Silver Bells for Me and (Saint) Nicolas

By Christine Miles

A Christmas talent show + the boy of your dreams? Holiday. DRAMA.

Heather can't stop crushing on off-limits Nicolas "Wow" Costello, especially after he unleashes a surprising (and ridiculously hot) talent during the show's auditions. Inspired by him and his courage, she decides to audition and share her secret talent, which lea

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sealed With a Swoon Books, LLC
• Release date: Dec 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781962092166

Christine Miles

Christine Miles is a full-time writer living in Albuquerque, New Mexico.An avid reader and writer since elementary school, her passion for literature inspired her to pursue a BA in English and an MA in Creative Writing. She writes YA and Adult Contemporary Romances with sassy, independent heroines and swoony heroes who love them for their strength.When not writing romances, she loves traveling, binge-watching shows on streaming apps, reading mysteries and thrillers, listening to music, and spending quality time with her family, friends, and dog.

Book preview

Chapter One

Idarted around the corner and halted. To stop myself from plowing into a boy and girl with their fingers linked as they chatted and meandered down the noisy, busy hallway.

Lovely. Yet another blissfully happy Pacifica Academy couple.

I shook my head while fighting the urge to stick my tongue out at the lovebirds, then sprinted through an opening between the girl and kids at their lockers. Everyone loading their backpacks with what they’d need for homework.

Bursts of laughter, loud conversations, and metal doors being opened and slammed shut surrounded me as I wove my way between kids. All I wanted was to get out of this building I’d spent way too much flippin’ time in the last two months, but I had to be in the auditorium by 3:15 for another Theater Department commitment. Because being oh-so reliable Heather Mayfield had put me on the receiving end of a torturous finish to my Monday.

When I spotted my best friend and her boyfriend laughing together while they waited for me at my locker, I slowed to a stroll.

Maddie and Liam. The newest addition to this school’s deliriously happy couple list.

Guilt pressed my shoulders down, since they didn’t deserve my bitchy thoughts. Namely Maddie, who’d been through so much, especially since she and Liam had become a couple over a month ago. But watching them, standing maybe an inch apart as they chatted, tugged my heart and soul. And another emotion I was really starting to despise.

I kept a sigh in check, lifted my chin and put on my brightest smile.

Maddie tore her big brown eyes away from Liam and waved as I closed the distance between us, which forced him to look my way. He flashed his contagious, dimpled smile.

"Mr. Langley, I said, mimicking our assistant principal’s haughty tone, you’re clearly in Miss Harrington’s personal space." I pointed at the tiny gap between them.

Liam laughed while taking a small step backward. "Sorry, Mrs. Jackson. He cleared his throat. But Miss Harrington’s positively brilliant," he said in a British accent, and giggles rippled out of Maddie.

If I didn’t adore them as friends and a couple, I’d positively hate them.

Maddie straightened. I need to talk to Heather before she has to be in the auditorium.

Her serious tone caused me to pause, and I glanced at Liam.

He nodded. Yeah. Got it. He clasped Maddie’s left hand and squeezed. I’ll call you later. He shot me a sympathetic smile. Have fun this afternoon, he mumbled before turning from us. He then merged with P.A. students and blended into the flocks of navy-blue cardigans, and khaki pants and skorts.

"Now that Arsenic and Old Lace is over, Maddie began as I opened my locker, we need to focus on you and Snowflake Formal. Which I can’t believe is in a month."

A heavy sigh escaped my lungs before I could stop it, and I opened my backpack.

Heather, you know you need and want this, and we’re going to make it happen. She held out a piece of notebook paper folded in half. I worked on this list during my study hall period. She smiled. I really think you’ll like who I came up with, so take a look.

I shoved my insanely heavy world history book into my backpack, followed by my math book, followed by a couple of notebooks and folders.

Pretty please? she added.

I closed the door and faced her. Maddie, I love you to pieces, but I don’t have time for this. And not all of us were meant to be lucky in love. Like you and Liam. And Kassidy and J.R. And Natalie and Shane. And—I squared my shoulders. You know Mrs. Chaplin will rip me a new one if I’m even a minute late.

Then I’ll walk with you, she persisted. But will you at least look at my list?

I hesitated, then grasped the note.

We walked in unison toward the stairs, and I opened the paper.

My eyes widened at her list of five boys’ names. Also known as potential Snowflake Formal dates for me. But I wasn’t interested in going to our school’s stupid, fancy, holiday dance with any of the boys she’d listed.

So, what do you think? she asked as we jogged down the stairs. They’re all pretty cute. And smart. Especially Michael. You know how funny he can be, too.

Yes. He’s definitely all of those things. We cleared the last step and veered left. But I’m almost positive he and Taryn are totally into each other.

Maddie whipped her head in my direction, which caused her light-brown hair to slap her chin. I haven’t noticed that. And they haven’t been hanging out before or after show choir.

Michael and Taryn had also been in Arsenic and Old Lace. I’d seen them, numerous times those last crazy weeks of rehearsal, talking and laughing together when they thought no one was watching them. Of course Maddie, being so caught up in the play and Liam, wouldn’t have noticed those two. And I cringed at the second bitchy thought directed at my best friend, who was so incredible and wanted me to be ecstatically happy. Just like her.

Michael’s taken, I said, giving her a warm smile. Trust me. Unless he’s completely clueless, he’ll be going to that dance with Taryn. But he was a good choice. Really.

She nodded and shrugged. "Okay. I’m going to pay more attention to them in show choir, though. And there are four other names on that list."

But not his name. Which Maddie wouldn’t have listed, for so many reasons.

There has to be at least one boy on the list you can picture yourself with at Snowflake Formal. She stopped us at the entrance to the auditorium’s lobby. "Heather, you haven’t been yourself since the fall dance. And I know why, but I miss you."

I looked at the floor as guilt gripped my conscience.

You’re beautiful. And the most amazing friend I’ve ever had. Besides Noah, she added, referring to our other close friend. You’re also the best stage manager. Ever.

I cracked a smile, but Maddie saying that was the number one reason I stood steps from the auditorium right now. Minutes away from losing two hours of my life I’d never get back.

"You know who doesn’t deserve you, she practically snarled. He also isn’t worth it."

Maybe she was right. I still couldn’t help what I felt.

I took a quick breath, lifted my head, and smiled. I love you for doing this. I held up the list. I’ll take a closer look tonight and give you a name tomorrow.

She wrapped her arms around me, and we shared a tight hug.

And we’ll start our plan of attack at lunch. She withdrew. "Just the two of us, so we can launch Project Snowflake Formal. We can talk about what you should wear, too. She grinned. I’m thinking a shimmery green dress that matches the color of your eyes."

I laughed, then teased, You’re going to pry yourself away from Liam? For me?

She wrinkled her nose. We can live without one another. She paused, then added, For one lunch.

I placed my right hand on my chest. I can’t tell you how flattered I am you’re willing to give up one whole lunch with your adorable boyfriend—

I’ll text you tonight, she declared, taking a step backward. And just remember to take deep, meditative breaths during the truly awful auditions.

My smile slipped as I nodded at her advice.

Mrs. Chaplin, the choir teacher and musical director, had asked me to sit in on P.A.’s first Christmas Talent Show auditions as a reliable, student representative for the Theater Department. She also wanted me to stage manage the train wreck—show. It’s not like I could have said no, either. But the thought of what lied ahead of me in the auditorium made me wish I had the power to become how I always felt when I was around him. Invisible.

After eighteen performances of the twelve days of white Christmases with sleighs dashing through roasting chestnuts, I released a sigh of relief, then rolled my head left.

Tyler Bennett pushed his glasses up his nose.

The Christmas Talent Show was also being sponsored by student council. Tyler, being our president, had been chosen as the other reliable, student representative. We sat in the house’s center section with Mrs. Chaplin and Mr. Yates, the student council advisor, in front of us.

As those two quietly talked, Tyler said, That last girl wasn’t bad. I never knew there was a ‘Twelve Days After Christmas’ song.

Tyler had been a total ass to Maddie during their date weeks ago when she’d gone through her Project Dating Spree phase. But I had to agree with him. The tiny freshman’s sassy delivery of the funny song would definitely be chosen for the talent show. She’d probably end up in show choir after this semester and in the spring musical.

Per Mrs. Chaplin and Mr. Yates, we were choosing the top ten performances of this long afternoon that had included some off-key singing, a wannabe stand-up comedian who’d told terrible Christmas jokes, and three girls singing Santa Baby to a cardboard Santa Claus that kept falling down. And thank God we only had one audition left.

Mrs. Chaplin turned and gave us her barely-there smile. Our last audition is a Mick or Nick C. Her nose turned upward. The handwriting is difficult to read.

Nick C.? Tyler laughed. Does that mean Santa’s in the building?

I stared at him as he continued laughing at his dumb joke.

Would this painful afternoon ever be over?

My eyes widened as a tall, athletic boy with perfect olive skin ambled onto the stage while carrying his phone and a bluetooth speaker. He also had thick, wavy, dark hair. It had to be soft. The kind of hair a girl itched to run her fingers through, over and over.

That’s Nicolas Costello, Tyler stated.

Yes. Also known as the most beautiful boy ever to walk the halls of Pacifica Academy.

My mouth inched open as Nicolas Wow Costello set his speaker close to stage right. He headed for