maybe I could help. I mean, working together is kind of the assignment, isn’t it?” His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Plus, I have some ideas for flavorings. Shake things up a bit, you know?”

If there was one thing she was not looking for, it was having anything shaken up. She opened her mouth to repeat that she had it covered, but then Josie’s words came back to her. “Fine,” she said, hating how her breath came out in a huff. “You can come by tomorrow. I’ll be starting around two.”

If her high-handedness bothered him, he didn’t show it. “Okay,” he said evenly. “I might have a last-minute repair job crop up, but I’ll try to get there in time to be useful.”

She nodded, wishing he wouldn’t be so conscientious for once. Was he still trying to show her up, with his cocky grin and his culinary “innovations”? She found herself wishing he would get a last-minute call, then mentally kicked herself. If he did get a call, it would mean that someone’s heat had gone out – in December, on a weekend. Nobody deserved that. She tried not to picture him out in the cold, working on someone’s busted HVAC unit, and wondered for the umpteenth time why he’d stayed in this little town. Admittedly, he ran a successful business, but he could have been anything he’d wanted. 

But he was still looking at her, as if daring her to tell him not to come. “Fine,” she said. “But I won’t wait on you.”

“Wouldn’t expect you to.” Why did he look disappointed? Not that it mattered. His feelings weren’t her problem. She already had a full list: surviving the end-of-year rush at work; seeing her mom through her second Christmas as a widow; and lastly, getting through the holidays without her dad. It didn’t occur to her to question the order of that list. It was just the way things were. She’d handle it. She always did.

It was closer to three the next day when he finally showed up. 

“Door’s open,” Callie called in response to his knock, too intent on her project to even look up. He found her in the kitchen, having shed his coat & hat at the door. 

“Don’t tell me you’re already done?” he asked, taking in the sight of her hunched over the kitchen island on a bar stool, hair in a messy bun, focused on something that was almost certainly not food. He sounded like he’d just tuned into a favorite Christmas movie and missed the good part. 

She spared him a quick glance, noting his cold-reddened cheeks and the light dusting of snow on his work gloves as he stripped them off. “I haven’t started yet,” she admitted, unable to hide her frustration and, honestly, getting tired of trying. “Do you… want some coffee? There’s a fresh pot.”

“God, yes, please,” he said, heading for the pot before she’d even finished speaking. “Winter is getting into its ‘not messing around’ phase out there.”

“Cups are right up there. So, you did get an emergency call after all? Thought you wouldn’t need to do those anymore, now that you’re the boss.” She huffed ineffectually at a strand of hair tickling her nose. 

“That just means that the buck really does stop with me. Especially when it’s this cold, and we’re already short staffed.”

“Well, that’s… actually kind of admirable,” she admitted.

He paused, mid-pour. “Whoa, did you just compliment me?” His voice took on a dreamlike quality. “’Dear Diary…’” At her scowl, he chuckled and changed the subject. “So what are you working on?”

Callie sighed. “A snow globe. Mom’s always liked them, so I thought I’d try making one to cheer her up. This last part, though… it’s just…” she trailed off, concentrating on attaching the base before the waterproof glue she’d just applied could dry out. The video had said to just push it down, but the base appeared to be threaded… should she push, or twist?

He took a sip of coffee, watching her. “Take your time.”

She wasn’t sure what she did. She wasn’t sure if it was his tone, sounding oh-so-patient and unbothered, that made her tense up. Maybe it was the way he was watching her, or just the fact that he was watching. Maybe it was all the stress finally catching up with her. She just knew that whatever she did, it was the wrong thing, and she did it way too hard. Because the next thing she knew, her hands slipped, and the little plastic liquid-and-glitter-filled ball was sailing through the air. 

Right at Case Milligan’s face.

She watched, horrified, as the globe arced through the air, the base falling away, a stream of sparkly water trailing like a ribbon. It seemed to happen in slow motion, but of course there was no time to do anything but gape, and then cringe, as the globe smacked him on the forehead, just over his left eyebrow.

His astonished expression actually lasted for a full two seconds after impact. He winced, and then, to her great relief – or was it annoyance? – shouldn’t he at least get mad? – he laughed. Then the pain finally seemed to register, and he put a hand to his forehead. “Ow.” 

“Oh my God.” Callie sat frozen, hands over her mouth, before nearly upending the crafting supplies on the island as she jumped up. She was in front of him in an instant, lifting the hair on his forehead to check for injury. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean… Are you okay? Does it hurt?” 

“Yes, and yes,” he groaned, dropping his hand quickly as her fingers grazed his at his temple. He winced, closing one eye, but then grinned. “Damn, Callie, I knew you could get a little aggressive, but I never thought you’d really try to take me out,” he joked, blinking as the clear liquid dripped down his face. Then he licked his lips. “Wait, why is it sweet?” He looked back up at her, and his eyes widened. “And why are you the one who looks like they just got whacked in the face?”

Callie was mortified. Dammit, if she had to go and do something so clumsy, so idiotic, so utterly incompetent, why did it have to be in front of him? At him, even? And now he was looking at her with – oh hell no, was that pity? She straightened her spine.

“It’s just corn syrup,” Callie said quickly, hoping he hadn’t noticed how her gaze had dropped to his lips for a moment. “And water. And, well, glitter,” she finished lamely. “Rather a lot of glitter, I’m afraid.” She fought to bite back a smile. “Though I have to say, it’s not a bad look for you.” This close, the silver glitter did contrast rather beautifully with his dark hair and beard. Not to mention with his amber eyes, which were almost gold in this light. Was that where she’d gotten her internal “golden boy” nickname for him? Wait, since when was she giving him nicknames?

“Um. Thank you?” He cleared his throat, and she realized she was close enough to feel the puff of air that escaped his lungs. “So, uh, will I live, doc?” He looked down, avoiding her gaze.

She belatedly dropped her hand. “Oh. Well, you’re not bleeding. You might have a bump soon, though. We should get some ice on it.”

He was still looking down, blinking. “My coffee has glitter in it.”

She frowned, then looked down at the mug still in his hand. Looking back up at him, at his sparkly, dripping, disheveled face, her laughter finally burst forth. “I can’t believe you didn’t drop it!”

Case’s eyebrows lifted, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Honestly, neither can I.” Then he frowned. “Do I have to ice it, though? I’m still warming up from being outside.”

He let her steer him out of the kitchen, towards the bathroom. “Go wash up. Then ice. And then you can laugh at me all you want for being a danger to public safety.”

His slightly pouty look switched to one of confusion, but he went into the bathroom obediently enough. Callie returned to the kitchen and cleaned up the mess, trying not to obsess about the state she’d left her bathroom in. If only she hadn’t let the dishes get ahead of her, he could have used the kitchen sink… 

But as she worked, she did something else. She thought, as their teachers would have put it back in the day, about the consequences of her actions. 

She’d been letting the stress of the holidays pile up. On top of the usual work stress, she’d been single-handedly trying to save Christmas for her mom. And now, she’d actually hurt someone. Not just someone – Case. Accidentally, true, but would it have happened if she hadn’t been operating on such a hair trigger? She needed to get control of her nerves and chill out a little.

A little voice inside whispered that more control was perhaps not the solution, but she didn’t have time to listen to it. She started making a sugar syrup on the stove, grateful for the candy thermometer her mom had insisted she borrow. Then she separated the eggs and started whipping the whites.

“Callie.” His voice was muffled by the whine of the mixer. She looked up. He’d shed his coat and flannel shirt, leaving only a dark green t-shirt. His skin was now slightly pink not from the cold outside, but from being scrubbed clean with hot water. He rubbed at his damp hair with a hand towel, but his look was troubled. “Can we talk about something?”

Dammit, why did he have to be so attractive? She’d actually been relieved, at first, when he’d returned from college sporting a beard. Because she wasn’t into beards. At least, she’d never thought so. She put the mixer down. “Look, I really am sorry.”

“No, I get it. It was an accident. But… listen, you know I haven’t laughed at you since like third grade, right?”

She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Tenth, at the very least.”

He looked confused. “Tenth? What happened in… oh, was that the spelling bee?” He chuckled. “I’d almost forgotten about that.” Then he registered the look on her face. “I guess you haven’t, though.”

“No.” Her voice was small. She felt exposed, oversensitive, and her first instinct was to go on the attack. But something about his freshly scrubbed face, and the expression on it – no, it wasn’t pity, not quite – gave her pause. 

“You always were too much fun to tease, back then,” he said softly. “Maybe I… overdid it?” He gestured between the two of them. “Is that the reason for this… this tension? All this time?”

She didn’t want to admit it. But she was also tired of carrying it around. “You were always so good at everything,” she said finally, staring down into the mixing bowl. “Academics, sports, you were popular… not to mention all my friends had raging crushes on you,” she smirked. “I felt like you beat me at everything.” She felt something release in her chest at the admission.

His brow crinkled. “Callie, you were literally valedictorian.”

“Because you got mono senior year!” She threw up her hands, then forced herself to take a breath. “You were out for like eight weeks.”

“So, what, it doesn’t count? Is that what you’re saying?” He let out a breath, giving her a look she couldn’t quite decipher. “All these years we’ve known each other, and I had no idea you were this hard on yourself.” He stepped closer. “I guess it’s time I make something clear, then.” He swallowed and met her eyes. “Callie, you don’t need to prove anything to anybody. Least of all me.”

He smelled like her soap. She inhaled, and felt a last little knot inside finally let go. “You, uh… missed a spot,” she said, touching his cheek. Then she fought back a giggle. “You’re gonna be finding glitter for weeks.”

“I’m oddly ok with that,” he said softly. “You did say it was a good look for me. And…” he reached up and brushed at her hair gently, showing her a little blob of foamy egg white. “You missed one, too.” 

The next moment was pure impulse, though she couldn’t truly call it an accident. She leaned in and quickly kissed him, feeling a thrill of something unidentifiable at the way his eyes went wide.

“Oh,” she breathed. “I’m…”

But his smile was already returning. “Took you long enough,” he murmured, just before his mouth closed over hers.

The party was in full swing. “Callie, the divinity came out great!” Josie popped another piece into her mouth. “What’s your secret?”

“Just a spice mix Case came up with,” she smiled, seeing him across the room. 

“And it’s cut in little squares this time, too. That’s different.”

“Oh. Yeah, it sets up really fast, so it’s... just easier that way.” She looked down, trying to keep her tone casual.

Josie cocked her head, brushing her friend’s shoulder. “You got some glitter on you.”

“Oh,” she said, and her grin finally broke free. “Do I?”

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