Noel.
W HAT THE HELL is wrong with me?
I spent the day with a man challenging my ability to use common sense. Absolutely nothing I was doing made any sense.
Kanton kissed me, and I kissed him back. I spent the day with him holiday shopping, thoroughly enjoyed myself. I also planned on spending the evening with this man, decorating a Christmas tree, and then, hopefully, snuggling up on the sofa for the second evening to watch holiday movies.
I wanted all of this so badly— needed it. I even found myself wishing that Kanton being here wasn’t temporary. That at the end of this week, he wasn’t catching a flight out of my life to land back in his.
I was sure the guy had plenty to look forward to after this week. He would secure the deal with Brighton and then travel home to celebrate the victory while settling back into his picturesque existence in New York.
On the other hand, I had to prepare myself for the potential rejection that was coming if the Coleman Group decided that I wasn’t the best fit for their design team, and if that rejection came, what the hell was I going to do?
Sure, I had sent proposals to several other businesses, hoping they could see my vision. I prayed they took a chance on a woman who blindly allowed her impatience and ego to lead her into entrepreneurial hell simply because I believed in myself.
Evan called my dream a hobby, but I knew it could work. I believed I would win if I took a chance on myself. The inspiration, sheer will, and belief in my dream wouldn’t, however, pay the bills.
My eyes darted around my bedroom. I loved this place. I couldn’t imagine having to sell it because I couldn’t afford the mortgage any longer. My chest constricted at the thought, and as much as I loved spending the holidays with my family, I most certainly didn’t want to pack my things and go crawling back home. They would be so disappointed in me. I would be so disappointed in myself.
I’d have to get another job. One where I would be overlooked and undervalued, and my creative talents wouldn’t be respected because I would be an employee, not the boss. I honestly didn’t want to spend the next twenty years punching someone else’s clock.
I didn’t want to think about tomorrow, the next day, or the one after that because today had been wonderful. I was happy, living in the moment, and even if it would all come crashing down around me the minute this week ended, I was going to live in the moment.
I glanced at my door and then briefly at my phone, which was in my hand, before I found the nerve to make the call.
“Noel, hey. I was just about to dial you. How’s everything going?” Simone rushed out like I caught her in the middle of running a marathon.
“Good, what’s wrong? You sound out of breath.”
“I am. I was running up the stairs.”
I relaxed a bit before I huffed and rushed out, “I deserve a win, right?”
“Of course you do.”
“No matter how insignificant or temporary that win might be.”
“Noel, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
“Nothing major. I just had a really good day. The most amazing day I’ve had in a really long time.”
“Oh, thank God. I was worried that the reality of your ruined Christmas had finally gotten to you, and I needed to call Lewis to make sure you didn’t do anything crazy.”
I frowned into the phone. “Crazy like what?”
“I don’t know, like overdosing on gingerbread cookies or shorting-out-the-entrance-to-the-building-from-excessive-use-of-twinkly-lights kind of crazy. Who the hell knows?”
“That would be a lot of damn lights.”
“You own a lot of damn lights, Noel, and there was a small possibility you might have used all of them to bring Christmas to you since you couldn’t go to Christmas. I wouldn’t put it past you. You’d try.”
I smiled widely. “You’re not wrong, but I promise I have no intentions of shorting out the building’s electrical system. That’s not why I’m calling.”
“Then why are you calling?”
“Because I need you to tell me no. If you don’t, I’m possibly going to have the most amazing Christmas ever and then be ruined afterward because when it’s all said and done, the memories of that amazing Christmas will be all I have.”
“Okay, you’re scaring me again. Stop with this cryptic shit and just tell me what’s going on. How did you go from best day ever to this , whatever this is?”
“I spent the day with Kanton. We had breakfast and went shopping, and now, I’m supposed to be in there making us dinner so that we can decorate the Christmas tree he purchased for me.”
“Who the hell is Kanton?”
“Shared Space guy. Keep up, Simone.”
“Wait. So you’ve been hanging out with him?”
“Not hanging out per se. We watched movies last night and went shopping today, but only because he needed gifts to bring to the Brightons’ Christmas Eve party. It would be rude to show up empty-handed, and it might help him close the deal, which would be great. It’s the biggest deal of his career and could really—”
“Noel . . .” her voice was eerily calm.
“What?”
“Are you falling for this guy? Is that what this very dramatic call is about?”
“What? No. I’m not falling for him.”
“You are. Shit, I knew it. Am I good or what? I should start a matchmaking business. I can read people like a book, and based on your first reaction to the man, I saw this happening. You’re living one of those stupid-ass movies you love.”
“Don’t call my movies stupid. They’re feel-good holiday classics.”
“Don’t deflect.”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, the hell you are. You like this guy.”
“I do.” My shoulders slumped slightly.
“Then, hell yes, you deserve a win. Whatever you want my confirmation for, you have it. You want to jump his holly jolly boner, then do it. You want to tongue him down under the mistletoe, do that too. You want him to be your lay in a manger? My vote is yes. Yes, to all of it!”
“First of all, what in the horny holiday is all that? Your analogies are terrible, and you’re missing the point. I like him. A lot, but he’s temporary. He leaves after Christmas to return to his life, and I have no idea what that life is, but I know for certain it doesn’t include a failed businesswoman with commitment issues and an empty bank account.”
“Noel, you’re top-tier.”
“I know that. I’m not saying I’m not good enough.”
“Then what are you saying because I’m utterly confused right now?”
“I’m not good enough right now . My life is a mess; it will take a miracle to pull it all together. We live in two different cities and—”
“ And stop overthinking this. You have a lot of amazing qualities, but one of your worst flaws is the ability to get in your own way. You like him, right?”
“Yes.”
“And I assume he’s feeling you too, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”
“He kissed me, and I’m pretty sure he had a very naughty dream about me last night.” I smiled, remembering our interaction from this morning. “But to your point, I think he does.”
“Then that’s all that matters. You asked if you deserve a win, and my answer is yes. No matter what that win looks like and whether it’s nothing more than the best Christmas ever, then so be it. Do what makes you happy. Worry about the rest later. If that man is giving you the ‘cum all ye faithful’ eyes, you better jingle his bells properly.”
I burst out laughing and rolled my eyes. “You need therapy.”
“No, I need to write for Christmas After Dark.”
“You absolutely do not, and I pray that’s not a thing.”
“Oh, it’s a thing, Naughty or Nice, She’s Getting It Twice. Christmas Cums Early, Little Cummer Toy, Jingle Bell Cock . . .”
“Please stop,” I choked out through a laugh.
“I’m telling you, you’re missing out. Those are some Christmas movies worth watching. Far better than Holiday Disaster in Boring Valley Falls.”
“The disrespect.” I feigned offense.
“I’m being honest, and you know I am. My selections are way better.”
“I’ll take your word for it, and thank you.”
“You’re welcome. So does that mean after you finish hanging all your pornaments , you’ll be fucking around the Christmas tree having a happy holiday? Everyone’s screwing merrily—” she sang, and I cringed, cutting her off before the lyrics were progressively worse.
“I’m not going to answer that. I love you. Goodbye.”
“Love you too. Make me proud.”
“ Goodbye, Simone . . .” I asserted, ending the call before being gifted another naughty Christmas pun.
I was already dressed in a satin short pajama set. The shirt was long sleeved, buttoned up the front, and the shorts matched. I purchased it a size larger than I needed to offer a comfier fit, but as I raked my fingers through my coiled mane, staring at my reflection in the mirror, I almost considered selecting one of my more revealing sets. I had a few with camisoles and shorter shorts that would be a lot more enticing, but after a long pause of consideration, I released the thought.
“Am I really considering the option of seducing a man with skimpy holiday pajamas?”
Yes, you are.
Deserving of a win or not, Kanton would have to love me as I am, and right now, I am embracing all things Christmas.
Then why are you using the word “love” in reference to how he feels about you?
“Get it together, ” I threatened the image staring back at me in the full-length mirror in her winter-green satin covered in tiny white Christmas trees and matching fuzzy socks.
Inhaling slowly and releasing it in a huff, I headed to the door, pausing in the hallway, when I heard the low, raspy sound of Kanton’s voice. When I inched closer, my vantage point offered me a view of his broad shoulders and muscular back, which was covered with a navy T-shirt that made me insanely jealous of how it hugged his body. He was standing in the kitchen with his back to me, one arm folded, holding the phone to his ear and the other hanging loosely at his side.
I could easily get used to that scrumptious visual as a breakfast treat every morning.
“No, Mother, I have not changed my mind. I will not be surprising you for Christmas, and if the plan had been to surprise you, why would I tell you now instead of just showing up?”
His tone wasn’t kind. Not the same as he’d been using with me all day, but it wasn’t exactly mean either. More agitated if I had to label it.
“I know you don’t like surprises. Surprise deviates from your well laid plans, which would be disastrous, so I had no intention of surprising you. As I’ve told you multiple times, I’m working through the holiday.”
Not the warm and fuzzy feelings you would expect from mother and son during the holiday.
“You’re impossible. You hand select women to line up and interview for the position of my girlfriend—”
“I’m quite aware that I’m getting older, but I also don’t have one foot in the grave.”
“Lover, girlfriend, wife—all one and the same at the moment, considering I’m not in the market for any, so me being home for Christmas doesn’t change a thing. Cancel the brothel you set up and let them know I won’t be sitting in while they pitch their hows and whys on the ways they can be my perfect match.”
Oh my, that’s interesting.
And I shouldn’t be listening to this.
“I do love you, Mother, but loving you should not be marginalized by my willingness to be a part of your annual Christmas production or by being subjected to watching you parade women in front of me like Shetland ponies. I don’t know how many other ways to make you understand this.”
“Yes, I know, and I assure you, you’ll have grandchildren before your face wrinkles beyond your surgeons’ ability to make you look less than a glam-mom in family portraits or while you vacation with my children in the Hamptons for the summer.”
His voice lifted to the point of delivering as teasing, and I smiled, knowing that their conversation was taking a turn in a positive direction.
“Because I know that’s one of your biggest fears, being immortalized in photos with frown or laugh lines.”
“Okay, okay, I apologize, and yes, I do love you. You’ll survive a holiday without me.”
“I will. Okay, goodbye.”
The minute he ended the call, Kanton turned his head, those intense brown eyes of his boring into me. His were unreadable.
Shit.
Okay, so he’s not a fan of my eavesdropping.
“Sorry, I was about to head back to my room . . .”
“Were you?” He lifted a brow in a challenge, and his beautiful lips tilted at the corners just enough to make my heart flutter.
“I was . . .”
“But the call with my mother was far more appealing than snuggling with your favorite stuffed elf.”
“Don’t be mean.” I narrowed my eyes, marching into the kitchen. When I was within reach, he tugged the hem of my shirt before I could completely pass him.
“I might need to buy stock in whatever company makes these. Seems like a great investment considering how many you own.”
“Cute, but don’t try to dim my light because you prefer this . . .” I flicked my wrist in his direction, and damn, why the hell did I do that? It was impossible to ignore the inanely sexy body making a boring pair of sweat bottoms and pocket tee look like a cover feature for Sexiest Man of the Year.
“What’s wrong with this?” He smirked and pinched the tee shirt slightly, pulling it away from his solid chest, and I shamelessly watched that too.
“Nothing’s wrong. It’s just very . . . Scrooge-ish.”
“In comparison to your Christmas explosion?”
“For a man depending on me for his dinner, you might want to be careful with the insults.”
He chuckled, and it vibrated through me like a tempting tease. “It’s not an insult. I’ve leaned on the favorable side of you in those.” When I glanced over my shoulder from the refrigerator, I was blessed or cursed enough to catch the heated blaze of his gaze traveling down and then back up my body. His eyes slowly fastened on mine, and that arrogant smile nearly sent me over the edge. “Those pajamas are very . . . you .”
“That sounds dangerously close to an insult,” I stated into the refrigerator while removing what I needed for dinner.
“You won’t receive any insults from me unless you renege on your promise to bypass Santa porridge for dinner.”
I whipped my head over my shoulder and narrowed my eyes on Kanton, and to my dismay and pleasure, he was still watching me in a way that had me wondering if he’d rather have me for his dinner.
Noel, stop that.
“Since you’re painfully aware I overheard your conversation with your mother, can I ask a question?”
“You can ask whatever you want. The question is whether I will answer.” I heard the smugness in his tone but didn’t bother looking at him. I wasn’t sure I could handle another dose of those brown eyes on me again.
“Is she really lining up women to parade in front of you like Shetland ponies?”
That time, I did chance a look as I crossed the tiny space to grab a bell pepper from the counter beside him.
“Unfortunately, yes, or at least that’s what it feels like. Christmas is her chance to force my hand into getting married. During each scheduled event, she always invites some very single and willing women with impressive résumés, hoping I’ll be interested.”
“Why aren’t you if their résumés are so impressive?”
He smirked at my emphasis on the word résumé, and I assumed he understood what I meant because he clarified. “Most of them have been raised to be the perfect partner and wife, which means they’ve gone to the best colleges and have mile-long lists of their charity involvements and partnerships with local foundations. They spend a lot of time in yoga classes and spas to ensure their physical résumés are pleasing to the eye, but that’s not what I want.”
“Hell, sounds good to me. I might even be interested.”
He frowned and then said, “All those things are nice. They look good on paper and are great coffee table talk, but they speak more to who they’ve been groomed to be, not who they are . . .” I was near him again, reaching for an onion. Kanton placed his hand at my waist, barely there, but enough of a presence for me to feel the warmth of his fingers through my shorts. He leaned in closer when he added. “Perfection is overrated. I prefer my women to be real. You could say that I’m a man who likes to expect the unexpected.”
When he released me, I released the tension that crawled into my muscles and hurried back to my side of the kitchen.
“You’re not the type who wants a wife catering to your every whim with no ambitions, standing at the door with a bourbon and cigar for you after a long day’s work?”
He laughed, those eyes of his dancing with amusement. “I never said they don’t have a brain. Many of them have great jobs as CEOs of multimillion-dollar companies. Some are doctors and lawyers, while some own their businesses. I can’t imagine any of them waiting at the door with a bourbon or cigar. Hell, they would probably expect that from me.”
“Oh, now, that’s a visual I can get on board with,” I teased, and he smiled in the most insanely handsome way.
“I suspect you could, but considering you’re the entrepreneur with flexibility, I’m sure you’d be the one waiting on me .”
My heart shuddered, and my stomach flipped at the idea, but then my walls came up. “I’m nothing like those women. The only successful thing about my business is how successfully it’s failing.”
I froze and slammed my eyes shut.
Why the hell did I just say that?
“Why is your business failing?”
I scoffed a laugh, turning to face Kanton, leaning against the counter like he was across from me. “Because I’m a visionary.”
His eyes narrowed some, and I added, “Visionaries are often misunderstood, and the masses aren’t willing to risk their tried and true for something they haven’t seen success in, which is a catch-22 because how can an idea be successful if no one supports it enough to prove the idea is good?”
“Then what you’re saying is that your business isn’t failing or unsuccessful. Only that the idea hasn’t landed in the right hands of someone willing to take a chance on something new?”
“That’s a very pretty way of saying failure .”
“You only fail if you don’t try. You’re trying, ”
“Great advice from the man here to broker a gazillion-dollar deal and then ride off into the sunset.”
“I don’t like horses, so riding is a bit of a stretch, and riding from Atlanta to New York is out of the question,” he teased. I sensed that he was simply trying to lighten the mood, so I gave in.
“Okay, then let’s go with a private jet to New York and bypass the sunset.”
He smirked and nodded, locking his arms over his chest. “Let me help you.”
“With dinner?”
“No. Sad to say, I’m not much of a cook either.” The look I gave had him grinning. “No, I don’t have a personal chef. I’m just extremely busy and very single, so I often eat out. With your business, let me help.”
“You can’t help.”
“I’m pretty sure I can. It’s what I do.”
“You’re a restructuring firm that works with Fortune 500 companies. You can’t help me. My issue isn’t finances. That’s an easy one. I don’t have any finances for you to strategize or restructure.”
I smiled even though my chest felt tight with the reality of what I was saying.
“I’ll overlook your very colorful yet far-from-realistic impression of me for now so we can stay on topic.”
“Which is?”
“Me offering to help you with your business.”
“You’re not a good listener, Kanton. You can’t help me.”
“Humor me. What exactly is it that you do?”
I narrowed my eyes at him but gave in. “Virtual interior decorating and staging.”
“Virtual staging . . .”
“Please don’t be like them. Think outside the box.”
He smiled. “There you go, judging me again. I know what virtual staging is, ”
“Sorry. Habit.”
“No offense taken. Since you have no finances, I assume you have little to no business. Virtual interior design and staging is, well, virtual , which means you can do that from anywhere. No office is required; the only investment is a computer and software unless you build your own.”
I peered at him, and he grinned. “I told you this is what I do. No business then.”
“I’ve had a few contracts here and there, but mostly from individuals. I did a few new construction projects where they needed virtual staging and setup for potential residents to see the various models they intended to build. I’ve also done a few local businesses that were remodeling, but I haven’t been able to lock down any major contracts.”
“Who have you reached out to.”
“Just about everybody, but mostly hotels, business suites, and anyone with a huge need for design that changes regularly.”
“All valued choices who could benefit from virtual staging.”
“The problem is not my drive. The issue is others’ reluctance to see my—”
“ Vision .”
“Yes.”
“Let me see what I can do to help. You’re helping me by getting me access to Brighton.”
“You bought me very expensive candles and a tree.” I pointed to the table where the candles were still sitting after delivery.
“I did, and I’d prefer you not keep a running tab of what I’ve done for you, I’m not expecting anything in return. I’d also like to help with this, but I won’t if you prefer I don’t.”
“Fine. Knock yourself out because I have a feeling you’re going to do what you want regardless of what I say.”
“Then you’d be right. It’s a side effect of my asshole behavior. We tend to have an issue when it comes to minding our own business.” He winked. “How long before dinner’s ready?”
“Forty-five minutes, an hour tops.”
“Okay, well, since I’ll be of no service to you in here, I’ll start working on untangling those lights.”
Regardless of the agitation in his voice about untangling lights, my heart seized because Kanton, who hated all things Christmas, was volunteering to be a part of mine. And like a cruel joke from the universe, I had to experience this man, knowing that all this was temporary.
“It’s perfect, right?”
“It’s Christmassy.”
I glanced over my shoulder after imagining the face that Kanton had, and I was spot-on when I caught him with his eyes slightly narrowed, lips tugged down at the corners, and head tilted to the side. He was not impressed, but he was, by default, enjoying the moment for me.
“Then it’s exactly what it should be. A thoroughly decorated Christmas tree.” I turned to find Kanton watching me and not the tree. And I liked how it felt to be the focus of his attention, but the intensity of his deep brown eyes on me had me rambling. “You can’t tell me that seeing this tree doesn’t make you feel something.”
Kanton’s eyes darkened with lust while a salacious smile eased onto his face. “I feel a lot of things, and although they’re indirectly related to that tree, I can’t give full credit to your decorating skills.”
“Skills—” I gasped when I felt the warmth of his hand at my hip. “You’ve been complaining the entire time, and now you believe I have skills.”
The warmth of his breath fanned across the side of my face when he leaned in closer. “I don’t believe you have skills, I know , and I’ve been obsessing over those skills all day, but again, they’re indirectly connected to that tree.”
When he pulled back, and his eyes darkened a little more, that dark stare lowered and focused on my lips.
Oh . . .
Those skills .
“Would now be an appropriate time for me to kiss you again?” The low rumble of his voice caused a succession of pulses in my core. My brain scrambled, but not so much that I couldn’t think of a comeback.
“We don’t have mistletoe.”
“We don’t need it . . .” The warmth of his palm met the back of my neck. His fingers slipped into my hair and his mouth brushed against mine . . . gently at first, but then he was kissing me, and I was kissing him.
Our tongues moved in sync, mine feeling as if it had returned home, his coaxing me into the perfect bliss while his fingers dug into my hip. I wasn’t sure if he was moving me closer or if I was advancing on my own, but I felt him. The lines and planes of his muscles, the bulge, and his length, hard and long, were digging into the softness of my stomach.
Everything about the moment was perfect, and my mind was clouded with thoughts of how much more of him I wanted to consume. Needed to consume, and he must have read my mind because that hand left my neck and leveled with the other at my waist. When my feet left the ground, I instinctively locked my legs around his waist and smiled when his hands slipped beneath me for extra leverage to hold me in place.
Our eyes met once more, but this time, his held questions. I slowly nodded because I wanted this too. It wasn’t the smartest thing, but who the hell cared? I was living in the moment, and apparently, so was he because we were moving with long, intentional strides.
My back landed against the wall next to the door when we entered my bedroom, and his mouth met mine again. His tongue swiped greedily while the pads of his fingers dug into my flesh.
Oh my, this was a lot . . .
But I needed more.
“I’m going to taste you everywhere, Are you agreeable to having my mouth exploring every inch of your body?”
I groaned in anticipation of how amazing his mouth on me would feel. “Very agreeable. You can start now.”
He pulled back enough to bless me with a smile that promised satisfaction, and then he carried me to my bed. His mouth and my mouth were at war again until my body sank into the mattress.
There was a frantic rush to get our clothes off, then Kanton dropped to his knees at the foot of my bed and buried his face between my legs.
“Fuck. I knew it. Perfect.” The greedy swipes of his tongue and the vibration of his voice against my sex was a brilliant combination. His expression was dangerous when he lifted his eyes to watch as he slid a finger inside me. “So glad you’re agreeable to what I’m about to do to you.”
Definitely not more than me.
I gasped when his tongue moved down my slit. A moan escaped my trembling lips, and my pussy pulsed and tightened. The rush was already taking over, building from deep within, threatening to erupt.
Magical.
My breathing was disrupted, and I couldn’t think clearly, but I also didn’t want to. Delusion was great as long as it felt this amazing. All I wanted at the moment was to reach the finish line because the reward would be a sweet and sinful victory.
I was close. So close. And then I was there . . .
“Oh . . .”
While his fingers thrusted smoothly in and out of me, with his tongue and lips working my clit, my orgasm jolted through me. The added vibration of his voice thrumming against my heated, slick skin had me pulsing and shuddering blissfully while Kanton continued pushing my limits. Every skillful stroke of his fingers and tongue coaxed my body into a weightless, satiated state, one I was thoroughly enjoying.
But he didn’t stop.
I felt his body move up to mine, warm lips latched on to my very sensitive nipples, one at a time, sucking hard while he continued thrusting his fingers at a steady pace between my legs. The buildup began again, and before I knew it, my pussy was pulsing and clenching with need. I groaned and exhaled a long, drawn out breath seconds before his mouth connected with mine. While I struggled through a second orgasm that felt ten times more powerful than the first, his tongue connected with mine, coaxing me through the release.
“Still agreeable?”
I choked on a laugh as my brain slowly began to process again. “Are you really asking me that?”
“I am. I aim to please.”
“You pleased. Very much. I’d like for you to keep pleasing.”
“Good to know, but we might have a slight issue.”
I frowned, and he closed his eyes briefly as if it pained him to say the word. “Condoms.”
“Nightstand, and before you start assuming, I have them as a precaution, not a purpose.”
“At this point, I don’t care. I was debating how good my pullout game would be, but I wasn’t sure you’d agre e to that as an option.”
“Um, definitely not. Now, can you get the condoms so that we can move this along?”
He chuckled, leaving me to get to my nightstand, and I instantly missed the weight and warmth of his body. I also enjoyed the visuals of him and his very nice package while he covered himself in the most painfully slow manner.
Or maybe I was being impatient.
By the time he dipped his shoulders under my thighs and slowly pressed into me, I knew I was done for. About halfway in, he thrusted his hips forward until he was completely seated. Another orgasm was already pulsing and growing with each purposeful thrust.
How?
Kanton groaned, moving out slowly, but his thrust landed hard when he pressed forward again. It was slow and a torturous ache, leaving me feeling painfully full . . .
Of him.
With each plunge, he angled himself perfectly, guiding my climax, pulling it from somewhere deep within until I felt it crawling to the surface. I had never in my life come so many times, so fast, but I wasn’t complaining.
“Again. Oh. My. Fuck,” fumbled from my mouth.
Kanton groaned in satisfaction. My pussy began to shudder, throbbing and clenching him until I no longer had control. I shattered again as ecstasy swept through me with long, hard pulses. I was lost in an overload of pleasure while Kanton continued pressing into me with hard, controlled thrusts until I felt his last one. He wasn’t far behind me, finishing with a deep, throaty growl and then the weight of him pressing into me so that my thighs spread wide and angled back toward my stomach.
My muscles ached. Our bodies were slick and warm, and I sighed from a satiated feeling that was settling into every inch of my body. After a few minutes of heavy breathing, Kanton’s mouth grazed the curve of my neck, and I would swear to feeling the curve of his lips against my skin just before he murmured, “You might have convinced me that Christmas isn’t so bad after all.”