Hanna opened her mouth, wanting to boast about some over-the-top volunteer work she’d done too, but she couldn’t think of a single thing. She glanced at Vince, who was beaming at Dinah like she’d just invented penicillin.
Hanna turned to her gift, a large Lego space set, and taped wrapping paper around the sides, vowing to be the best gift-wrapper ever. The other volunteers stopped by every so often to grab tape or drop off a roll of colored ribbon, chatting briefly with Vince. Hanna recognized two girls from Body Tonic—one of them, Yolanda, was the Pilates instructor, and the other worked as a lifeguard. About a half hour later, Dinah slid off the table and excused herself to use the bathroom. This was Hanna’s chance.
“So did you have to do a zillion bench presses to work off that scoop of butter pecan the other day?” Hanna teased, sidling closer to him.
Vince looked up. “Shhhh.” He glanced covertly at the Body Tonic trainers. “If they find out I’m an ice cream junkie, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Hanna giggled. “What’s in it for me if I don’t tell?”
Vince raised an eyebrow flirtatiously. “Hmmm. Well, what would you want?”
Okay, this was more like it. Hanna cleared her throat and scootched up onto the table, her thigh pressing Vince’s waist. “Let’s get coffee sometime. Talk about . . . you know. Fitness. Pervy Santas.”
Vince laughed. “That sounds awesome.”
“Great. How about Wednesday?” Hanna asked.
The light faded from Vince’s eyes. “Uh, I can’t Wednesday,” he said, avoiding eye contact.
Before Hanna could suggest another day, Bette called for Vince to come over and help her with a heavy donation. As Vince wandered off, Hanna’s mind scrambled for answers. Had she done something wrong? Said something wrong? She heard a little snorting laugh emerge from the shadows. She whipped around, sure it had to be Dinah, but Dinah was nowhere to be seen.
“Ahem.” Hanna looked up and saw Yolanda, the Pilates instructor, gazing at her from the next table. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard you guys talking,” she said in a low voice. “Don’t take it personally. Vince is always busy on Wednesday nights.”
Hanna blinked at her. “Where does he go?” Unsavory options came to mind. A Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting. Getting together with a bunch of guys to play EverQuest. On a date with his mail-order girlfriend, a fifty-year-old cougar with silicone boobs.
Yolanda set down the present she was wrapping and walked closer. “He carols with his church every Wednesday evening. They go door-to-door in Hollis, singing religious songs and, like, being biblical and whatever. It’s not really the kind of thing he likes talking about to girls.”
“Oh,” Hanna said quietly. Caroling with his church didn’t sound that bad.
“He’s just looking for a good Catholic girl to settle down with.” Yolanda cast a motherly glance in Vince’s direction. He was chatting with Bette and pointing to his bottle of AminoSpa.
Hanna nodded, her spirits lifting. She could be the good Catholic girl Vince was looking for—well, the good Jewish girl, but what was the difference? It was time to warm up her voice: On Wednesday, she was going caroling. And for once, Dinah wouldn’t be there to ruin the mood.
Chapter 11
I Saw Someone Kissing Santa Claus
On Wednesday afternoon after school, Hanna strutted through Devon Crest’s double doors, walked right past Otter and the evil Lauren, and marched into the upper level of Saks. If caroling tonight was her one chance to make it or break it with Vince, she needed to find the perfect outfit to win him over. Something wholesome but pretty, like a nipped-at-the-waist Diane von Furstenberg wool coat. Or maybe one of those jackets with fur on the hood and at the cuffs. Something that said holy, not slutty.