Page 39 of The Christmas Mistake

“You better not.”

She giggles. “No way. Trust me.”

I groan trepidatiously. Chastity forces me to take a step. Then another step. I’m uneasy on my feet. I don’t like this at all.

“Don’t be so cautious,” Chastity says.

“Of course I’m being cautious.”

“You don’t trust me?” she asks me.

“I trust you. It’s just that this is super strange.”

“Okay, fine then. But just trust me.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Stop fighting me and let me lead you, Nicholas.”

I nod, letting her take full control over where I’m going. It’s terrifying but also exhilarating.

After a few moments of total panic, I feel like we’ve stepped into her house. I hear her unlocking the door and the heat blasting me in welcome relief.

“Can you remove your hands from my eyes now, please?” I ask her.

“I can now.”

She does. And the sight that greets me inside her house makes me gasp.

Her living room is set up for some kind of a Christmas party. Streamers and tinsel hang everywhere, decorating the place. An immaculately decorated Christmas tree stands proudly in the corner. There’s a table set up for dinner in the middle of the room. Expensive-looking plates and cutlery for two are laid out impeccably. Fairy lights twinkle, fitted onto the walls.

It’s professional in how well it’s set up.

A perfect Christmas scene.

All it needs is a roaring fireplace and it’ll be a scene meant to be on a postcard.

“Holy hell, Chastity. This looks so Christmassy. Who’s it for?”

She nudges me on the arm. “It’s for you, silly. I’ve put together a little Christmas party just for us two.”

“What?”

I can’t believe it.

“Sit down,” she says enthusiastically, pushing me gently towards the table. “Sit down, we’re going to have Christmas dinner together.”

“You did all of this for me?”

“Of course. Now, sit down.”

I follow her command and take my place at the table.

“I’ll be just a minute,” Chastity says, disappearing into the kitchen. I look around me in shock. She’s pulled no punches when it comes to this little Christmas party, that’s for sure. This is the most Christmassy I’ve felt for a long time, even after working as Santa in a freaking shopping mall.

This is how Christmas is meant to be celebrated, not all that commercial crap but with someone who means the world to you.

She returns with drinks. A glass of red wine each.