Page 45 of This Mate Thing

"You can never have too much duct tape."

He snorts, then looks at his list, meets my gaze, and gives me a nod.I grin."You're sad you didn't think of it now, aren't you?"

"There is no rule saying we can't wish for the same thing."He writes duct tape on his list, and I huff.

"That's cheating.You stole my idea."

"If Santa reads my list first, he'll thinkyoustolemyidea."

I mock gasp."Ira, you have to make sure my list is on the top.Put Simon's at the bottom."

Ira shakes his head."I think he'll have too many lists to read to be able to remember what everyone's wishing for."

"True, and it's most likely the elves who read them anyway."

Ira looks up at me, and I wince.Was I wrong to mention elves?Don't the elves read them?It's not plausible that Santa will have time to read them all.

Simon clears his throat."I'm done."He holds his list out to Ira, who puts it underneath mine, the little shit.It was what I said I wanted, but how am I to read it now?

"Pancakes!"I bring the pancakes to the table."Do you want me to put the lists in your backpack, Ira?"

He eyes me suspiciously."Okay."

I grin at him, grab the papers, and hurry into the hallway, where I swap them around and grab my phone.I snap a photo of Simon's, change back the order, and put them in Ira's backpack.

I check the photo and read the list:

Socks

Vegetable chopper

Ninja blender

Pyrex measuring cups

Duct tape

Heated blanket

Mittens

Beanie

Scarf

Winter boots

I groan low to myself.There was nothing fun on the list, or I enjoy a good blender as much as the next guy, but they're all practical things.No slime in sight.

When I walk into the kitchen again, Ira is already chewing.Good.I place myself next to Simon and pull my plate closer."What are your plans for the day?"I look at him before reaching for the pancakes.

He shrugs but says nothing else.

* * * *

Chapter 22

Simon