Sun-Kissed Christmas (Summer) by Katherine Applegate Page A

and brushed off her grass-stained knees.
    “Get off my lawn, you animals!” the broom woman screeched.
    Austin grabbed Summer’s hand, and they hightailed it to the safety of the sidewalk. “I’m really sorry,” he said, avoiding Summer’s gaze. “That was stupid. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
    Summer was breathless, dizzy. “No, it’s all right, really—”
    “It isn’t all right,” Austin said with sudden force. “Forget it happened. It was just a kiss.”
    Down the block, Esme appeared on Austin’s front porch. “Aus?” she called. “Everything okay?”
    Austin forced himself to look at Summer. “Forget it. I already have.”
    She watched him run back to the house. Her lips were still wet, still buzzing, as if Austin had never left.
    All in all, it was going to be a very tough kiss to forget.

11
    Jingle Bells, Santa Smells …
    “You guys get in line for Santa,” Summer said that afternoon at the mini-mall. “I’m going to the mailing center to send this package to Adam.”
    “Want some company?” Seth asked.
    Summer looked up at him in surprise. So did Marquez and Diana. “Um, sure,” Summer said. “It should take only a minute.”
    Seth fell into step beside her. The little shopping center was filled with holiday gift buyers. “Not exactly the Mall of America, huh?” Summer said.
    Seth glanced over his shoulder at Diana. “Hmm? Oh, no. Not quite.”
    “Why do I feel like Diana’s sending laser-guided hate looks into my back?” Summer asked.
    Seth laughed. “Because she is. But don’t worry. She’s reserving most of them for me.”
    A long line snaked out of the mailing center. Summer grabbed a mailing label, and they took their places at the end of the line.
    “I just wanted to be alone with you for a second,” Seth said while Summer filled out the label. “To tell you … I’m not sure, exactly. I guess to tell you that I’ve missed you. But I’m okay now. About us, I mean.”
    Summer looked up. “I’m glad, Seth. I’ve missed you too.”
    “I was thinking … well, it’d be nice if we could still talk from time to time.” He gave a self-deprecating smile. “You know, as soon as Diana relaxes a little.”
    “So I’m thinking that would be maybe another decade or so?” Summer joked.
    “She’ll get used to everything. I hope. Let’s face it, this is all pretty strange. You and me and her … and Austin.”
    He added the last name as a question. Flashing back on her strange visit to Austin’s earlier that day, Summer realized she didn’t really have an answer.
    “Austin and I aren’t … you know.” She shrugged. “To tell you the truth, all I’ve had time for this semester is school. It’s been great, though. Incredibly hard,but I’ve loved every minute of it. How about you?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t think I’m taking to it as well as you are. Wisconsin’s a big pond, and I feel like an awfully small fish, especially after high school.”
    “A lot of people feel that way their first year. I think it was easier for me because I was so totally afraid about going to Carlson.” She laughed. “Every hour I survived was sort of a triumph. Now I really like being on my own. It’s scary, but it’s wonderful at the same time.”
    Seth smiled, that sweet smile she’d loved for so long. How strange it was that she could be here with him, talking naturally, after all that had happened between them. When they’d broken up at the end of the summer, Summer had never imagined they might actually be friends again.
    “So I guess there’s no room for the male species in your busy academic life?” Seth teased.
    “Oh, I’m keeping an open mind,” Summer said. “But I want to keep my eye on the ball too—being independent, getting my degree.”
    “That doesn’t mean you have to join a nunnery and swear off guys.”
    “And how about you?”
    “I don’t think a nunnery would take me.”
    “You know what I mean,” Summer said as the line