PROLOGUE
LILY
“I don’t thinkI’m doing this whole winter wish list thing right,” I admitted to my two best friends with a grimace. We were sitting on the fluffy rug in my living room around a coffee table covered with glitter pens, sugar cookies, and three half-empty margarita glasses.
Eliza, who I’d known my whole life and was more like a sister, capped her pen and learned over. “Oh, Lil,” she said with a shake of her head as her eyes scanned the paper. “This won’t do. You can definitely do better. You’reobsessedwith this time of year. Channel that energy.”
I’d spent more time doodlingLily’s Winter Wish Listat the top than coming up with ideas. And the ideas I had weren’t great.
1. Hire help at the café
2. Decorate the cat room
3. Sign up for baking classes
What was supposed to be a fun wish list had turned work-related. Purrfect Blend Cat Café was taking up more and more ofmy time. I was the only employee at my café, which opened last year. I loved that I was able to combine three things I loved most—cats, coffee, and baking—into my career.
My other best friend Jules waved her hand to see the list, and Eliza passed her the paper. Jules, whose full name was Juliette, visited our small town in northern Wisconsin earlier this year. She had intended to stay in Golden Falls for the summer before moving back to Chicago, but things didn’t quite go according to plan. She ended up falling in love with my older brother Wesley and now lived in town, which meant we got to keep her for good.
Jules’s reaction to the list wasn’t much better, but she added encouragingly, “Luckily, it’s not too late! You still have plenty of space.”
I let out a groan, reaching for my margarita and tipping it back, finishing it in one big gulp. “I don’t know why it’s so hard. I love this time of year.” I gestured to my apartment, which was fully decorated for Christmas even though it was the week before Thanksgiving. Yes, I was one ofthosepeople.
My Christmas tree was decked out with garland, lights, and ornaments, and I had three stockings—one for me and one for each of my cats—hanging by the TV. I wanted to spend as much time as possible wrapped up in the warm and cozy holiday spirit.
“It should be easy to come up with what I want to do, but my mind is blanking. All I can think about is how busy it’ll be at the café—and how I’ll be drowning in orders if I don’t hire help.” My shoulders dropped, and I tried not to let my worries get in the way of our night. “What do you have on your lists?”
Eliza handed me hers, and I let out an amused laugh, shaking my head. “This is just a list of places you want to have sex.”
She proudly took the paper back, wiggling her brows. “It’s mynaughtywinter wish list. I’m thinking I’ll tuck it into my bra for a very lucky, very sexy elf to find.”
Jules and I laughed while Eliza grinned. I leaned over to look at Jules’s list next. Hers was a mix of naughty and nice, and I took inspiration from some of the winter and holiday activities she had, like sledding and building a gingerbread house.
“Have fun and try not to overthink it,” Jules encouraged gently. “It might be a busy time of the year, but you also need to take time for yourself and enjoy the holiday season.”
Eliza passed me the rest of her margarita. “Finish this, and I’m going to make another round.” She stood, pointing at the list and the drink. “Progress better be made by the time I’m back—on both fronts. And turn the music up!”
Jules happily reached for her phone, which was connected to my living room speakers, and increased the volume right as “Last Christmas” by Wham! started playing.
The three of us started to belt out the lyrics, and it was easy to tell how tipsy we were by how off-key we sounded…not that we’d be any better sober.
I reached for the glass and took a big sip, which got a satisfied smile out of Eliza before she headed to the kitchen. I loved nights with my girls—whether that meant going out dancing or staying in like we were tonight.
“Oooh,” Jules squealed as she looked over at Eliza’s list. “Creative use of Christmas lights. I’m adding that to mine!”
I let out a mock-groan. I loved that Jules was dating my older brother, but I didn’t need the mental image of them doing god knows what with Christmas lights.
“You can add it to your list, too,” she said in a sing-song tone. “You never know who will come into town for the holidays.”
“I think I’ll stick to something more simple…maybe a kiss under the mistletoe?” Although even that was a stretch with my non-existent dating life.
“Aromantickiss under the mistletoe that takes your breath away,” Jules amended. When I didn’t reach for the pen, she looked at me pointedly. “Aren’t you going to write it down?”
“Yeah, Lil, write it down!” Eliza called from the kitchen.
“Okay, okay,” I conceded and added it to the list after building a gingerbread house and sledding.
A couple more margaritas and a whole bunch of sugar cookies later, we finished making our lists. Yes, parts of mine were practical and about my business, but most of it was fun and included activities I’d been itching to do.
