Page 9 of His Christmas Wish

“Yeah, it always reminds me of Christmas. Gingerbread cookies. Warn fire. Hot cup of cocoa,” he says, dreamily.

I smile and take one of the candles for myself.

Harry grins at me, and his eyes twinkle.

Man, to be a fly on the wall at his house.

We finish our shopping after Harry gets everything he needs. Afterward, we take a side tour to the dancing Santas, elves, and giant ass reindeer.

I have no interest in buying any of them.

“So, I guess you’ll be heading home for the holidays?” I ask.

“Actually, this year my parents are on a cruise with their neighbours for Christmas, so I’ll be spending it alone in my apartment. But that’s okay. I’ve got a Stuart McLean audio book and enough food to power me through the holidays. It’ll be fun. Something different.”

His cheerful tone at spending the holidays alone is mind blowing. Not because I like spending it with people, but Harry is such a people person. He’s always introducing himself to every Tom, Dick and, well, Harry, who passes by. I’d think spending Christmas alone would bother him. But he’s got that big dumb smile on his face, so I guess not.

“Aren’t you bothered about being alone for the holidays?” I ask, slightly miffed at his ability to be okay with this. I don’t understand why I feel this way. As it was, I was a little sad just asking when he’d be going home.

Harry puts down the packages of Christmas lights and then shrugs.

“Not really. Next Christmas we’ll be together and I’m going to see them in February.”

“But you love Christmas, and you’re spending it alone in your apartment. Does that make you mad?” My voice starts to raise so I take a deep breath and try to calm down.

“You don’t even like Christmas,” he says slowly. “Or me, for that matter. Why are you getting mad?”

Fuck, I don’t know!

“I don’t know,” I said honestly.

“I-I don’t know what to tell you, Ayaka. I’m fine with it. It’s not like Christmas is the only time I’m allowed to see them.”

We take a seat on a bench, and I drop my head into my hands.

“What’s wrong?” Harry asks and rubs my back.

“I don’t know. I guess…I just don’t understand why you’re okay with spending Christmas alone.”

“You spend it alone,” he counters, his voice gentle.

“I know, but I’m me and you’re you. Christmas in Japan was for couples, not families. Like Valentine’s Day here. I’m used to spending Christmas alone. I don’t even understand Christmas. Sitting on Santa’s lap, telling children that this man keeps track of whether you’re good or bad, then telling children he enters your home and puts things underneath the tree. It’s a bit creepy, isn’t it?”

“I guess,” Harry chuckles. “But Christmas is supposed to be magical, not logical.”

I get up and pace the hall while rubbing my forehead and muttering to myself.

“I just don’t get it, Harry, that’s all.” I sigh and shrug. Realising, as I’m saying all this out loud, how ridiculous I sound. Why do I even care?

I know why.

I care because it’s Harry. The man who loves Christmas as much as he loves pumpkin spice lattes and golden retrievers. And his parents. It’s part of his life.

“We can spend Christmas together if you want?” Harry asks softly.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I don’t have anywhere to go this Christmas so we can spend it together. Make some food and open presents.” he offers.

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