Page 10 of If This Was a Movie

With a bone-deep sigh, I return to staring at the chaos that is going on in front of my place, trying to figure out some kind of makeshift plan that doesn’t require spending all my savings on a hotel, staying with a stranger, or, worst of all, calling my mother. But I’m sidetracked when there’s a tug at my tutu, and I look down to see a small girl with blonde curly hair.

“It’s you!” she yells. “It’s you! I told my dad it would be a Christmas miracle!” I stand frozen as she stares at me, wide blue eyes locked on me before her arms wrap around my legs and squeeze me tight. Then she looks at me again, determination on her little face now. “You need to come meet my dad,” she demands.

“What? I’m sorry, honey, are you…” I look around to see if there’s an adult around that she belongs to, but come up empty, everyone wandering around us completely ignorant of my panic. “Are you lost? Do you need help?”

The little girl shakes her head adamantly. “No, you’re going to be my dad’s new wife. It’s my Christmas wish! Wow, Santa really does work fast.”

My eyes go wide and my mouth drops open because, clearly, there’s been some huge misunderstanding and somehow, some way, my night has just gotten worse. “I’m sorry, I?—”

She tugs on my hand, trying to get me to move, determination in her tiny stance. “Come on! You’ve gotta meet my dad.” She’s quickly getting annoyed or fed up with my not doing what she’s asking, and if I wasn’t alarmed, I’d probably find it funny.

“Sweetie, I think we should stay here, we can?—”

“Sophie!” a deep, loud voice calls from behind me, the voice far too familiar. A voice I do not want to hear on what might be the shittiest night of my life. Still, because I’m a glutton for punishment, I turn to where the frantic voice is coming from.

And then I see him.

Actually, then I see them, cementing the fact that someone up there really, truly hates me because my day just went from shit to absolutely horrific.

FIVE

NEW YEAR’S EVE, LAST YEAR

JULES

We walk out to the parking lot to find our cars are parked right next to each other, and once again, I can’t help but think this is some kind of kismet situation. Like my time has finally come, and this is some kind of romance movie moment.

He takes me to the driver's side of my car, and we stand there for a moment.

“I’d really love you to come to my place tonight,” he says, voice low and warm. “Or I could go to your place if you’re more comfortable, or—” he starts, but I cut him off, knowing my place is an absolute disaster zone and I’d like to see where this man lives.

“Your place is fine.”

“Does a friend have your location?” he asks. There’s barely six inches between us, my mind reeling with all the possibilities this night could bring and not really listening to his question.

“What?”

“Does a friend have your location? Like on their phone?” He tips his chin to where my cellphone is in my hand.

“Oh, I mean…” I start, but the answer is yes, both Harper and Ava have my location and I have theirs. He must see the answer because he nods.

“Okay, good. Tell them you’re coming to my place, give them my address. 14 Oak Avenue.”

Understanding what he means, I find myself smiling as I start to type out his name and info into our group chat before I look up with a faux glare. “You know, my best friend is engaged to a guy with a security firm. He could run a background check on you. Anything I should know?” I watch his face meticulously, trying to see if there’s even the hint of some secret he wouldn’t want exposed, but see nothing but an easy smile.

“Tell him to check away. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

“Okay. Text sent,” I say, my phone buzzing in my hand already with a response.

Ava

A MAN?

Harper

Where did you meet him?

Ava

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