Mistlehoe

Chapter 15 - All I Want For Christmas Is You Holly

Sniffling, I print out my letter of resignation.

I plan to drop it into the store today.

The page has just been printed, yet the ink is already running thanks to a tear that has escaped.

For the past two days, I have barely moved from my bed.

I'm a sniffing, snotty, sad mess.

And the unthinkable has happened.

I am starting to resent Christmas.

In fact, I think I may just be turning into the Grinch.

Since the joy was sucked out of me, I want the rest of the people around me to be just as miserable.

Nothing about the situation I find myself in is fair, but I've only got myself to blame.

I have no furniture or white goods to get rid of or courier, only a couple of suitcases that fit my entire life, so making a quick and quiet exit over the next few days should be easy.

Despondency has taken up residency in my body.

I hoped that Chris would reach out and contact me, but he's been radio silent since he chased after Cole a couple of days ago.

I knew in my heart that meant we were well and truly done.

Unable to bear seeing Chris, who I'm pretty sure is the love of my life, on a daily basis, and not being able to touch him would be excruciating, so I need to leave.

I blubber through the morning as I take down the Christmas tree that Chris so lovingly helped me decorate.

My body feels weary. Drained.

There's no point getting all dolled up because I'd just look like a Chucky doll with the way my tears would ruin and streak my makeup.

Opting for a pair of black tights and a fuzzy green jumper, I really do resemble the Grinch.

Waiting for Rudolph to do his business, my eyes mist over seeing how ethereal Cradle Mountain is.

It's magic.

It's another tiny, secluded world that knows nothing but beauty.

Eclipsed by hundreds of different types of hardy fauna that were here long before I was born and will stand tall long after I'm gone, I can't help but think how inconsequential I am.

People come and go.

Nothing lasts forever.

Things change, and life moves on.

I'll miss the tranquillity of being here, but most of all, I will miss this sense of belonging.

For the first time in my life, I knew I was meant to be here.

It was home from the moment I handed in my resume.

Despite the harshness of winter all year round, the thriving nature around me reminded me of hope and a new life.

Now I feel hopeless and that life is over.

Leaving my happy place — my comfort — would be the most painful thing I've ever done.

Walking away from the man I was in love with is destroying me.

Not knowing what direction I should take, I pray that I'd be guided by my very own Star of Bethlehem, paving my way.

Popping Rudolph back inside, I slip on my UGG boots and reluctantly trudge toward the store.

Icy weather whips around me, but I don't feel it.

I just feel numb.

Empty.

The bell chimes as I pull the door open.

There's a jovial atmosphere, with kids scurrying around the store filling their baskets.

I see a throng of tourists lining up for a coffee, and of course, there are plenty of cutesy couples in matching beanies enjoying an assortment of sweets.

It's sickening.

Their joy is nauseating.

I pray to Jesus that Chris or Cole aren't here and that I can just slip my resignation to one of the duty managers.

A quick perusal of the staff on shift tells me I might just be in luck, which would be a first.

I begrudgingly make my way to the counter, feeling sick with each step I take.

It feels like wasps are stinging my insides, especially since Gloria is at the counter talking to Jack, who must have just finished dropping off his delivery.

I could have sworn that Gloria wasn't supposed to be working today.

Taking the coward's way out, I was going to call her after I quit.

I know that if I were to tell her before, she'd pump me with questions, which would inevitably open up a can of worms.

Before I can come up with a plausible reason for quitting, they spot me and furrow their eyebrows as they scan me from head to toe.

Gloria sucks in a breath while Jack slightly grimaces at my appearance.

'What are you doing here?' Gloria asks as she hands Jack a cup of something rather.

My eyes shift nervously between them, and I'm sure I've punctured my lower lip.

'Ah…well…um…' My hands shake as I slide the piece of paper on the counter.

'I need to see Michelle.' One of the duty managers.

'To give her this.' I wave the envelope in the air.

'What's this?' Gloria snatches the piece of paper and goes bug-eyed as she reads the contents on the page.

'Holly? What the fuck? Why are you quitting? Is it because of Cole? Because so help me God, I will shove a candy cane so far up his ass he'll be tasting peppermint for days!' That brings a small smile to my lips.

'Holly, what is this about? Is it about Chris?' Jack asks softly but not soft enough that Gloria's interest is now thoroughly piqued.

Folding my hands across my chest for some sort of protection, I crack slightly and nod.

Gloria zeroes in on me.

'Chris? What did the DILF do?' Jack chokes on his drink as I roll my eyes.

'No.

Seriously.

What is this about? You can't just give up your dream job.'

'Whatever you think you know, you don't, sweetheart.

Give him some time.

It'll all make sense soon.' Jack's ominous sentence doesn't alleviate any of my suffering.

In fact, it is maddening that he is being so evasive.

'It's over.' My bottom lip quivers for the hundredth time as my sinuses cloud my head.

'What's over? Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?' Gloria interjects again.

Jack rubs my arm in a comforting gesture, but it makes me feel worse.

It's like he's telling me it'll be okay even though it won't.

'I was seeing Chris,' I mutter, averting my gaze to the floor.

'You what?!' Gloria screeches.

'Since when?' She sounds outraged but then changes her tune, coming around the counter and eclipsing me into an excited hug.

'Oh my God, Holly! You rode him like a bucking reindeer, didn't you?' I think my face just invented a new shade of red.

'Since when? What about Mistlehoe?' I scrunch my nose knowingly.

'Oh my God.

Oh my God.

You met him on there?' she whispers like it's a saucy secret, which I guess it is.

I don't confirm with so many words, but I don't need to.

She knows.

Bouncing up and down, she pulls me into another embrace.

'You finally got with your dream man! I'm so happy for you!'

I shrug out of her hold.

'Don't be.

He broke up with me.' My vision goes blurry again as a fresh round of tears pool.

'No, he didn't,' Jack offers.

'Yes, he did.

He ran after Cole.

He chose his son, which is how it should be.' 'Yes.

He went after Cole, but he didn't break up with you.' 'Then how do you explain forty-eight hours of no contact?' My hands are on my hips, ready for a fight.

'He has been kind of busy,' Gloria shrugs.

Whose side is she on here? 'Too busy to pick up the phone and text or call?'

'Well, yeah.

I mean after Cole's accident.' Wait.

What? Cole's accident? What accident? My head snaps to Jack for confirmation.

I can see he knows exactly what Gloria is talking about.

'What accident?' My voice croaks.

'After Cole left yours, it was so foggy that he saw the car too late.

He jumped off the road at the last second and rolled down the slope.

He's been in hospital with a concussion and broken leg.

Chris has been with him.'

'What?' I cry.

'Is Cole okay? Is Chris okay?' An avalanche of guilt and nausea sweeps through my body.

Here I am being a selfish ho, while Cole was seriously injured because of me.

'Everyone is fine apart from a couple of broken bones.

Chris has just been tied up with him.

They've been working through a lot together.

Chris is expected to come back sometime today.

Please don't leave without speaking to him first.' Jack's voice has a begging tone, but it isn't enough to sway my decision.

'I can't hurt either of them more than I already have.

Staying here wouldn't just be gut-wrenchingly painful for me, but it would affect them.

With me out of the picture, Chris can mend what he broke with Cole.

I need to do this.' I sniffle, wiping my nose on my jumper.

There's a momentary pause of silence until a deep, honeyed voice sounds behind me.

'Precious, you're not going anywhere.' Chris.

My eyes dart up to Gloria, who is all but swooning as she leans dreamily on the counter.

I freeze on the spot, unsure what to do.

His steps are silent, but I can feel his closeness.

It's like I'm a magnet, and the force is too strong to deny.

When he's centimetres behind me, I'm enveloped by his spicy cologne that tickles my nose and enlivens all my senses.

'Turn around, baby.'

I feel the sobs climbing in my throat as I ever so slowly turn my body.

I come up to the top of his chest, so it's easy to stare at the plaid button-up he's wearing as I try with all my might to avoid his devilishly handsome face.

It doesn't work.

With his index finger, he lifts my chin.

I feel his touch all throughout my body.

He looks at me with so much love that I'm forever lost in his warm gingerbreadcoloured eyes.

'Hey, princess.' He stares down at me with a serene smile as he links both our hands by our sides.

I try to swallow, but my throat feels itchy and dry.

'What…what…are you doing here?'

The audience around us completely fades away as I zone in on him.

If this is the last time I'll ever see him, I want to remember every one of his features, from the creases in the corners of his eyes to the silver at his temples and his glorious beard, which has sent me soaring to heaven on more than one occasion.

He looks tired but content.

'This is my store, remember?' he jokes.

I embarrassingly duck my head, but he doesn't let me wallow.

Instead, he lifts my chin again.

'What's this about you leaving?' He strokes my jaw with his thumb, and I'm not quite positive that I can answer him with his hands on me.

I try to jerk away, but again, he overpowers me and cups my face to look at him.

We're so close.

Inappropriately close for boss and employee, so I guess the jig is up that we're more than that.

I can feel his hot breath on my face, and immediately, I want to steal it for myself.

'I'm resigning.' Those two words felt impossible to get out.

'The hell you are.' He says it as if he's already decided for me.

'I can't stay here and not have you the way I want.' If I'm leaving, I don't want anything to go unsaid between us.

'You can have me the way you want and more.' Whatever I thought he was going to say, it wasn't that.

I snap my head up and look at him in utter confusion.

'How? You're my ex-boyfriend's father.

Cole made it pretty clear that you had to choose.

Oh my God, how is he?' He chuckles, placing my comforting hand behind my neck while the other strokes stray hairs from my face.

'He's fine.

A bit banged up but he'll make a full recovery.

And I don't have to choose.

He gave us his permission to be together — not that I needed it — but having his blessing is the cherry on top.'

Overwhelmed with emotion and a million thoughts, I have no idea what to ask first, so I blurt the first thing that comes to mind.

'You still want to be with me?'

He tilts his head back and laughs as if that is the most ludicrous question I could have asked.

'Yes.' He gives me a brief, gentle kiss on the lips.

'Why?' My brain clearly isn't connected to my mouth.

He laughs again, his hands settling on my hips.

A paper wouldn't be able to slither between how connected our bodies are at this moment.

'I'm in love with you, Holly.

So completely, stupidly, ridiculously, in love with you.

I want everything with you.

You're all my dreams come true.

I felt frozen before you came into my life, and then when you did, I was thawed back to life.

I never thought someone like you would want to be with an old sack like me.' Wetness streaks my face.

If he wasn't holding onto me, I'd float away from the love letter he's professing.

'You're gorgeous beyond comprehension.

You have this innate goodness and kindness about you.

You have more talent in your pinkie finger than I have in my whole body, and I know that you're going to blow everyone away with your career.

You're sweet, bubbly, and understanding, and you have this infectious nature about you that makes me want to spend every second with you.

I need you, Holly.

I need you more than the air we breathe.

Will you stay?'

I nod.

'Do you want to be with me?' I nod again.

'Are you mine?'

I nod, standing on my tippy toes to show him how much I am.

I swipe my tongue along the seam of his lips for them to open.

When they do, I'm granted the access I so desperately crave.

Locking my lips on his, I'm brought back to life with every swipe of his tongue.

He tastes like my future.

Like I'm home.

'I love you, Chris.

I want everything with you.

You're all I've ever wanted,' I pull back a whisper from his mouth to tell him exactly what he means to me.

He lunges forward again, searing me with a languorous kiss.

'Hallelujah.

Finally!' Jack claps behind us.

It's only then that I hear a chorus of cheers surrounding us.

When we pull back, there's cheering from whoever is on shift and shoppers who have just witnessed our little make-out session.

Pulling me to his side and kissing the top of my head, we make our way over to where Jack and Gloria are.

Gloria is grinning at us like a Cheshire cat.

'So Mistlehoe, huh? You frisky Christmas fuckers.' Mortified, my mouth drops open as Chris cocks his head back and lets out a deep belly laugh.

Groaning, I set some boundaries.

'We're not talking about this.

Ever.' 'You've already told me everything!' I wince.

Shit.

She's right.

'Babycakes?' Chris raises his eyebrow in jest.

I look up at him and start justifying my actions.

'In fairness, I never told her it was you…and…and…we were never supposed to be anything more than a fling, so it doesn't count.'

He shakes his head, landing another chaste kiss on my head.

Turning back to Gloria, he sets her straight.

'We do not discuss any of this at work, got it?' He tries to be stern but fails because he's a big softie.

She salutes him in understanding.

'Before and after work.

Got it.' That's not what he meant, and she knows it, but he just shakes his head at her and smiles.

'You're trouble, Gloria,' Jack says, amused, rapping his knuckles on the counter before turning to leave.

'I'll catch up with you tomorrow, Chris.' He does the man clap/hug before bending down to kiss me on the cheek.

'Take care of him, sweetheart.

He deserves someone like you, and you deserve someone like him.'

Jack leaves, but Gloria is still gawking.

'Go back to work, Gloria.' Huffing as if offended, she wanders to the nearest customer, asking if they need help.

I lift my head to capture his lips again.

'Want to get out of here?' He says suggestively, and my pussy hears it loud and clear.

I'm trembling with desire for this man.

I clench my legs and moan as he nuzzles my neck. This man.

'Your place is closer.'

'Hmm.

Eager to bounce on my cock, baby girl?' Oh God.

Is it possible to combust from just words? My panties are soaked through at the thought of sliding down onto him and feeling him deep in my core.

'Need me to fill you up?' I whimper in longing and desperation again.

'Want my face in your cunt until you saturate my beard?' I tighten all the muscles in my body, feeling the onslaught of an orgasm coming on.

'How about me pounding your tight little ass until it's red raw so that tomorrow you won't be able to get out of bed?'

Yes.

Yes to it all.

The simmer I'm feeling is starting to turn into a rolling boil.

'Chris.

Get me out of here,' I beg with pleading eyes.

'I'm going to come inside every one of your holes tonight, honey, and when there's nowhere else for it to go, I'm going to decorate this delicious body and mark what's mine.' I let out a little mewl as I cuddle into him.

He knows what he's doing.

'It's all yours to play with,' I hush in his ear.

He grunts as my hand brushes against his cock inconspicuously.

Seconds later, he rushes us out the door.

I practically have to sprint to keep up with his fastened pace.

The remainder of the day, he delivers on all of his promises and then some, and by the end his cock is safely nestled inside me as we drift off to sleep.