Secure A Luna For Christmas

Molly Christmas Eve is supposed to sparkle, to feel warm, magical, even romantic. Mine feels like a prank the universe is personally playing on me. …. The car heater hums as I navigate the crowded streets, singing along to White Christmas like a cheerful i***t. I spent two hours turning Josh's apartment into a holiday shrine…red ribbons, gold lights, his favorite food, and a carefully wrapped watch he’s been drooling over since forever. Tonight should be perfect. Instead, a tiny voice in the back of my head keeps poking me like a persistent mosquito. Something feels… off. Tiny paranoia gremlin whispering, “Molly, check again.” I tell myself to relax. I texted Josh thirty minutes ago, telling him I’m coming to pick him up from work. He should be waiting outside right now with a huge smile as usual. We were supposed to spend Christmas at Whispering Pine…a tiny, quiet town with a cabin I already paid for. But no, Josh had to work on Christmas Eve, so the whole trip got cancelled. Meanwhile I’m still here, crying over the money I spent like it’s a fallen soldier. I pull up in front of the tall law firm building, turn off the engine, and step out. My breath turns white in the cold night air. The parking lot is full of expensive cars that look like they’ve never heard of dust in their entire life. My poor little fairly-used car looks like someone abandoned a depressed toaster among Jaguars and BMWs. But I don’t care. Anything for my boyfriend. Besides, I bought this car myself with money from my vet job. She’s not glamorous, but she’s mine. Josh’s car is at the repair shop, which is why I’m here playing chauffeur. I start walking toward the entrance, but my body freezes before my brain does. There is a familiar figure right near the doors. Josh. Josh and his arms wrapped around a woman. Not a casual hug. Not a church hug. Not a polite pat-on-the-back hug. His hand is on her waist. Her face is pressed into his chest like she’s claiming territorial rights. They look comfortable. Too comfortable. ROMANTIC-MOVIE COMFORTABLE. Before I can breathe, she tilts her head up on her tiptoes and kisses him briefly. Right on the lips. My legs start marching before my brain catches up. Snow crunches under my boots like angry applause. I stop right in front of them. “Josh,” I say through clenched teeth. “What’s the meaning of this?” He jerks away from her. His jaw tightens and he runs a hand through his brown hair. His face tries to look innocent, but the guilty expression ruins it. “Molly. You are here already.” He says flatly. I glare at him. “Josh, what is going on here? Who is this woman.” The woman steps closer to him. She is average height, smooth black hair, long lashes, red lips. Her coat is hugging her curves so tight it should be illegal. I look back at Josh, and he actually scoffs. “Oh for f**k sake, Mo. You got it all wrong. This is Jade. She is my childhood friend.” Jade presses a hand lightly on his chest and looks at me with a smile. “So you are Molly,” she says softly. “I have heard a lot about you from Josh. You're truly so beautiful.” “And yet you were kissing my boyfriend.” I hissed. “Molly.” Josh snaps at me. He steps closer to Jade protectively. “Do not talk to Jade like that. I was comforting her. Her boyfriend cheated on her. She was heartbroken. How could you accuse us of cheating?” He folds his arms and squares his shoulders. He looks annoyed. As if I am the problem. “Apologize to Jade right now!” I stare at him in disbelief. He wants me to apologize? To the woman who just lip-locked him. I can’t even bring myself to speak. I just stare at Josh blankly. He stares right back at me, cold and annoyed. I do not understand what is happening. This morning he kissed me goodbye before I dropped him off. Now he looks like a stranger who wants to sue me for breathing. “Guys, please don’t do this.” Jade places a hand on her chest dramatically. “Don’t fight because of me. I am so sorry, Molly. I should not have done that. I guess I thought Josh was still that bubbly kid from the past, my best friend who I used to kiss playfully. It will not happen again.” She even pouts. I would clap for her performance if I was not seconds away from flipping a table. “Jade, it is alright,” Josh says quickly. He turns to her, not me. “You do not have to apologize. You did nothing wrong. Molly just overreacted.” My mouth almost falls off my face. I cannot believe him. He is actually defending her. He is acting like I stormed in and slapped the president. Meanwhile, this woman is clinging to him shamelessly. I know Josh can be naive and oblivious, but this is an all-time high. Ten minutes later, I somehow end up sitting in a nearby café with both of them. Dinner. On Christmas Eve. With my boyfriend and his kissing buddy. This is not what I planned. We should be in his apartment right now. Eating the food I cooked. Watching a movie. Cuddling. Maybe doing adult activities after. Instead, I am watching Jade flip her hair and laugh at everything Josh says. I grab the glass in front of me and gulp all the water trying to drown my frustrations. The ice hits my teeth and my jaw clenches. Relax, Molly. Just breathe. Just survive this dinner. Then Jade will leave and you can ask Josh why his brain stopped working tonight. They keep talking like I am invisible. Laughing, sharing inside jokes, reminiscing about stories I am not part of. I just sit there, staring at my food with a bored expression. Josh leans closer to Jade. She touches his arm. They laugh again. I swear if they laugh one more time, I might actually lose it. I try to stay calm. I tell myself to give Josh the benefit of the doubt. Childhood friend, fine. Old memories, fine. But flirting right in front of me? Not fine. Not fine at all. My patience has already packed its bags and moved to another country. I clear my throat. “Josh.” My voice slices through their laughter. They both look up. “I think we should leave now. It is almost eleven.” Josh nods and smiles at me. “You are right. We better head home. Jade must be tired.” “Yes, let us send her off so she can go rest.” I try to smile at Jade, but my smile feels like it is made of cardboard. Jade pouts, lips curved slightly. She turns to Josh with big sad eyes. “I am new in town. I do not have anywhere else to go. Can I stay at your apartment? It is either that or I sleep in the car park.” My brain stops working.Did she just suggest moving into my boyfriend’s apartment? On Christmas Eve? I stare at her. Is she serious? Josh looks at me, inhaling deeply. “She does not have anywhere to go, Molly. Let her come with us.” I blink. My mouth opens but nothing comes out.