Page 25 of Holly, Jolly, and Oh So Naughty

In the furthest corner of the room stands a gigantic Christmas tree that’s positively swimming in blue, silver, and gold lights. The only things keeping the tree from looking bare are the countless tickets tucked into the branches. Yet another small game for people to bid on to win a random prize. The band setting up next to the tree will play for a couple of hours, and then they will have to clear the stage for the auction, which will be the most nerve-racking part of the night.

That’s where the real money will be raised, and my plans for the free clinic ride entirely on the funds from it.

Checking my cupcakes one last time, I turn on the cooling rack to keep the icing from melting in the room’s heat and head back to the entrance. I pass by the photo booth set up near the door and step quickly past the projectors sending starry constellations across the walls, making a beeline for one of the smaller closets.

My phone remains silent, and while I will be here all night while Emma has a sleepover with a friend, I was expecting James to call. We’re supposed to be attending this together as our maindateso that James can fully pretend we are dating.

Only, he’s not here.

He’s never struck me as someone to be late, but given his job, maybe that’s just the nature of things now. He wasn’t treating people when I met him. He was just a sidekick to his father’s speeches.

Slipping into the room, a smile immediately creeps across my face when I spot a bottle of champagne wrapped in a bow sitting on the table next to my dress.

Approaching, I pick up the small white card attached to it and warmth blooms through my chest.

‘Sorry I couldn’t stay, but you’re going to do amazing! Love you, Amelia’

Amelia had helped me get all of my cakes here, and she’d helped me set up all three tiers of the gigantic cake for the main display. It was just a pity I couldn’t say goodbye before she left.

Putting that out of my mind, I quickly shed my jeans and T-shirt, and in the nearby sink, I wash away any lingering icing or flour that still clings to my skin. Retouching my makeup, it’s time to squeeze into my dress.

My skin is clammy as nerves start to set in.

What if no one bids? What if there just aren’t pockets deep enough to fully fund a clinic? Am I asking too much from the people of this town?

If it fails, if I fail, will I always be remembered as the fool who tried to create a free clinic withcakes?

A sudden pull of nausea rushes through my gut as I step into my red dress. It’s figure-hugging with ruffles around my hips and chest to give the illusion of bigger curves, but with my nerves making me sweat, the silky fabric catches against my skin.

“Fuck.” The more the dress sticks on its way up my body, the more flustered I become, which gets me trapped in a cycle of hot flashes, sweaty skin, and a dress that sticks everywhere I don’t want it to.

Straightening up, I pull the dress up to my boobs and force a deep breath while flapping one hand near my neck to try and cool myself down.

Suddenly, the door opens at the same time someone knocks, and James pokes his head through. “Lily? Are you—oh, my God, I am so sorry!”

He immediately slaps one hand over his eyes, stepping into the room and closing the door while I spin away from him with a squeal.

“James! What the hell?”

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t expect you to be changing in here!”

“Why not? Did you think I would get dressed up andthenset out a few hundred cakes?”

“I mean…” James hisses through his teeth. “No, of course not. I wasn’t thinking.”

“And you should have knocked!” I hold the dress to my back as another hot flush consumes my body, sending another rush of prickling sweat down my spine and around my thighs.

“Technically, I did.”

“You don’t knock and enter at the same time!”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

I glance over my shoulder. James is pressed against the door with his hand still firmly over his eyes while I stand here, feeling pathetic with a dress halfway over my body.

“I’ll leave.”

“No,” I snap. “You might as well help me get into this damn dress.”

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