Chapter One
“I’vebeenghosted.”
“What?!” My best friend Holly cries, falling into step beside me with her fresh mall pretzel. Its buttery smell makes my mouth water and my stomach turn at the same time.
“Yep. The third time this week.”
“Fuck, Vix, I’m so sorry. I know you liked Chris.”
“Josh.”
“What?”
“This one was Josh. Chris was the last one that ghosted.”
“Jesus. What is it with men these days?”
“Hell if I know. Even when you just want a night of fun they still ghost. I don’t understand it.”
Holly sighs. “Do you want my pretzel?” She holds the massive thing in front of my face as we walk through the busy mall, past a gingerbread-scented candle store. “It’s not a big dick but it is salty.”
My cheeks turn pink, and I glare at my friend. “Say that a little louder, would you?” I hiss. “And no, I don’t want your pretzel.”
It’s Christmas Eve and the mall is surprisingly busy with people—especially since it’s almost closing time. For all the shoppers milling around us, I’m surprised nobody heard her.
She cackles. “Lighten up,” she takes a bite of her pretzel and moans. “Damn, I forgot how good these things are. So buttery.”
As my friend enjoys her pretzel and we walk past another few stores, I glance at my phone. It’s open to the dating app I was on, one meant for both hookups and long-term relationships. Unfortunately for me, I haven’t had luck with either.
When I first started looking, it was for a boyfriend. But after many failed dates and ghostings, I decided it was time to at least have some fun. I haven’t had sex in far too long, two years to be exact, and I want—noneed—the release.
I thought it would be easy to find a decent man to “dick me down” as Holly put it, especially so close to Christmas when people are in town visiting family or feeling lonely like I am over the holidays, but no such luck. I guess it’s going to be me and my hand on Christmas Eve.
I sigh and fight back tears. I shouldn’t be this sad about not meeting up with a random guy from a dating app on one of the holiest nights of the year. But I am.
“Vixen.” My friend pulls me to a stop near a sign for Santa’s Village. She brushes off the remaining crumbs of pretzel from her hand, and before I can question what she’s doing, she takes me into a hug and squeezes me tight.
“Holls—”
“Shhh,” she says, rubbing my back. “Just let me comfort my best friend.”
Despite everything, I smile and hug her back.
“It’s going to be fine. You’ll find someone, I just know it.”
“I appreciate your optimism. But it’s also easy for you to say since you have a hot Swedish boyfriend who treats you like a queen.”
Holly laughs. “Maybe so, but it’s Christmas Eve,” she pats my back and pulls away so I can see her brown eyes and diamond-shaped face framed with long auburn hair. “Plus, you’re scorching hot, and look sexy as sin in that dress—so I’d say there’s still time for a miracle dicking.”
I bark a laugh and shake my head at my friend again, she’s ridiculous. I did dress up for the date that ghosted me, choosing a deep green V-neck velvet dress, black tights and black ankle boots. The color makes my wavy ice blond bob and the red lipstick I chose to wear pop. She’s right, I do look hot.
I blow out a long breath. “If we’re going for miracles, I should probably hope for a real relationship instead of a one-night stand. One like you and Elias have.”
Her grin widens as if she’s thinking of him and all the nice things he does. They’ve been together for nine months now, but he’s currently in Sweden for Christmas, visiting family.
Holly pats my biceps. “I want that for you, but let’s start with something easier and work up to the big time commitment, okay killer?”
“Right. That’s probably for the best.”
