Directions: Apply to your own face. Ho! Ho! Ho!
“Ouch,” I say to myself, and although it stings, hurts like hell, actually, I still smile. I decide right there that I can’t give her the stupid gift I had already bought. It was a custom printed throw blanket with spiders all over it. They looked ridiculously realistic. Truth is I wasn’t even sure Felicity hated spiders, I was just guessing. And now, even though her gift to me was a solid punch to my ego, I didn’t want to swing back.
I had to do something else. Something that would really throw her off-balance. I had to play nice. I am staring off into space, trying to figure out how to do that, when Martine walks into the locker room. She sees me and stops dead. “Sorry. I thought all you guys went home. I wanted to get some footage of the room with the tree lit up for the ‘gram.”
I nod and stand up, grabbing my jacket and my stupid gift. I’m almost out the door when I stop. “Hey Martine? I need a favor.”
She looks over at me and doesn’t try to hide her shock. “Okay…”
I clear my throat. This is harder than I thought. “I’m Felicity’s Secret Santa, and I’ve run out of gift ideas. Can you help?”
“You want me to tell you more about what she hates so you can torture her further?” Martine raises a dark eyebrow. “Not gonna do it.”
“No. I want to know what she likes. So I can do something nice for once.”
Martine raises the other eyebrow too now.
“I swear. Honestly.”
She hesitates. I guess I must start to look as desperate as I feel, because after a minute, her face softens and she relents but not before threatening me. She points a finger in my direction. “Look, Nolan, if this bites me in the ass somehow, I will make your life hell. I have the power to make you look like an idiot with a tweet or an Instagram story. Remember that.”
“Yeah. Yeah. If I’m lying, do your worst.”
She inhales and then exhales slowly. “She has always wanted to go see the Aquarium Lights.”
“What?”
“The Christmas lights display they do at the Aquarium,” Martine explains. “It’s amazing and a huge deal, but last year they were sold out every time she tried to reserve tickets. And this year, same issue. Oh and bonus points if it’s this Friday because it’s a Michael Bublé lights show, and all the lights are synchronized to his Christmas songs. He’s her favorite.”
“Oh.” Of course little Miss Christmas wants to see Christmas lights and loves Michael Bublé.
“You know as well as I do that the hockey players in this town are local celebrities, and celebrities can get tickets to anything,” Martine says.
I hate being that guy who uses my job as a way to get shit. I’ve refused free meals at multiple restaurants in this town. I don’t take clothing or watches or anything unless they’re a sponsor. I appreciate the gestures, but I already have so much, it seems greedy to take freebies. I rub my face as I ponder this. Martine is watching me with curious eyes. “Why the change of heart?”
I smile. “Because I realize I’ve been a little…harsh.”
“Oh okay.” I’m one foot into the hall when Martine stops me with her words. “Felicity is more than just not horrible. She’s amazing at her job, and her positive attitude and ability to see the bright side has really improved the morale in corporate. She’s the icing, makes everything sweeter.”
I nod and am about to tell her that’s a weird analogy when she grins. “And FYI, everyone knows you could use a little sugar to calm that vinegar side.”
I roll my eyes, but as I pull out my phone to start pulling strings to get Felicity these tickets, I can’t help but think Martine is right. I’ve tasted that sugar, and now I’m addicted.
Chapter 12
Felicity
It’s five minutes past five. I’m slowly putting on my coat in total disbelief. My eyes glued to the discarded wrapping paper in the trash can beside Martine’s desk. Her Secret Santa got her the cutest set of Russian dolls. Every one was hand-painted to be a different Schitt’s Creek character. A perfectly painted Johnny opened to reveal a perfectly painted Alexis which came apart to reveal an adorable Patrick, then David, then Stevie and finally the littlest one was Moira. Martine was obsessed with the show and squealed in excitement at the thoughtful gift.
I had gotten nothing today. Not a single stupid annoying thing. This was our last day in the office, except for the party tomorrow afternoon. So Nolan either forgot or wasn’t playing anymore. And it fucking hurt. I was way more emotional than I should be about this but…I relied on these gifts to keep me perky. I didn’t have anything else at Christmas. And even though this year Nolan decided to try and ruin it, I found myself looking forward to his horrible gifts too. Our fight was… fun. And that kiss… that was more than fun.
I take a deep breath as I head out for the night. It’s shaky. I know I’m going to head straight home and have a big old pity party. There will be tears, and I’m not even sorry about it.
I don’t know what I expected after that kiss but it wasn’t this. Even after the blow-up this morning, I didn’t think he would ghost me. I’m definitely happy I went through with giving him another mean gift. He deserves it. He’s a Grinch inside and out, and I am better off without him.
I keep repeating that to myself, hoping my heart starts to listen so that maybe that dull ache in the center of it doesn’t get any bigger, but then I step out into the staff parking lot. Nolan Duggan is leaning against the back bumper of my Kia Soul.
He’s wearing an off-white cable knit sweater, his thick dark hair brushed back with a perfect little wave. His hands are stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, and his feet, crossed at the ankle, are covered in brown leather boots. He looks like heaven.
