Page 4 of Her Holiday Heartthrobs

“Little Mister, it is too early in the morning to wage war on Jackie. Go change your pull-up, so we can get you dressed.”

Paxton throws the crayons in his hand as I stomp my foot. We glare at each other for a moment, and I exaggerate my frustration until he breaks. The corner of his mouth lifts. Then, I lunge for him, tickling his sides and under his arms until he squeals, “No, Momma. No tickles.”

I grab him and swing him into our room. “Pull-up. Now.”

He giggles but does as I ask. It doesn’t take too long to corral him into clothes for the day: his Wreck-it Ralph shirt and matching pants. “Go show, Jackie.”

Paxton runs into the living room as I grab my suit jacket. Jackie has Paxton lifted in the air, jostling him like he’s an airplane hitting some turbulence. My heart gives a happy lurch at the smile on my boy’s face. He’s my pride and joy, even as hard as it’s been raising him on my own—all while going to college—he’s worth every sleepless night and B that I earned. Worth every date and party I missed. I have a new appreciation for how Dad raised me and my older sister alone for the last fifteen years.

But now, it’s time for me to earn my own way, sans the continued support from my father. More than a mere allowance while I finished my degree.

Although, it still feels like cheating since he got me this job. A job that I start today as a marketing manager at a local hospitality chain. He didn’t offer me much detail other than it would suit me and that he convinced my new bosses to give me the position.

It’s not the way I wanted to get the job, but let’s be real, the current job market is shit, and I’d be stupid to not take such a high-paying job with this kind of responsibility as a recent grad. I wouldn’t get this type of offer anywhere else.

In fact, I’d have to workyearsto get to a management position, even with my credentials and the two summer internships that I’d rocked.

Jackie grins at me over his shoulder. “Ready for your first day?”

I take in a big breath and let it out shakily. “I think so.”

“You’ll knock their socks off, don’t you worry about it.” He jiggles Paxton before letting him down.

My son throws himself into his toy chest, systematically taking out every toy, one at a time, to hand it over to Jackie. My best friend thanks him for every last one before setting it on the couch cushion beside him. Paxton has only recently learned to put them back. Mostly.

“I think I want them to keep their socks on, really. I just don’t want to disappoint whoever owed Dad the favor.”

By the door, I slip on my sensible kitten heels that go with every outfit I could possibly wear to work and smooth down my jacket.

“How do I look?”

“Pretty, Momma!” Paxton grins. I will never get tired of him looking at me like I’m the center of his universe. He’s certainly the center of mine.

“Thank you, Baby.”

“You look like a serious boss lady. Although, if you’d let me pick out your wardrobe, you’d also be fit for walking down the runway, but I suppose we can’t all look fabulousallthe time.” Jackie winks and accepts another toy from Paxton.

“Well, it’s true. I can’t compete with your fabulous sense of fashion, so I guess I’m stuck with the boring, old corporate look.”

Jackie waves a hand at me. “Pssh. I will talk you into letting me zhuzh you up, and I promise, you will turn every head in that office building.”

I sigh. “I don’t need to turn heads. I need to be taken seriously.”

At twenty-two, I had to really know what I was doing to lead people. I shake the doubts out of my head, grab my coat, and check the time on my phone.

“Okay.” I clap my hands and sink down to Paxton’s level. “Time for Mommy to leave. Come give me a kiss and wish me luck at work.”

My son throws his little body at me, wrapping me tightly in those small arms. He’s gotten used to being watched by Jackie until my father comes to get him. Or the babysitter, Roxy, who’s my age and a lot more fun than I am. Or so he tells me every time she leaves.

The poor guy has had a working mom his entire life.

He plants a solid kiss on my cheek before smashing his hands into them. “Luck, Momma.”

“You’re so sweet.” I rustle his hair and plant kisses all over his face until he runs back to the couch squealing. “Be good. Both of you.”

Jackie gasps in mock offense and comes to give me my own special farewell. We knock our elbows together, tap and shake hands in a complicated and silly move we’ve done since the first week of college after hitting it off immediately. He pulls me into a solid hug at the end. “Go kill your first day.”

“Will do.” And I’m out the door, racing down to the train station two blocks down. The weather has let up, but snow still piles high on either side of the sidewalk. Car tires slush, keeping me away from the edge and a potential disaster.

---