Secure A Luna For Christmas

2. The Words That Broke Me

Molly

I can’t believe this right now. I’m not going to let this happen. I stand right in front of the door, blocking the entrance like a bouncer. She’s not stepping inside this apartment. Not tonight. Not ever.

Josh lets out a dramatic sigh and rolls his eyes. “What the hell are you doing, Mo? Move.”

I cross my arms and dig my boots into the floor. “No. This is absurd, Josh. I’m your girlfriend, remember? And I’m telling you, this doesn’t make sense. Can’t you see she’s playing you? She obviously has feelings for you.”

Josh actually snorts. “You’ve lost your mind. Jade and I are just friends. Nothing more.”

I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Oh, sure. Just friends who kiss outside your office while you’re comforting her broken heart. Totally normal friendship behavior.”

Behind him, Jade lowers her gaze like she’s embarrassed, but I swear her lips twitch. “Please don’t fight because of me,” she says in that soft, innocent voice that makes me want to roll my eyes into next week. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. I’ll just go. Maybe stay in the park or something.”

She clutches her coat tighter, looking all fragile and pitiful. It’s pure performance, and Josh falls for it.

He turns to me, face hardening. “You see what you’ve done? She has nowhere to go, and you’re being cold and unkind, Mo.”

“Unkind?” I repeat, glaring at him. “You’re seriously blaming me for not wanting another woman who kissed you to stay here? Have you completely lost your…”

“Enough, Molly.” His voice slices through mine sharply. “If you can’t be welcoming, then maybe you should leave.”

For a second, I think my ears glitched. The words hang there, heavy and ridiculous, until they hit me full force. Did he just…?

“What did you say?” I ask quietly.

He doesn’t even look at me. His jaw is tight and his fists are clenched

“Please don’t say that, Josh. You’re hurting her feelings.” Jade's voice drips sympathy. Then she turns to me, still performing. “Josh didn’t mean that, Molly. Don’t mind him.”

Josh drags a hand through his hair, sighing. “I didn’t mean it. I was just frustrated. But Mo, please, in the spirit of the holidays, can we just be kind?”

I want to laugh. I want to throw a candy cane at his head. But mostly, I’m just tired. I’ve spent hours decorating this apartment, cooking his favorite meal, trying to make tonight perfect. And now? I’m too exhausted to fight.

So I step aside.

“Thank you. She'll sleep in the guest room,” Josh says with a smile that feels like a slap. He walks in, her bag in hand, and Jade trailing beside him.

I stay by the door, staring at the blinking Christmas lights I hung earlier. They look dimmer now. Maybe it’s the lighting. Or maybe it’s just me.

I take a deep breath and step inside the apartment, shutting the door behind me.

Snow, my little Chihuahua, instantly starts barking the moment she spots Jade lounging near the couch. Her tiny body is shaking like she’s about to take on a burglar, not a woman in designer boots.

“Wow… nice design,” Jade says, pretending not to notice the death glares coming from Snow.

“Yeah, Molly designed this,” Josh says, wrapping an arm around me and kissing my cheek. It’s supposed to be sweet, I guess, but I don’t even react. My energy for fake smiles and holiday cheer officially expired about ten minutes ago.

“I’ll be inside,” I say flatly, already heading for the bedroom. Snow trots right beside me, still throwing suspicious glances over her shoulder at Jade.

“Molly,” Jade calls out softly, stopping me mid-step. “Thank you for letting me stay.”

As if I agreed to that.

“And… Merry Christmas,” she adds.

“Oh, it’s officially Christmas,” Josh says cheerfully.

I don’t reply. I just keep walking, Snow still glued to my feet, and close the door behind me.

….

Sunlight smacks me right in the face, and I groan. Perfect. Even the universe wants to annoy me today. I blink a few times and instinctively reach for the other side of the bed…empty, of course. Josh is gone. Probably up early to hang out with his “bestie.”

With a sigh, I drag myself out of bed and shuffle to the bathroom. A quick shower and teeth brushing later, I slip into the rose-colored knee-length dress Josh bought me for my birthday. It’s cute, feminine, and way too nice for how I’m feeling right now, but whatever. I’m starving.

The smell of fresh coffee hits me the moment I step into the living room. My stomach growls like a wild animal. I follow the scent into the kitchen and nearly choke on air.

There’s Jade. Standing there in red lingerie. Not just any lingerie…a g-string that could probably be mistaken for dental floss. And she’s sipping coffee like she owns the place.

“What’s going on? What are you doing right now?” I ask, shaking my head in disapproval.

She glances at me, completely unfazed. “What does it look like? Making pancakes and drinking coffee.”

“Dressed like that? Don’t you have any self-respect or… clothes?” I sigh, rubbing my forehead.

She lets out a small laugh. “Relax, it’s nothing to worry about. Josh is like my brother. There’s absolutely nothing going on.”

I almost laugh, but it comes out as a sharp exhale. “Oh yeah, because brothers and sisters totally hang out half-naked making pancakes together.”

Before I can continue, Josh strolls in, all casual and sleepy, like this is completely normal. His eyes shift between us.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

I point at Jade. “What’s going on? Can you not see what she’s wearing?”

Josh groans. “Mo, don’t start again. It’s not the first time you’ve seen someone in a bikini, right? Stop acting insecure. Jade and I are just friends.”

I blink at him. “A bikini? That’s your takeaway? You seriously…”

He cuts me off with a tired sigh. “If you’re so bothered, you can change into one too.”

I just stand there, mouth open, brain short-circuiting, while the two of them walk off to the couch with their coffee and pancakes.

I open the fridge, grab a bottle of water, and chug it down. I need something cold to keep me from losing it.

Then I hear Josh’s voice again. “What’s this?”

“I think it’s a gift,” Jade says softly.

I turn around just in time to see Josh unwrapping the Christmas gift I got him. My heart does a little nervous flip, even though I already know what’s inside.

“Wow, it’s beautiful,” Jade gushes before he even reacts. “If I’d known Molly bought you a watch, I wouldn’t have gotten you a Rolex.”

A Rolex. Of course. She lifts Josh’s wrist, making sure I see the shiny, overpriced thing glinting under the light. Her smile is sugary sweet, but it stings like salt.

I can’t believe this.

Josh grins, completely oblivious. “It’s fine. Thanks again for the watch, Jade. I promise to get you a big gift when I get my first paycheck. You know I just got this job.”

And then, as if to stab me straight in the chest, he tosses my watch…the one I saved up for…onto the couch like it’s some cheap souvenir.

That’s it. I snap.

“That’s enough. I want her out of here.” I march toward them, my pulse racing.

Josh sighs, already annoyed. “Molly, not again…”

“I don’t want her here anymore, Josh. Tell her to go.”

He stands, eyes blazing. “That’s enough! If you can’t accept her, then leave my apartment. I’ve had enough of this.”

For a second, I can’t move. “What?” My voice comes out small, shaky. “You’re asking me to leave?”

I stare at him, my throat tightening. We’ve been together for five years. And he’s choosing her…the woman who kissed him a day ago…over me.

Josh doesn’t even look guilty.

“Please don’t say that, Josh,” Jade says softly, playing the innocent card again. “Molly’s your girlfriend. It’s better I leave.”

But Josh shakes his head. “No. You’re not going anywhere. If she can’t accept this, then she can f*****g leave.”

And that’s the final crack.

All the years I’ve spent doing everything for him, being patient, understanding, loving, everything….and this is how he repays me.

“Fine then,” I manage, my voice barely holding steady. “I’ll leave.”

I storm into the bedroom, refusing to let the tears fall. I throw my clothes into my bag, not caring if they’re folded or not. They’re few anyway since I only packed for a week. Snow jumps off the bed, tail wagging nervously. I scoop her up and head straight for the door.

“Molly! Molly, wait!” Jade calls after me, but I don’t even glance back.

I slam the door behind me and head for the elevator. By the time I step outside, the cold air hits me…and so do the tears. They spill uncontrollably, burning down my cheeks. I wipe them away angrily, trying to pull myself together as I walk toward my car.

I slide into the driver’s seat and shut the door, the silence pressing in around me. My hands rest on the steering wheel as I stare ahead, blinking hard.

Home isn’t an option. Mom will only nag, and my best friend Amber’s off with her boyfriend. That leaves one place.

I exhale shakily, starting the engine. Whispering Pine.

It’s the perfect place to clear my head. A place where no one can see me fall apart.