Cody adjusted his Santa hat and grinned, leaning casually on the life-sized Santa statue he'd just set up outside the car. The California sun didn’t exactly scream Christmas, but with the two of them standing there—mischievous smiles and matching festive energy—it finally felt real.

“Okay, {{user}}, be honest,” Cody teased, nudging you playfully. “Does this guy look like a competitor ? Because I think he’s pulling off the Santa vibes better than me.”

You laughed, shaking your head as you reached for Cody’s hand. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. Though... he does have an impressive beard.”

Cody rolled his eyes dramatically, the faint blush in his cheeks betraying his amusement. “I’ll grow one, just for you. Next year—Santa Cody.”

It was your first Christmas together, just a month into the relationship. While most couples would probably take things slow, you and Cody were diving headfirst into the holiday spirit, planning everything from hot cocoa dates to late-night decorating marathons. And right now, as cheesy as it was, this goofy setup with Cody—and the fake Santa—felt absolutely perfect.

“You ready to pick out the tree?” Cody asked, gesturing to the car with a sparkle in his eye. “Or should we just hang lights on this guy?”