Chapter Five
Jen
If I were going to remember today as anything special, you’d think it would be the full solar eclipse on Christmas Eve. Instead, it’s going down as the day that I let a random man finger me.
Wow. You’re a real class act, Jen. I’m pretty sure this was also in the pamphlets Heather hands out in school.
I need to lay off the romance novels. This isn’t a book. This is real life, and real life means weird interactions, that lead to weird conversations, that lead to more awkwardness.
“You ever think of teaching in a different school?”
My brows narrow as I turn toward him. “What? No. Why?”
He readjusts in the seat, watching the road as he plows down the center. I can’t believe he had that big hand inside of me. My clit throbs again as I recall the way his heavy breath felt on my skin as he thrust inside.
“No reason, just… I know we have a teacher shortage here and if you were ever looking to relocate, we’d love to have you.”
My heart warms at the thought. Maybe he is a little interested. “Really? I mean, a move up here would be fun, but my family is all in Kansas and I’d miss Heather.”
“You could visit, and who knows, maybe Heather wants to come up here too. Like I said, we really need teachers.” Maybe that last bit was his way of cleaning up his invitation. He wants me to know that the invite is platonic, just like the fingering apparently. I probably ruined it by telling him I’m a virgin.
I’ve read a lot about how men are intimidated by a virgin. Apparently, it’s a lot of pressure. Then, there’s the guy that’s annoyed the virgin won’t know what she’s doing, but I don’t peg Sam as that type, though I could be wrong. I don’t really know him. We’ve had one afternoon together and a few awkward phone calls. That’s hardly enough to make sense of a person.
With the plow down on his truck, we turn onto the main road. It’s a little western town with brick buildings and small shops of every variety. A grocery store, a barber shop, a bar, a pharmacy, a pizza shop, a little candle store, and a tattoo shop that takes residence at the start of the street. Every window is decorated with a Christmas scene, which all looks to be based on A Charlie Brown Christmas.
One window is the scene with the scraggly, little Christmas tree and the heavy red bulb. Another is of Lucy selling psychological advice. This place is adorable, and I could definitely see myself grabbing coffee at that little shop on my way to school in the morning. Maybe a move would be good for me and good for Heather too. She lost her family last year and I know she’s been feeling a little stuck in her life lately.
Dear God, what am I saying?
“Man, it’s good to see town,” Sam huffs as he lifts the plow on his truck and continues down Main Street. “We’ll be at the Christmas tree farm soon.”
“Okay.” I swallow hard and glance toward him. “Look, we’re both exhausted and today has clearly been weird. Maybe it’s best if we call this off.”
He glances toward me. “Why?”
“I’ll still pay you for your time, but I don’t know. I mean…” I don’t know how to say what I’m feeling. Hell, I don’t know what I’m feeling.
No. The truth is, I’m scared to be vulnerable.
Will you look at that? I did that without five cent psychiatric help. Good for me.
He sighs and reaches his hand out, landing it on top of mine. “Look, I’ve never been with a virgin before and it scared me. If I’m honest, this whole thing is scaring me.”
“Okay.”
“I’ve never connected with anyone on this level before. It’s… it’s fuckin’ wild and I don’t know what to do with it.” He brushes his thumb against the back of my hand. “I like you, for real , Jen. I think you’re mysterious, cute, smart, and you… look so damn good.”
I stare at him, probably drooling. I’m too stuck in my head to check.
“Is that weird?” He glances toward me then back at the snow-covered road. “I know we’ve only known each other for a bit, but it feels right. Doesn’t it? It’s like you were meant to be here. Like that storm was meant to happen, and we were meant to get stuck on that road.” He blows out a breath. “ Fuck… listen to me. I sound like a fucking teenager.”
This is the part where I’m supposed to be brave and tell him that I’m feeling all the same things too, but as we turn down the hillside toward the Christmas tree farm at the end of the road, my perfect sister catches my eye and anxiety erupts.
My thin, fashionable, put-together model of a twin. In my haze of whatever Sam and I have been in, I’m not sure I fully prepared myself for the embarrassment that standing next to her would be. I mean, how many people have to introduce a man they’re falling for to the twin version of themselves that’s better in every way possible?
No one.
No one has to do that, and I was dumb as hell for thinking I wanted to.
Besides that, I’m a complete wreck now. My hair is a mess from making out, then standing in the whipping cold, and my panties are still soaked. I could use a shower and a complete redo. Even if I did, I’d still only look a quarter as good as Jessa.
My heart pounds as Sam pulls into the lot next to the big, red tree barn. My sister wastes no time meeting me at the truck door. She’s wearing a short black dress that clings to her perfect little body, a furry red coat, and the prettiest shade of lipstick I’ve ever seen. Oh, and despite the wind, the curls in her hair stay perfectly still.
Sam grabs hold of my hand. “You’re so much better than her. I’ve got you.” His voice is so steady and well timed that I almost believe him. Hell, I’d fully believe him if it weren’t for the glaringly obvious truth that Jessa is truly better than me. “Stay right there. I’ll help you out.”
I do as I’m told, watching my sister stare Sam down as though he’s an alien species she’s seeing for the first time. She likes what she sees.
A rush pushes through me as Sam opens the truck door and he helps me down. I’ve never been one to enjoy the color that pretty leaves on my skin, but right now, I’m definitely with the hottest dude here. And judging by the look on my sister’s face, it’s driving her insane.
Sam reaches for my hand and helps me down from the truck, tucking me against his chest before locking up. There’s a large crowd here for the party with a band playing country music in the back. Santa has center stage on a throne of sorts with children and families surrounding him for photos. Christmas trees and white lights stretch as far as I can see and the scent of warm sugar cookies and barbeque wafts outside. I see my parents in a back corner talking to a couple I’ve never seen before and a man in Army greens is making his way toward Sam with a wide grin. That must be the man who’s just retired from the military.
“Chevy, how are you doing?” Sam holds out his arms and hugs the square jawed man with vigor. “Shit! It’s good to see you, man.”
“Same.” Chevy smiles warmly. What are they feeding the men up here? They’re all tall, brawny, and handsome as hell.
“This is my girlfriend, Jen,” Sam says, tucking his arm back around my waist. “She’s in town from Kansas for the holiday weekend.”
His girlfriend ? I like the way that sounds so much I want to hear it again.
“Actually,” my sister steps forward, holding her phone up in the air for everyone to see, “they aren’t dating at all. She hired him.”
How did she get the text meant for Heather? My legs feel weak and the hammering I’d felt in my heart a minute ago is now sluggish. I think I’m going to vomit.
Jessa really doesn’t give two shits about me. If she did, she wouldn’t be calling me out like this.
“What are you doing?” I manage, never feeling more naked in my life.
She shrugs and grins as though she’s enjoying my pain. “You sent this to me a few hours ago. I tried calling you so you could rescind it before Mom saw, but… she got it, too. I figured you accidentally sent it to everyone on your contact list, just like you did that meme you sent to Heather last month. The one with the dancing chickens.”
I glance down at my phone to see that I did, in fact, send the text that was meant for Heather to every person on my contact list. It’s not a group chat, so Heather couldn’t warn me. It’s a copied text, and it went to every single person I know.
My eyes are hot and the desperation to hide is overwhelming every other sense I have.
Sam laughs. “What the fuck are you talking about? I wouldn’t come to a party on hire.”
My sister stiffens. “Obviously you did.”
“No. I didn’t. I met your sister online a few months back. She wanted to know more about the tree farm, and we had a lot in common, so we kept talking. I’ve never met anyone more incredible.” Sam looks toward me, and though I know he’s trying to save me from the most embarrassing moment of my life, I don’t think it’s going to work.
“Yeah, okay…” My sister hitches her hip. “Then what’s the text all about?”
Sam wrinkles his brows. “A lot like that meme, it was a joke between two friends.”
“How exactly is that a joke?”
My sister is such a bitch. I see that now more than ever. I would never do this to her, not on my worst day.
“Honestly, it’s none of your business,” Sam groans as though he’s annoyed.
“Heather and I had been making the joke for weeks that you’d think I hired Sam because he was so hot, and because you’ve got something smart ass to say about everything I do.”
I shake my head toward my sister as though I’m disappointed in her, tuck my hand into Sam’s, and make my way into the barn where my parents are stood in the corner still talking to a couple I don’t recognize.
“You okay?” Sam’s hand is on my lower back and his gaze is on me gently, as though he wants to make everything better.
“Not really. I hate lying.”
“Why are you lying?”
I stare up at him, my forehead wrinkled. “I did hire you, we aren’t dating, and—”
“We could be.”
I roll my eyes. “Look, as much as I appreciate you standing up for me, let’s be real. This would never work. We’re complete opposites, and whatever we were feeling today will dissipate eventually, until someday in the near future when you look at me and wonder why the hell you ever settled.”
“No,” he smiles and holds my hands in his as the country band in the back plays their honky-tonk rendition of Rudolf, “I know it sounds all fluffy and shit, but today was fate. We’re supposed to be together, Jen. And if I have to haul you over my shoulder, and take you over my knee to prove it, I will.”
A twinge of excitement rolls through me with that thought. I’d love to be over his knee, taking whatever kind of punishments he’s dolling out.
“So, what happens tonight? How about tomorrow?”
“Well, you trust me?”
I draw in a deep breath and nod. “Sure.”
With a smile, he takes my hand and drags me through the crowd of people all dressed in Christmas sweaters and holding cups of hot cocoa. I see now why the man smells like pine. This barn is a wonderland of forest scents.
When we reach the stage, he waits for a break in the music then climbs up and takes the microphone from the lead singer’s hand. They mumble an exchange of words that I can’t hear from where I’m standing. And though my pulse had started to return to normal, it’s skyrocketing quickly now.
“Hey, Merry Christmas everybody. I’m Sam. My family has owned this tree farm for over a hundred years now, and every year we have a huge Christmas Eve party just like this.” He glances down at me. “One hundred years, but this year is different. How many of you have fallen in love?”
The crowd cheers and hands go up.
“And how many of you fell so fast that you didn’t see it coming?”
The crowd cheers and more hands go up.
“I met this girl. Her name is Jen. Jen… you want to come up here?” He reaches his hand out for me, and though I’m probably the shyest girl in the universe, I follow him up onto the stage and stare out at the crowd before us. My parents are next to my sister now. I’m sure they’re having a field day with this.
“This beautiful girl has taken my heart, and I want everyone here to know it. She’s by far the smartest, sweetest, most beautiful person I’ve ever met, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
He pulls me against his giant frame, bends me back, and kisses me as though his life depends on it. Like before, the motion is soft and sweet, followed with more intensity.
I’m not sure how the crowd is reacting. All I know is that I’m lost. Lost in Sam. Lost in the magic of this night. Lost in the possibilities the future holds.
Like the giant he is, Sam lifts me effortlessly from the stage and carries me down the steps, stopping for a moment when my mother reaches out.
“Oh, honey. You had us all believing this was fake, but that kiss looked pretty real. You’re a lucky girl. Hold on to this one.”
“No,” Sam glances toward me, “I’m the lucky one. And if it’s alright with everyone, I think Jen and I will spend the night at my place.”
My sister’s jaw drops and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her so speechless.
“Yeah, of course. Have fun you two.” I’m not sure my mother has ever been more agreeable, but I don’t question it. The last thing I want to do is jinx all the magic working its way over my life right now.
Sam nods toward my family, wishes them a Merry Christmas, and carries me toward his truck without looking back. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt more cared for in my life.