Page 30 of Single Dad's Christmas Cookie

“What is that supposed to mean?” Veronica asked.

“Either this kid has a good sense of the dramatic or she’s had a pretty tough time. Her grandmother is a real ball buster, and this is like the first time they’ve ever had a Christmas tree,” I said.

“What?”

“Yeah, apparently, they’ve never had a Christmas tree before. It’s really fun to see Christmas through the eyes of this little girl. It’s all magical.”

“Christmas is nothing but a bunch of work and shopping,” Veronica said.

“That’s what I always do. That’s what I’ve thought too. When you’re six, it’s like magic happening all around. She’s giving me a new perspective.”

“That sounds like you’re getting attached.”

“She’s a cute kid. I’m not getting attached. Are you heading out with the secret boyfriend?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Don’t change the subject on me. I see what you’re doing. Don’t fall for the kid, and don’t fall for her father. We all know how that worked out for you last time,” she said.

I groaned. David had been my manager at the childcare center I worked at before I graduated with my teaching license. Falling for the boss was a bad move. Falling for Bryan… That was out of my control.

“Okay, now change of subject. This guy is turning out pretty good. He’s taking me to a Christmas party,” she admitted.

“Do I get to meet him?”

Neither Veronica nor I had particularly good luck with men. Veronica’s last few boyfriends had been nothing short of spectacularly bad. She stopped introducing them altogether to save herself the judgment and disappointment. The idea was that as soon as the current guy seemed worthy enough, she would introduce us.

Considering how bad everything with David had gone for me, I did not blame her. I wish I hadn’t introduced him to anyone. In a similar fashion, I wasn’t going to tell her about Bryan. He wasn’t my boyfriend. He was my boss, and just because we had a very intense encounter, it didn’t mean I needed to tell her about him.

“Maybe,” she said. “Let’s see if he doesn’t mess up Christmas.”

“So, based on your Christmas present, I get to meet him?” I asked.

“Didn’t you once have a boyfriend buy you raw steak for a birthday present? I think a major gift-giving holiday is a decent litmus test. If this guy gets me something weird and generic, bye, boy. If he gets me something thoughtful, well, that might be impressive enough to let him meet some people.”

“Oh, my God. I had successfully repressed that memory. They hadn’t even been high-end Wagyu steaks or anything. Just grocery store sirloin cuts.”

“Now that’s something you can use your grocery store coupon on.”

I laughed. I hadn’t thought there had been anything worse than expecting a bonus and getting a grocery store voucher, but those steaks had been pretty bad. “Right now, I think steaks as a bonus would have been better.”

“I’m gonna have to go,” Veronica said.

“Real quick.” I stopped her from hanging up. “Show me what you’re wearing.”

Veronica set her phone up and danced a few feet back. She wore a form fitting, sparkly red dress.

“You look amazing. Have a good time.”

“Love you, sweetie. Sorry you’re not going to be home for Christmas. Miss you. Bye.” She made kissy lips at me.

I made a kissy face at her, and then we ended the call. Everything in my apartment went silent. Damn, I missed her.

I thought about what I had said, how Christmas through Amelia’s eyes was completely magical. How could I even think of not going back simply because Bryan had kissed me again? No, I wasn’t going to ruin that child’s Christmas. If anything, I was going to make it her best Christmas ever because I wanted to have those memories too. If I was going to make this year Amelia’s best Christmas memory, then I needed to pull out all the stops, and that meant we were going to need to build and decorate a gingerbread house.

I immediately began making a shopping list. They probably had the ingredients at the house, but I didn’t want to risk it. I’d stop off at the store on my way to work in the morning.

14

BRYAN

---