Page 7 of Mistletoe Hearts
I stared down at the elf outfit. "I have no idea. Sometimes, that's just Jensen. I don't know what to do with him."
"He didn't tell you anything?"
"No, nothing at all. I'm a little scared actually.”
“He's not paying you?" Santa asked.
"He got me breakfast. I ate it in the car."
"Ah, you're a cheap date."
"This is not a date."
"Are you sure? He's very specific about you."
"No. I'm sure."
Despite what my mouth said, despite what my brain knew better than to buy into, I was excited. I was hopeful. Jensen had gone to all this trouble. The little niggling voice of doubt tried to warn me.He already told you.
Yeah, yeah, he had. But why go through all of this if this wasn't something for me?
Santa and I headed up to the rink, which was empty of skaters. It wasn't supposed to open until 2:00 p.m., but there were a few people milling about, the workers and the Zamboni driver, who had already done his thing. Then I saw Jensen skate out into the center, and he waved us forward.
I laughed when I saw him. He was dressed up. Nice slacks, heavy sweater. "What are you doing, Jensen?"
I had to be careful because I was in regular shoes. Well, elf shoes actually, but whatever. He gave me a tight squeeze. "You ate something?"
"Yes, I did. What are we doing, Jensen?"
"Well, I need you and Santa here for something very important."
Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone enter the skating rink. My stomach immediately twisted and knotted. When I turned properly, I saw it was Macy. Then suddenly, it all came together. This pomp and circumstance was not for me. It was for her. She was not dressed up like an elf. She looked beautiful in a sweater with a scarf around her neck. Her blond-highlighted hair was piled high on top of her head, and she had earmuffs on. I looked dumpy and ridiculous in my elf costume, standing there next to Santa Claus, looking at the boy that I couldn't help but love as he looked at her like she was important to him. Macy squealed when she saw him. "What is this?" Then she tossed me a knowing smile. "What's up, Alex?"
I gave her a nod. Macy and I had a cordial relationship. She genuinely seemed to like him, so I had no real issues with her. And I kept my jealousy shoved down, hidden in a box, guarded by a dragon like it should be. He was not mine. She didn’t love that we lived together, but when she saw me out on a date one night, she relaxed a little bit. Jensen gave her a tight squeeze, and then Santa handed over a box to her.
She sucked in a short breath. "Oh my God, what is this?"
"Just open it,” Jensen said.
She tore the wrapping off, not giving a shit where the paper landed.Litterbug.
It was a dazzling pair of earrings, slim little flutters with diamonds on the end. The bottom fell out of my stomach. I had helped Jensen pick those out.
"I’ve requested to have this skating rink to ourselves for now. And I know you wanted to take me home with you for the holidays, but I've got to go home to my grandmother. I know you are disappointed, and I wanted to make it up to you. I just want to make our time together special."
Suddenly, Macy was squealing and wrapping herself around him, forgetting all about the fact that she wanted him home with her for Christmas. Unsure what to do, I cocked my head. "What are we supposed to do?"
"Well, if you wouldn't mind being our photographer, I know this is going to be a lot of content for Macy’s social media."
And that's when it hit me. I was there to be the photographer. "For fuck's sake, Jensen." In that moment, my feelings for him shriveled up into a little lump of coal. I knew better, but God, how could he not see how my hope soared? How could he not see that I was standing right in front of him? I didn't want to be there anymore, and I realized that maybe it was best if I spent a lot less time with Jensen Morrison.
Chapter4
JENSEN
Four yearslater
Please, let her be okay. Please, God.
