Page 44 of The Christmas Mistake

And that’s when the man approaches me.

“You just gonna watch?” he asks me. He’s sidled up to me with a smoothness I gotta admire him for.

“I prefer not to embarrass myself,” I reply to the man, nodding towards the drunken antics taking place in the middle of the office.

“Oh Missus Serious,” the man says, elbowing me gently in the ribs. “It’s all a bit of fun. Get involved, I’m sure you know the words.”

And then he starts singing. Loudly.

“You in that dress, my thoughts I confess, verge on dirty, come on Eileen.”

I roll my eyes.

“Stop singing.”

“Come on, Chastity, I know you’ve wanted to hear me sing for years.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, I kinda have, Nicholas.”

My man reaches over and takes my punch from me, daring to have a drink of it.

He grimaces.

“How can this punch be so bad years in a row?” he asks me, putting the cup down like its poison.

I shrug. “Sharon loves her secret recipe, I guess.”

It’s been a whole year since Nicholas and I were forced into that shopping mall job. A year of us being officially together. The cute new couple at the office. Sure, there were a lot of people at work, Evie and Aidan included, who were shocked that the two people who seemed to hate each other the most actually got together, but there is a kind of inevitability about it. It was like we were always meant to end up together.

And, due to the great job we did as Santa and his elf, we were promoted by Mark. I’m sure James’ parents put in a good word as well. Both of us have moved up the ladder to better-paid jobs.

The last year has been perfect with Nicholas in my life. He was true to his word and helped James learn to skateboard. Watching my man spend hours teaching the little boy at the park was definitely a highlight of the year for me.

“Are you gonna sing with me, or are you set on being a Grinch and standing here all on your own?” Nicholas asks me, extending a hand towards me as Come On Eileen continues to blare out of the speakers around us.

“Wait, you’re actually keen to party?”

“Hell yes,” he says with a grin. “But first, I want you to follow me.”

“Follow you where?”

But Nicholas just laughs and pulls me with him across the room. We dodge drunk co-workers as he leads me to stand under the mistletoe that someone had hung up earlier.

“You’re going to kiss me now?” I ask him, nodding up at the hanging invite.

“Sure am.”

And he does. I love it. He’s so hot and sweaty from dancing, and maybe a tiny bit tipsy on Sharon’s evil juice. He’s in such a good mood that it’s infectious. I giggle and wrap my arms around him.

“I want to tell you something,” he whispers into my ear.

“What?”

“Two years ago, I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life when, actually, I had made the biggest win of my life. That was taking you home. In fact, I had actually made the biggest mistake of my life the next morning when I walked out your door.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” I tell him. “I understand.”

Nicholas just smiles and leans in even closer. “I’ve got a present for you.”