Page 11 of Sneaky Santa

“And you were, but people always have a right to change their minds.” She grinned wickedly. Justine always did have a deeply romantic streak.

“And if I wanted to tell him I forgive him, where might I find him?” I asked with an answering smile.

“I might have asked him to meet me at that little grill down on Seventh Street.”

I stood up and crossed to the closet. I pulled out my coat over my jeans and sweater. “Justine Hex, you planned this.”

She lifted a shoulder. “Someone’s got to play fairy godmother.”

Noah

Ishowedupatthe little grill that Justine asked to meet me at. I was sorry the label had failed, but I hoped we could find the acts new contracts, if not with our company, maybe the Sparks would take them on. I felt like such a dupe letting Dick swindle me like that, and I deserved whatever I got, but I hadn’t meant to hurt anyone else. The board was making their decision next week, but I expected they’d be firing me. I deserved it.

I sipped the beer I’d ordered and told the waitress that I was still waiting on a friend. It wasn’t like Justine to be late, but it wasn’t like I had good news for her. I sighed.

The snow fell outside the window. There were still crowds outside this close to the holiday, rushing by. The Christmas lights wound around the poles and decorated all of the shops and restaurants. It was pretty, and if I hadn’t been so miserable, I might have enjoyed it.

Worse than all the work stuff was that I’d lost any chance I had with Lily. I hadn’t realized how much I’d come to like her until the whole debacle was over. I kept remembering how kind and compassionate she’d been at dinner. She could have moaned about her ex using her songs and trying to steal from her, but instead she’d spoken honestly about her music and her passion. She hadn’t bad-mouthed him even though he deserved it. I didn’t think I could have held myself together like that.

The chemistry in our kiss had been magnetic, and now I’d gone and lost my chance with her. And I didn’t really have anyone to blame but myself. I could have noticed Dick’s duplicity right from the start. I could have . . . I could have, should have, would have . . . It wasn’t going to make any difference. What was I going to do without my job? I’d never be hired in music again, and I’d have trouble getting a position of equal stature anywhere else. I’d be back to managing bands, hustling on the street. I’d done that before and worked my way up, but I didn’t want to do it forever.

I lifted the beer glass and saw a familiar face striding toward me. She stopped at the edge of my table.

“Lily . . .” I trailed off.

“Noah, I . . .” She nibbled on her lip. “I came to tell you that I forgive you.”

I swallowed. “No, you don’t have to do that. I deceived you . . . it wasn’t fair.”

“Only because you thought I was a scammer,” she said, sliding into the seat across from me. “And you did everything you could to rectify it. I heard you fired Dick.”

“Well, Dick was a dick,” I muttered.

She giggled. “That he was. I can’t believe I dated that jerk for so long.”

“And gave your songs to him. Your fantastic, amazing songs,” I said. “You have real talent, Lily. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize it right away.”

She blushed. “Thank you.”

I reached for her hands across the table, taking them in mine. “I know I have no right to ask, but would you be willing to give me another chance? I really care about you, and I’d love to get to know you better as the real me. Not as a Santa.”

“I think I’d like that.”

“You would?”

She nodded.

I stood up and pulled her into my arms. I couldn’t wait another moment to kiss her. The moment our lips touched, all was right with the world. I couldn’t help feeling like this, like we were meant to be. Nothing else mattered. Not the song. The company. None of it.

We settled down at the table again and ordered dinner. She told me about her family and her music, and I told her about mine. How I’d grown up with the Sparks and had always been jealous of their large happy family. I’d had my brother Liam, but our parents had never been around much, and we’d been left to fend for ourselves a lot. “Kind of like now, I guess,” I said. “Once the board fires me, I’ll be fending for myself.”

Lily squeezed my hand in sympathy.

After dinner, we went walking and explored the Christmas lights, and we stopped under any mistletoe we found and made out like teenagers. But eventually, it was too cold and I knew I needed to get her home.

“Shall I call you a cab?”

She slid closer to me, stroking my chin and the little tuft of a beard I had there. “I’d rather go back to your place.”

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