I still can’t believe such a perfect man even exists, let alone wants to be with me. It’s as if he were made for me in a lab. “Of course I do,” I say excitedly. “That’s my favorite thing to do around Christmas.”
We climb out of bed, and he tosses me one of his larger T-shirts that has the name of his favorite football team written across the front, and it’s a dress on me, but it smells like him, and I want to wear it forever.
He steps into a pair of gray sweatpants and escorts me into the living room. As I sit on his black leather couch, he fetches the container of cookies from the kitchen and sits next to me, turning on the television that hangs on the wall above his faux fireplace.
As much as I joke about how it should be a real fireplace, it’s adding the perfect aesthetic to the mood. “Frosty or Rudolph?” he asks, leaning back into the couch.
“Surprise me.” Taking off the lid of the container, I grab us each a cookie and lay my head across his lap. His hand instinctively runs through my hair, and I could fall asleep with how relaxed I feel.
As the movie starts, the snowfall outside thickens, blanketing the entire city with white fluff.
“So, I hate to bring it up again, but you seem a little less stressed since the Sherry situation. Everything okay with that?” Jon treads lightly, and I understand he doesn’t want to ruin the mood.
Since I made the deal with Sherry, I have no plans on telling him anything, except what he needs to know. “Oh, yeah. I’m not stressing over that anymore. I realized that she can only get to me if I let her.”
“That’s good. I’m proud of you.”
I’ve been hearing that a lot lately, but it’ll never get old.
Nestling back in, he continues to run his fingers through my disheveled hair, and everything is perfect. But it doesn’t take long for my brain to sneak up and try to ruin a good thing.
Things are perfect at the moment, but will things last?
Once the holidays are finished, and Jon meets his deadline at work, will he still want me around, or is this just a short fling before he throws me away?
“You okay?” he asks as if he feels the shift within me.
“Me?” I question. “Yeah … I’m perfect.”
22
JONATHAN
It’s Christmas night, yet ever since my father passed away, it hasn’t felt the same. What was once my favorite holiday, filled with warmth and great food with family, has quickly turned cold and lonely.
With Lizzy and Chase in my life, it wasn’t too terrible this year, but it will never be the same. I turn the shower off and step out, wrapping a black towel around my waist and clearing a spot on the mirror so I can comb my hair back.
By now, Lizzy should be at her parents’ house having dinner, and in an hour, I’ll be sitting with Chase at Murphy’s, grabbing a few drinks before coming back home to an empty penthouse.
It doesn’t sound ideal, but I’ve been doing it for the last few years, so I might as well make it my tradition.
Though turning down Lizzy’s offer to meet her family and have a warm meal seems crazy now. Why didn’t I just accept the offer? It was a little soon to meet her parents, but with Lizzy, it feels like I’ve known her forever. Our relationship just works.
I’m regretting it now that I throw on my father’s old sweater and a scarf to keep myself warm against the snow that falls over the city. I could be toasty and warm with a full belly right about now. Not to mention, I could be with Lizzy.
But Chase has been the one I could count on for a long time now, and he never lets me be alone during the holidays, so I feel as if I owe him for that. My phone dings, and it’s my driver, announcing his arrival out by the curb. I grab my last-second items before locking up and heading his way.
With my keys, phone, wallet, and a little gift for Chase, I’m ready. Normally, we don’t do gifts, but this year, I was feeling extra festive. And seeing how well Lizzy’s gift went over, I couldn’t help myself.
“Good evening, sir. And Merry Christmas. Murphy’s tonight?” the driver asks as he opens my door.
“Merry Christmas, Lee,” I greet back. “Yes, please.” Sliding inside and shutting the door, we pull into the empty streets of New York. It’s one of the only nights of the year that barely anyone is out driving.
It only takes five minutes to pull up in front of Murphy’s, and once I rush inside to get out of the cold and hang up my coat and scarf, I spot Chase sitting at a tall table.
As I walk closer, I’m a bit surprised to find that Dani, Lizzy’s roommate, is sitting directly across from him, laughing as she twirls her whiskey glass in her one hand, while the other holds his hand on the table.
Lizzy mentioned that Dani goes out on Christmas, but I never expected to see her flirting with Chase. “Well,” I begin as I reach the table. “You two seem to be hitting it off. Hello again, Dani.”
