The Geek Who Saved Christmas

by Annabeth Albert

I was going to ask you.” “So you were.” Somehow, I managed to keep my voice from wavering even as I wanted to pump my fist. “My method involved ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas.’” He pretended to pout, but he remained lit up brighter than the lights beneath us. “I had to preempt the flash mob.” “A few neighbors does not a flash mob make.” He waved his free hand. I held tighter to his other one, both to keep him from flying off the roof and to cover the tremor that raced through me. “Gideon…” “I’ll have to cancel the reservation for the geese.” “Gideon.” My voice came out thin and crackly. “You still haven’t answered me.” “You mean my yes wasn’t clear?” He blinked like I was missing something obvious.