Page 20 of Their Christmas Miracle

III

Josh’s Elf

Holly

I’m still a little in shock, really. I mean, I’d expected Josh to throw a fit like a little girl, telling me how crazy I am and that he’d never — ever — take a crazy person to his home.

Except… he didn’t.

After I’d said I wanted to see his place, something flashed over his face. It was gone too quick for me to get a handle on it, but it looked almost… pained.

And then he just kind of sagged.

“This is it?” I ask, glancing down either end of the long corridor.

Don’t get me wrong, I can tell this place is posh. My dad must be paying him fucking well for him to afford an upper-class joint like this. But I’m surprised at how tasteful the place is. The apartment block is a ten-minute subway ride from my dad’s office. There was a doorman to let us in —didn’t he throw me the stinkeye when he saw me — and a large, quiet elevator to take us up.

Josh takes a pair of keys from his briefcase and opens the door. He stands aside and for a moment I forget that I have to go in first.

It’s dark inside.

Josh closes the door behind me. I hear his shoes on the tiles and feel the air stirring around me.

Is he going to grab me from behind?

There’s this moment, this long… stifling moment, where I can imagine him doing just that…

And then the place blooms with light.

“Well, there it is.” His voice sounds tight.

Why? Was he nervous about what I’d think? This place is gorgeous! A little minimalistic for my taste — it could really use some shag carpeting and a few colorful throw pillows — but if he decorated this place, then he’s got some serious taste.

Or he’s gay.

Shit, I didn’t even consider that.

That would make a lot of sense.

God, maybe it wasn’t me he had a boner for…

I turn around, staring up at Josh as the thought takes root in my mind.

Ick.

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