AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER ONE
FAITH
“Hello?!” Emma waved her hand in my face, clicking her fingers impatiently at me. “You’re not even listening to me, are you?” She rolled her eyes at me.
“I’m sorry. I was just thinking . . .” I turned my gaze to her, instead of on the very good-looking barman at the bar pulling pints.
“Thinking. Right,” she said in a sarcastic tone. “Perving, you mean.” She turned in her seat to look at where I was pointing. “What is your obsession with him?” She cocked her head to the side before she turned back to face me. “I just don’t get it.”
“I’m not obsessed,” I quickly defended. “He interests me.”
“How?” She stirred the straw in her daiquiri cocktail before she looked back up at me. “You do know that he’s a manwhore, don’t you?” She cocked an elegant eyebrow at me before she went off on another tangent. Her watch beeped a reminder at her, alerting her attention down to her wrist. “Oh, I have to go but I left your outfit on the end of your bed for you. We didn’t have many spots left open but I really appreciate it.” She stood up and grabbed her handbag before leaning down and kissing my cheek. “See you later! Be there by 6:00 p.m.”
I stared after her, watching her run out and into a busy snow-dusted street. I really didn’t like the way she said, ‘not many spots left open’. I knew that I was going to regret this.
Each year, Emma helped out in our local community by hosting Christmas activities. Last year she helped to run the Christmas markets, the year before she directed the children’s play in the local community hall. This year she had upgraded and was running a ‘Meet Santa’ event in the middle of town. It was also operating as a base to take in donated presents for children in local cancer hospitals. It was a lot of pressure but I knew that Emma would do a fantastic job. She never buckled under pressure.
Turning back to finish my sandwich, I jumped in surprise when I saw that I was no longer alone. Sitting in her seat was now the barman that I had been gawking at. Jack. He was a manwhore, just like Emma said but he was always nice. He and I had gone to school together and I always classed him as a friend. Not a close friend but still, just a friend. He was a year older than me and a few inches taller. He always had a slight stubble on his cheeks and had dark brown hair—the same shade as mine—that was long on the sides. He always had it brushed back from his face and always found a way to make me blush.
“Where did she go running off to?” He reached over and stole a fry off my plate, dipping it in some tomato sauce before popping it in his mouth.
“Off to save the world somewhere.” We both laughed at my words, knowing I was probably right.
Emma always had to be doing something. She worked over at the children’s hospital and I know how bad it must affect her to see all of those sick children but she never let it show. She always had a smile on her face and usually had a project she would be focusing on. She had been dating Jack’s friend, Paul, for a few months and they seemed to really click.
I never thought that they would last; especially as they are complete opposites. He’s a science teacher and loved a good crime book and she is . . . Well, she’s Emma. She’s basically the adult version of Tinkerbell. Feisty, cheeky, and always seems high on pixie dust.
Paul was usually a quiet person but he was an interesting guy. He loved science programs, especially documentaries about the stars and the galaxy. If we ever had a quiz, I usually made sure Paul was on my team.
“So, are you going to be hanging out with us and Santa later?”
I giggled, imagining him being around so many children. I think that it would be his idea of hell.
“Yeah, right.” He reached over for another fry. “I’m not as gullible as the rest of you.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Come on.” He laughed loudly. “You and Paul can never say no to that woman.”
“True.” I smiled at him. “I had best be going.” I stood up and grabbed my handbag before dropping some cash on the table. “Keep the tip and maybe I’ll see you later.” I gave him a small wave and walked to the door, forcing myself not to look back.
Looking back would just show how desperate I fucking was and obviously obsessed with the man.
After walking home, I was equal parts regretting telling Emma that I would help out with her ‘Meet Santa’ event and nervous at the thought of whatever godforsaken outfit she had left for me.
Unlocking the door, I chuckled when I saw that she had left cupcakes on the table for me. She could be a real sweetheart sometimes but I knew that they were just part of the bribery. It also told me that whatever outfit she had left for me was going to be bad.
Dropping my bag at the table, I walked further into the apartment and headed toward my bedroom door. Flicking the light on, my eyes went straight to the bed where my outfit was lying there.
Just fucking kill me now.
No! Actually, kill her. She was so fucking dead when I get my hands on her.
I grabbed my phone out of the pocket of my jeans and dialed her number. Unsurprisingly, it went straight to voicemail.
“You are so dead!” I mock-threatened her. I turned back to the outfit, cringing at the green curved shoes with a bell on each end. “So dead. Next time warn me before you make me an elf!” I giggled before saying goodbye in our normal style. “Love you, bitch.”
I tossed the phone on the bed, glaring at the outfit with way too many fucking bells one last time before I stripped out of my clothes and grabbed my towel. After waiting for the temperature to warm up, I climbed under the hot spray and began soaping my body up.
