James the Christmas Grouch

4

2 Days Before Christmas

I pushed my cart through the aisle of the hardware store. Decorations of all kinds lined the aisle. I had already been here once, right after Thanksgiving. I had picked up tons of ornaments and lights. Tonight, we'd finally be putting them to use.

I stopped my cart by the Christmas tree stands. How I had forgotten one of these? Honestly, I knew the answer. Growing up, I never had to think about it. We just had one. But I was an adult now. I needed to start thinking two steps ahead. I lifted up one of the stands and examined it. I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for. It seemed good enough.

"You ready to go?" Rob asked as he dumped some stuff into the cart.

I jumped. I'd been so lost in my own thoughts that I had completely forgotten he was roaming around the store too. "Um, do you think this one is good?" I held it out to him.

He picked it up and turned it around, twisting some of the little knobs sticking out. "How the hell should I know?" He tossed it into the cart.

I laughed. "What did you get?" I was about to reach into the cart when he slapped my hand.

"It's a surprise. No peeking."

Whatever it was, he had already bought it. It was in a plastic bag tied tight. "Is that my Christmas present?" I asked.

"Yeah. I figured I had to get you something good since you'll be giving me head come Christmas morning."

I'm pretty sure my face was scarlet. "What are you talking about? I never said that."

"Are you seriously not taking my advice? Every guy just wants head."

"Okay, maybe. But that just means maybe I'll give it to my fiancé. Not you."

"Perfect. I just tricked you into getting him the perfect gift." He thrust his hips forward suggestively. In the middle of the hardware store.

"Stop it," I said through my laughter. I hit his arm but he didn't stop thrusting. "You're completely ridiculous." I kept my head down to hide my embarrassment as I pushed my cart toward the checkout. But it didn't stop me from being aware of the flashing lights. God, the paparazzi were relentless. Usually they didn't follow me. They preferred to bother James to no end. After all, he was the famous one. Why did it seem like they weren't letting up recently?

Rob sensed my annoyance and stepped in front of me, blocking them from view as I checked out. I handed the cashier cash and tapped my foot nervously as I waited for the change.

"You're the girl," the cashier said. He snapped his fingers like he was trying to place me. "The one who slept with James Hunter."

What did he want me to say? Congratulations, you are correct? "I think you have the wrong person," I said instead as I grabbed the change he handed me.

He looked at the paparazzi and then back at me. "If you say so."

I loved James. I'd move to the ends of the earth for him. But sometimes I just hated New York. I grabbed my bag and walked as quickly as possible toward the car parked outside. Ian stepped out and opened up the door for me.

"Thank you," I said and ducked into the back seat. I exhaled the breath I had been holding as soon as Ian closed the door. James was right. It was really nice having Ian around.

Rob opened up the door on the other side and slid in next to me. "Where to next?"

"Home."

"Lame. Let's go do something fun."

"I have a million things to do before James gets home."

"Let's go get drunk and ice skate."

I laughed and stared at him. "Maybe you can call some of your friends to do that."

"Ugh. They're all working. We could meet up with some of your friends though. That's a great idea. Make sure to invite a single girl you want to set me up with."

I swallowed hard. "Oh. I mean...I feel like it's last minute. They're probably all busy."

He lowered his eyebrows slightly. I hated when he did that. It reminded me so much of James. And it made me just want to confess everything to him.

"You're such a liar," he said. "Have you seriously made no friends here?"

"No! I've made friends. There's Mason and Matt," I said, naming two of James' friends that hung out with us sometimes. "And you."

Rob's eyes seemed to grow. "Those aren't your friends, Penny. They're James'."

"And by association, they're mine too." I tried not to say it defensively, but it came out a little angry. "James and I hang out together in our free time. And everyone..." my voice trailed off. "Rumors spread, Rob. Just because we moved doesn't mean people stopped talking."

He gave me a sympathetic smile. "Home it is."

I looked down at my hands that were twisted in knots. "You can still go out and have fun tonight, though."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"No."

"Your voice just got all weird and high pitched."

"No it didn't."

"You just did it again. I get the hint. You want some alone time with my little bro."

"Little bro? He's your older brother."

"But I'm bigger where it counts." He winked at me. His phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket. He laughed. "Look. I'm famous." He showed me a picture of him thrusting in the middle of the hardware store, with my arm wrapped around his bicep.

"You were already famous." I grabbed his phone from him. "Torrid affair up in flames?" I said, quoting the article. "Seriously? Now they think I'm cheating on James with you?" I tossed the phone back at him.

He leaned forward slightly. "Well if they already think so..."

"Don't make me lace your hot chocolate."

He chuckled and leaned back in his seat. "I'll get out of your hair tonight. But seriously, Penny, talk to some of your classmates. I'm sure they're not all that bad."

I thought about how the whispers always seemed to stop when I entered a room. The way guys stared at me like I was easy. I didn't want to get to know them. And I didn't need to get to know them. I was perfectly happy just the way things were.

***