The Plight Before Christmas (Holiday Hijinx Series #1)

by Kate Stewart

And Triple Falls is small town in every sense. It seems very few secrets are kept here.

“If anyone has authority to give instructions on that special job…” He wets his lower lip, drawing my eyes to it. “It’s you.”

“You can pretend all you want that I haven’t been inside you, but I refuse to.” She gapes at me, her eyes widening. “You did not just say that.” “I did. Don’t you think we’re a bit old for games?” “I’m not playing games, you ass. I just don’t see the point in talking about it. It’s a little late, Eli, don’t you think?” “We’re still breathing, and our hearts are still beating. So, no, I don’t think it’s too late.”

“I didn’t come here with a single expectation, and that’s the honest truth. Maybe I don’t know who you are now,” I swallow and lean in, speaking from a place I fought hard to come to terms with, “but right now, I’m talking to the girl who loved me and left me for good reason. I would love the chance to talk to her, to explain myself to her. But mostly, I just want to tell her that I’m sorry.”

And fuck the girl inside of me that’s ready to lift her shirt, titties blazing at the first sign of plastic beaded promises.

“How was my form?” “Terrible.” “And my landing?” “You looked like a penguin sliding backward after you lost the pan, but that baby save was fucking epic.”

Wretched Gretchen is the very definition of the hairy-mole-infused aunt that makes you want to Austin Powers her by screaming “mo-lie, mo-lie, mo-lie” as she comes toward you for unwanted affection. She’s every bit fitting of the villain relative included in every holiday horror story. The terrifying aunt that brings over the mortifying bunny suit and makes you try it on, reveling in your humiliation for her own amusement.

“I know you love me, but Serena, Thatch is first, as he should be, and I’m okay with that. He deserves to be first. Hold onto him and hold on tight because he’s your sentence finisher. He’d not only bury the body for you, but he would make sure he took the fall. Thatch is that guy for you. Right now, it may be predictable, even a little boring, but you have the whole of the second half of your life to live. Can you even imagine trying to do it without him? Imagine waking up tomorrow, and his pillow is empty.”

She’s mine. She has to be because my heart is hers and always has been. It’s never been so clear. I loved her then, soul-deep. I love her now, perpetually.