I drop my bag on the fold-up bed-couch situation, then catch a glimpse of myself in the huge mirror stuck to the wall.
What fun.I’ll be able to see my misery in three-dimensional vividness.But the light, which flickers, catches on the ring on my finger, so now I have astounding shame to go with my misery.
Before I start getting self-righteous about how I could lie so badly, I take a shower and tell myself repeatedly that I did it in the act of self-preservation, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Trying to get to sleep is something else, though.The bed is lumpy, I hate being here, and I’m hungry.Eventually, I do fall asleep and wake up with a crick in my neck.
I’m barely out of the shower and fully dressed when I hear my delightful cousin’s voice.
“Oh, Adalynn, are you in there?Stop hiding like a mouse and come out, or you’ll miss all the fun I planned for today.”
First, Ines, I just got here like five minutes ago—okay, last night, but still.I didn’t have the time to hide.I haven’t even unpacked yet.
“Ha, there you are,” she says, clicking her fingers when I open the door.“Come on.I have a surprise for us.Quick, quick.”Ines looks like a damn winter princess in her white wool dress, white boots, and perfectly applied makeup.She dazzles so much my eyes hurt.
I had to plans to finish reading my romance novel in front the fire in the main living room.I tried to read on the way here, but I was way too anxious to concentrate on anything.Well, I better go and do what Ines wants me to do.
I make a move out of the room, but she stops me.
“Seriously, you’re going out in your pajamas?”
I look down at my brown slacks and lift the hem of my brown sweater.
“I’m not wearing pajamas.”Although...I can see what she means.
“I swear I will never understand how you managed to get three billionaires to propose to you,” Ines says, shaking her head before she comes to stand directly in front of me.The already tiny room feels crowded.Her sharp eyes cut through me.“Or did they?”
“I don’t know what you mean...”
Wait, is that the crap the fully unprepared fan has been anticipating?So soon already?
“Oh, I’m kidding.Or am I?”
I feel sick.No, just be calm.She knows nothing.Still, I would have had a better chance of pulling off lying about being engaged to my seventy-seven-year-old neighbor than I would to three billionaires.
I just need to play it cool.She’s messing with me.How would she even find out?
The surprise Ines has prepared is a breakfast tea, except it’s not a normal breakfast tea.My gaze makes a beeline for the buffet table though filled with sweet treats that makes my stress eating water for a taste.
“Okay, lovely people, everyone take a seat.I’m so excited to get started,” Ines says, taking command of the room.
Everyone is dressed in their prettiest clothes, and I’m the drab one out.Maybe if Ines had told me beforehand to pack an extra nice outfit besides Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas lunch, I would have...probably swapped my slacks for my brown skirt.Yeah, there might not be any hope for me.
While I was hiding in my closet masquerading as a bedroom, Ines had transformed one of the reception areas—the pink lounge—into a...wait, what is this?Why is the theme all hearts and flowers?
There’s a banner hanging above the fireplace that reads, “Love is the season to be jolly.”There are balloons everywhere and heart-shaped confetti.Lots of pictures of all the couples are pasted onto a board and hung against a wall.I shudder at the sight of my own picture.That’s just Ines level mean.
But it’s Christmas, not Valentine’s Day.Did she get confused or something?
Whatever.Who am I to complain when there are actual macarons to consume and oh, little donuts...okay, they’re heart-shaped donuts, but I’m still going to eat them.
“Okay, so I thought I would start a new tradition for us all.As you can see, I call it ‘Love is the season to be jolly.’I thought that since I’m so happily married and so madly in love with my brand-new husband, we should also make the holiday a little more romantic.We can never have enough romance, right?Also in a bit, our true loves will join us and we’ll each get a chance to kiss under the mistletoe.
Am I going to kiss hot air?
Oh no, I already hate where this is going.
