Page 17 of Wrapped Up

“Don't give her ideas,” comes a warm, amused voice. Peter emerges from the kitchen, wearing a 'Santa's Favorite Ho Ho Ho' apron. He gives me a friendly nod. “Hey, Jenn. Glad you could make it.”

As I take in the scene—Anna in her Christmas glory, Peter's resigned but affectionate smile, the sheer explosion of holiday cheer surrounding me—I feel something shift inside me.

“So, what culinary masterpiece have you whipped up for tonight?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow. “Let me guess, reindeer steaks with a side of elf-made mashed potatoes?”

Anna giggles, her antlers jingling. “Close! We've got honey-glazed ham, cranberry stuffing, and—drumroll, please—my famous eggnog cheesecake!”

“Sounds delicious,” I say, genuinely meaning it. “Is David joining us this year?”

Peter shakes his head. “Nah, he couldn't make it. Family thing.”

I shrug, feeling surprisingly okay with the idea of a cozy threesome. That is until I catch him glancing at Anna. The look passing between them sets off alarm bells in my head and my stomach tightens.

“It is just us three tonight, right?” I ask, my voice sharper than intended.

Anna doesn't answer. Instead, she practically skips to a side table, grabbing a tall, frosted glass. “Oh! You have to try my special Christmas cocktail. It's got cranberry vodka, ginger ale, and-”

“Anna.” I cut her off, fixing her with a stare. “What aren't you telling me?”

She fidgets, jingling bell earrings, tinkling nervously. “Well... you see... I may have... invited someone else.”

I groan, pieces clicking into place. “Please tell me you didn't go into matchmaker mode again. You promised—”

“But Jenn!” Anna interrupts, eyes wide and pleading. “This guy is perfect for you! He's tall, handsome, and successful.”

“And probably has a secret family in Peru,” I finish dryly. “Anna, sweetie, I love you, but your track record with setups is... well, let's just say it's not great.”

She pouts, looking so much like a kicked puppy that I almost feel bad. Almost.

“But this time it's different!” she says. “I have a really good feeling about this one.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Anna, honey, your 'good feelings' once led to me dating a guy who thought the earth was flat.”

Peter snorts, trying unsuccessfully to turn it into a cough when Anna glares at him.

Then she turns back to me, her eyes pleading. “Please, I promise, if this isn't the right man, I'll stop my matchmaking.”

“Fine,” I sigh, knowing resistance is futile. “But if this guy turns out to be a closet furry or believes in lizard people, I'm holding you personally responsible.”

Anna beams, relief flooding her face. “You won't regret this, I promise!”

Her eyes light up, her antlers bobbing as she leans in conspiratorially. “He's actually from Peter's new work and he's absolutely amazing.”

Peter nods, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, he's pretty cool. Down-to-earth guy, you'd like him.”

I can't help but roll my eyes. “Right. I'm sure he's just perfect. Probably rescues kittens and cures cancer in his spare time, too.”

Before Anna can protest, I grab the cocktail from her hand and take a healthy sip. The sweet, spicy liquid burns its way down my throat, warming me from the inside out. At least there's alcohol to get me through this disaster in waiting.

A shrill beeping cuts through the air, making us all jump. Peter's eyes widen.

“Oh, that's the timer. Gotta check on the ham.”

As he hurries off to the kitchen, Anna turns to me, her expression softening. She reaches out and places a gentle hand on my arm.

“Jenn, sweetie, don't let what happened last month taint your belief in love. You deserve happiness.”

I snort, the bitterness rising like bile in my throat. “Oh yeah? And how would you react if the man you flirted with turned out to have a girlfriend at home? One he calls 'honey' as a pet name?”

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