Page 5 of Naughty Christmas Wishes

"Yes," I nod and giggle at her wording. Out of the Christmas box, that’s funny.

"So let's ask Santa for all the stuff you need to change your life for the new year." She grabs a handful of pretzels nodding at me. She's talking a lot but it kind of makes sense.

Then I remembered something that makes me grumpy. "Santa sucked at getting me what I really wanted for Christmas." I pout and try to take a drink, but my cup is sadly empty.

She calls over her sister Dancer aka Danni. She’s a twin and very beautiful with blond hair like Ruby. The other Reindeer sisters are brunette with a tan complexion from their mixed heritage like their cousin Blitz.

I can’t think about him or those sexy dark caramel eyes.

Ruby looks at me then smiles sweetly at her sister. "We need paper and a pen, please." The other woman produces it effortlessly and hands it over. Ruby gets excited bouncing around on her stool. Her grin lights up her face and she leans on the bar getting ready. "What should we write first?" She bumps my shoulder when I don't respond right away. "Come on, it never hurts to ask for something you want."

Oh no, I think my head is spinning. I catch myself by holding onto the bar so I don't fall off my seat. I look down at my skirt to see the small slit is ripped higher and it's ruined now. "A new kelly green skirt suit for one thing." She scoffs at my answer and I just shrug.

What should I say instead?

"Seriously, I tell you to ask for anything and you pick a new suit. That's Lame with a capital L." Ruby rolls her eyes while tapping her chin with the pen.

I groan when I look closer and see the pen actually looks like a candy cane. The piece of paper even has little Santa's all over it.

I glance around looking at all the happy people around me. It makes me sad and a little lonely thinking about my current situation this holiday season. What am I going to do now? I know I haven't been happy in a long time, if ever but now I’m alone. The sign on the wall behind the bar catches my attention.

What is Christmas?

It's tenderness for the past, courage for the present and great hope for the future.

Yeah! I grab Ruby’s glass and down it. She laughs, then chokes when I say. "Dick, but not just any dick either. I want the good kind that makes you walk funny."

Ruby's smile is stunning and she nods happily writing those exact words down.

"You should do twelve wishes." Cupid leans on the bar looking at the paper. Comet hisses at her sister to mind her own business.

Dasher stands between the two shaking her head disapprovingly at her sisters bickering. "Yeah, like that song, The Twelve Days Of Christmas." All the Reindeer women cheer delighted with the idea.

"Okay, but twelve gifts sounds like a lot of thinking." I try real hard to think about something else I need and that ruins my good mood. "Oh, I know what I need for Christmas…a new place to live." I'm starting to get depressed about my future and my horrible attempt at sarcasm doesn’t hit well.

"Yes, that’s a great idea, keep thinking big! A new home!" She writes that down and circles it.

I giggle because that's a ridiculous request. Even all the cousins around us are shocked silent by the topic. "I'm just kidding, that's a dumb idea."

Ruby taps the bar and they all start laughing once they know I'm playing around.

"Where would you want to live, Joy?" Dash's face turns serious and her tone curious.

"I'm only joking and stressing about not having a lease. I'll call my landlord tomorrow and beg for an extension don't worry. " I try reassuring them but everyone looks sad until Ruby claps her hands.

"These are wishes, not true gifts so go crazy. It's just for fun, Joy. You can ask for anything for once in your life." Ruby encourages me with a smile and gets ready to write a whole list.

Everyone begins shooting off suggestions and I take another shot. Luckily the sisters are smart enough to keep a steady supply of drinks flowing so I'm too drunk to come to my senses and rip up the paper. I glance over at the growing list again sighing. These wishes are getting out of hand and some are downright crazy. I'll admit it's definitely a fun way to pass the time and I've mostly forgotten my problems tonight.

"...Nine, ten, eleven and twelve. Okay, that's all of them." She holds up the messy paper. "Should we read them again?"

Rudy sounds so hopeful that I want to say yes, but it's getting late and I'm drunk. I need to go to bed because my body's shutting down.

"I need to get home." I regretfully inform her and she starts to complain. I smile holding up my hands and phone. "Another time, I promise. I have your number now, remember?"

"I'll hold you to that so you better not disappear." She scolds waving her finger at me.

I copy her move and use a finger to cross my heart. "I won't. You've been a giant help tonight and I appreciate this so much." I adjust my shirt and fix my hair. "It's time to face reality because I have a ton of calls to make tomorrow. Do you know how many different reservations there are for a wedding?" She shakes her head and I use my fingers to show her. "A lot, and the worst part is I literally mailed eleven hundred dollars just this morning to a bakery." I smack my head feeling stupid. The woman said I had until Monday to pay or cancel too. I take a deep breath and make myself stand up.

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