Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“I’ve never seen you smile like you are right now,” she says.
And she’s right, I’m grinning so wide, I must look like the Cheshire cat.
“Come on, Santa,” she says and whips off the hoodie, “Santa’s baby needs dressing.”
It’s my turn to go running up the stairs, still grinning as Tiffany casts the hoodie aside and runs giggling to the bedroom.
I’ve never rang in sick for the grotto before, but hell, it does cross my mind.
This amazing girl has got me hooked, and I intend on never letting her go.
21
TIFFANY
I’m wracked with nerves when Reuben pulls up at the mall. I take a deep breath as he puts his hand on my knee and gives it a squeeze.
“You ok? Looking forward to being an elf for the day?”
Part of me wants to be honest and say no, not in the slightest. Being around kids gives me the heebies. Especially the cute, curious ones at about six or seven years old, gripping their parents’ hands as they skip along, excited for Christmas.
My baby would have been six now, skipping along by my side.
Fate’s a bastard, though. It chewed me up and spat me out, and since then it’s been safer not to dream at all. To avoid horrific memories at all costs.
There is no way I’d be here now, about to be an elf, if it wasn’t for Reuben. In some ways I want to curse my dumbass soul for daring to believe.
“I’m cool,” I tell him. “It’ll be an experience. I’ve never played an elf before. Cats, yeah. Naughty daughters, playing up for their daddy, yeah. Even girls who get turned on by radiators.” Reuben laughs, and I laugh along with him. “For real, one guy loves radiators. The hotter the better.”
“I know. I read your proposals, remember?”
Proposals seem miles away. I have a shit ton of them stacking up in my notifications, but I’ve been ignoring every single one of them.
“Let’s do this,” I say, trying my best to sound happy about it.
He gets out of the car and I follow suit. “Does being Santa’s elf bring any perks?”
“You get free coffee and cookies,” he says, coming to stand next to me.
“I was thinking maybe a turn on Santa’s lap between kiddie visits.”
“I’m sure that’s a given,” he reaches for my hand.
I take a step back. “Maybe it’s best if you go ahead.”
He nods. “Good thinking.”
I follow him as he leads the way, keeping my distance as we head through the mall. Being here together feels so risky, in case there are prying eyes. I’m probably being paranoid, but the combination of nerves upon nerves makes me especially on edge. The last thing I want at risk is my career right now. If things went tits up, my job would be the safety zone I’d run back to at full speed.
If.
There it is again. That sliver of hope. I’m daring to believe.
I’m a stupid ass sometimes.
Reuben brought his Santa suit in a holdall. I wait by the toilets as he dashes to get my outfit.
He presents me with a bag and I open it to take a peek. Stripy red and white tights, a green dress and a cute little fluffy hat with a bobble on top. I’ve got my red stilettos on under Reuben’s fresh pair of joggers. And I’ve got a pair of his boxer shorts on to stop my butt crack showing.
“You sure this is my size?”
“Positive,” he says.
“Really?”
“I know body shapes like a professional, Tiffany. Especially curvier ones.”
I get dressed up in a cubicle, and I’m impressed. Reuben has selected my outfit perfectly. My stripy tights fit nicely, and my elf dress doesn’t show too much cleavage – just a taster. The hem is a decent length, almost to the knee.
I put my hair up in the scrunchie I always keep in my bag and pop my hat on top. I check myself out in the mirror and it’s convincing. I kinda like it.
I’m about to leave when the door opens, and a little girl bounces on in with her mum. She’s one of my beautiful nightmares, about six years old, with red curls, and freckles dusting her cheeks. She has bright blue eyes – like Kian, and I get the familiar hit, right in the heart.
She stares open mouthed at me, her eyebrows high.
“Mummy, look! It’s an elf! An elf in the toilet!”
Her mum grins bright. “So it is.”
I fight the urge to freeze as the girl dashes over and wraps her arms around me, linking them tight around my thighs.
“Hey, elfie! Are you helping Santa?” She looks up at me. “I’m going to see him, you know? I’m going to ask him for a reindeer for Christmas. He’s got loads, hasn’t he? Do you think he’ll give me one?”
I can’t help but break into a smile. A reindeer, wow. Her mum gives me a silent grimace, and I come up with an answer on the spot. I drop to a crouch to meet her daughter eye to eye, my heart thumping.