Her Christmas Mistake

Chapter2

Doing Something Different

Marie's POV

The hand on my waist tightened, and before my brain caught up, someone whispered right against my ear..

“Relax, babe. It’s just me.”

I spun around so fast I almost elbowed him in the face.

“Ryan? Are you insane?”

Ryan McLaughlin grinned like the i***t he was.. Tall, messy hair and stupidly handsome in that boy-next-door way that made girls forgive him for everything. His arms slid around my waist again, pulling me to him.

“You screamed,” he said. “I thought it would be funny.”

“Funny?” I smacked his chest... hard. “You’re an i***t, Ryan McLaughlin. A big idiot.”

He laughed louder and kissed my forehead.

“Merry Christmas, baby.”

“Yeah, yeah. Merry Christmas,” I muttered, still annoyed but already melting like a fool, and then he kissed me warmly.

Like he hadn’t seen me in months even though it had only been a few hours. I kissed him back because, well… I loved him and because I had been stressed all night and needed something soft, something familiar, something that wasn’t screaming customers or champagne trays or rich men with hungry eyes.

Ryan lifted me slightly, pressing me against the wall and I felt my breath break. His hands slid lower and my fingers tangled in his hair and then... the door burst open, and we jumped apart like guilty teenagers.

My dad, Mr. Edward Bauer, stood in the doorway wearing his old robe with his eyes wide with panic.

“Marie! I heard you scream.” His voice cut off when he saw Ryan and the relief on his face turned instantly into a deep, thunder-cloud frown.

Oh boy.

Ryan cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Evening, Mr. Bauer. Merry Christmas.”

My dad stared at him like he was a mosquito.

“Hmm.”

That was it. Just “hmm.” He turned around and walked back inside without another word and Ryan exhaled and shook his head.

“He hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you,” I whispered.

“Marie, he looks at me like I stole his wallet.”

“Well… you did once,” I said.

Ryan gasped, offended.

“That was a joke!”

“You still walked out with it.”

He grinned again and leaned close, kissing me softly this time like he wanted round two. I let it last a few seconds before forcing myself to pull away.

“Okay, stop. Enough. I’m tired.”

He rested his forehead on mine.

“Come out with me tonight. Just for a bit. There’s a party at Connor’s and I want you there.”

“No,” I said immediately.

“Come on.”

“I said no, Ryan. I’m exhausted.”

He groaned but I pushed gently at his chest.

“Go home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Fine,” he said, pretending to be upset. “I’ll message you.”

“You better.”

He kissed my cheek and walked down the hallway. I went inside, closing the door behind me.

Dad was waiting in the living room with arms crossed. Here we go.

“You scared me,” he said. “I thought someone attacked you.”

“Sorry,” I sighed. “Ryan grabbed me from behind.”

He muttered something under his breath.

“Of course he did.”

“Dad...”

He cut me off.

“Marie, how many times will I say it? Ryan is not good for you.”

I threw my hands up.

“Can we not do this tonight?”

“I’m serious,” he said. “That boy is a joke and a playboy. He’ll break your heart one day and I don’t want to pick up the pieces.”

“He won’t,” I insisted. “Ryan loves me and I love him. Why is that so hard to accept?”

Dad shook his head slowly.

“Because I know boys like him. They chase, they charm and they leave.”

“Well, that’s not Ryan,” I said stubbornly.

Silence stretched between us and Dad pinched the bridge of his nose, tired. I regretted my tone instantly. I hated fighting with him. It was just… he never gave Ryan a chance. After a moment, his voice softened.

“You look like her, you know.”

I froze.

“Like Mom?”

He nodded and the anger in his eyes melted away, replaced by something warm, painful and yet soft. Every time he talked about her, the whole room changed.

“You have her smile,” he murmured. “Same stubborn chin and same spark in your eyes. Sometimes I see you and for a second, I see her too.”

I loved moments like this. Dad rarely talked about Mom but when he did, it felt like she was in the room.

“I miss her,” I whispered.

“I know,” he said. “Me too.”

We didn’t talk much after that. I showered, changed into pajamas and crawled into bed thinking about everything... Ryan’s kiss, Dad’s sigh, Mom’s memory, Dana’s party invitation, even that sexy guy at the gala whose stare had burned holes through me. Weird night, huh?

By the next evening, I stood in front of my mirror struggling with my zipper and my nerves. The red dress Dana picked for me hugged my body like it was painted on it. I looked… different. Hot, even. Was this really me?

A car honked outside.

“Marie!” Dad called. “Dana’s here!”

I smoothed my hair, grabbed my huge long coat and rushed out of my room.

Dad eyed the coat suspiciously.

“Why are you dressed like you're going into a snowstorm?”

“It’s cold,” I lied.

He didn’t buy it, but he didn’t push.

“Don’t be late.”

“I won’t,” I said, kissing his cheek before stepping outside.

Dana’s flashy little car was waiting. I opened the door and climbed in and Dana’s eyes widened.

“Girl. What is that coat?”

“Clothes,” I muttered.

“You look like someone’s grandma.”

“I’m hiding my dress.”

Dana made a dramatic gagging noise.

“Take. It. Off.”

I groaned but unbuttoned it slowly and the moment the coat slipped off my shoulders, her jaw dropped.

“Oh my God…” she breathed. “Marie Bauer. You’re hot.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Shut up.”

“No, seriously. If I were a man... all eyes tonight will be on you.”

“Can we go? Before I change my mind?”

Dana laughed and sped off.

***

The party was loud, crowded and filled with people who looked like they had trust funds in their trust funds. There were expensive colognes and glittering jewelry everywhere. Not really the place I belonged.

“I hate this,” I whispered.

“Relax,” Dana said, linking her arm with mine. “Just follow my lead.”

I tried. I really did.. but within minutes, some guy grabbed her arm, said something flirty and she was gone... laughing, giggling and walking away with him.

I stared after her feeling abandoned.

“Cool,” I muttered. “Great. Amazing.”

Not wanting to look lost, I made my way toward the bar. At least the bartender didn’t judge. I sat on a stool and ordered a soda because I wasn’t about to get drunk around strangers.

I had barely taken the first sip when a guy slid into the seat next to me.

He was tall with too much cologne and a face that screamed I think I'm hot but I’m trash. He leaned close immediately.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

I moved away.

“No.”

He laughed like that was cute.

“Relax. I just want to talk. How much?”

I blinked.

“How much what?”

He tilted his head.

“Come on. A girl like you in a dress like that? You working? Hooker? Escort? Don’t be shy.”

My face burned with anger.

“Firstly, I’m not a hooker. Second of all, even if I was, you couldn’t afford me.”

He whistled low.

“Feisty.”

“Rude,” I shot back.

He leaned even closer with his breath smelling like beer.

“Come on. How much for a wild night?”

I stared at him like he was something I scraped off my shoe.

“How much for you to get lost?”

He laughed and grabbed my hand roughly, but then a shadow swallowed the light behind us.

The guy’s face changed instantly with fear sliding into his eyes. He stood up so fast his chair scraped the floor and backed away without a single word.

That was weird...very weird.

I turned around slowly to see what sent him packing, and my breath caught in my throat…