Merry Ever After

by Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Lucy Score, Marie Force, Tijan, Kennedy Ryan

  “Yeah,” I muttered, unable to argue with that. “Is it your son you’re trying to get the toy for?”

  “No. Just a boy I know who deserves it. I don’t have kids.”

  “Oh.”

  “Are you married?” he asked.

  I hesitated, then said, “My husband passed away a few years ago.”

  He frowned. “I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you.”

  He was silent for a bit, then said, “We never really properly met. Let’s start over.” He held out his hand. “I’m Bryce Holloway.”

  I took it. “I’m Holly.”

  “Holly Holloway.” He chuckled.

  “What?”

  Did he just put our names together?

  “The combination sounds like something a movie star would be named,” he said.

  “More like a small-town weather girl.” I chuckled.

  “Cornily fantastic name.” He laughed. “What’s your actual last name?”

  “Johanssen.”

  “Swedish?”

  “Yes.”

  “That explains the Nordic beauty.”

  It took me a few seconds to snap out of his vortex.

  “You’re doing it to me.”

  His brow lifted. “What?”

  “Buttering me up. Probably trying to swindle the robot out of me, so I’ll just hand it over to you along with my panties. Not gonna work.”

  Bryce bent his head back in laughter. “While I certainly would not refuse your panties, that wasn’t where I was going with the compliment. Besides…look at my tip jar. Look at yours. I’m thinking you’re the one who needs to start buttering me up, buttercup.”

  A little while later, a guy I’d hoped to never see again slithered up to the table.

  “Holly? I thought that was you.”

  Ugh. I forced a smile. “Hi, Aaron.”

  “This is where you work now? You can’t possibly be making the same dough I was paying you?”

  “I actually don’t work here. I’m sort of volunteering—wrapping for charity.” I leaned to look around him, anxious to move on to the next customer, and pointed. “Do you…uhh...have something for me to wrap? Because there’s a line behind you.”

  He grinned. “I got something for you to wrap alright…”

  The leering tone caught Bryce’s attention. He looked at Aaron and then me. Seeing uncomfortable written all over my face, Bryce handed the package he just finished wrapping to the customer and cleared his throat. “Can I help you with something, buddy? If you have something you want wrapped, I can take care of you.”

  Aaron’s seedy grin widened. “I definitely would rather Holly take care of me.”

  “I have to take the next person, Aaron. Have a good holiday.”

  Aaron leaned down. “You still got the same number? I’ll call you.”

  I’d actually changed my cell phone number because of him. Yet I nodded. “Yep. Bye. Next!”

  After the dirtbag moved along, Bryce leaned to me. “What’s the story there?”

  I blew out a puff of hot air as I shook my head. “Nothing really. He was my boss for a few months. I’d taken a second job for a while, waitressing on the weekends, and he was the manager. He’s just…let’s just say he didn’t get the note that #MeToo was a thing.”

  Bryce’s face hardened. “He touched you?”

  “No, nothing like that. He just made me feel uncomfortable. He would always turn any conversation sexual. Sort of like when he just said he had something for me to wrap. And then, after I left, he kept texting me and asking me to go out. I actually changed my number to avoid him.”

  “That’s harassment. It’s illegal.”

  “Yeah.” I shrugged. “I just quit as soon as I could. I’m a teacher, and a coaching position opened up, so luckily I didn’t need the waitressing job anymore. To be honest, I wasn’t very good at being a server anyway.”

  Bryce frowned, but nodded. “So what do you coach?”

  “Bowling.”

  He smiled. “You’re a good bowler?”

  “I actually am. My parents divorced when I was seven, and my dad had visitation every other weekend and one day a week after school for a few hours. We did homework at the bowling alley while eating pizza and then bowled three games after.”

  “I’ve never been bowling.”

  “Really? How come?”

  Bryce shrugged. “Not sure. I guess it was just not a sport my family was into.”

  “Oh…” I smirked. “Too blue collar for you?”

  Bryce squinted, but his lip twitch gave away he wasn’t really annoyed. For the next half hour or so, we had a steady stream of customers so we were both busy wrapping. The next time we had a lull in the line, I stretched my arms over my head.

  “So what’s your deal, Bryce? What do you do when you’re not stealing toys from unsuspecting single moms, or schmoozing green-eyed old ladies?”

  “I work in a family business.”

  I raised a brow. “Vague much? Is it the mafia or something?”

  He chuckled. “No. If you must know, I was being ambiguous to avoid admitting you were right.”

  “Of course I was. But what was I right about?”

  “Your comments. Earlier you’d said I was entitled because I probably come from money, and then what you said about bowling a little while ago. I’m not admitting I’m entitled, or that bowling is for blue-collar workers, but if I told you that my family owned a string of stores, it would just validate what you already thought of me and you’d gloat.”

  The biggest, most obnoxious smile spread across my face. “Your family owns a string of stores...”

  Bryce rolled his eyes. “Gloater.”

  “Entitled.”

  The corners of his lip twitched again. “Nut job.”

  I laughed. “Alright, so I might have come off a little crazy earlier. I’ll give you that much. But you don’t know what I’ve been through trying to get that damn toy. I spend an hour on websites every morning trying to find one online, and then I run here after school every day to see if any came back in stock. It’s not easy being a single parent.”

  Bryce scanned my face, and his grew serious. “No, I’m sure it’s not. Do you mind if I ask what happened to your son’s dad?”

  I sighed. “He was in a car accident. On Christmas morning, actually.”

  “Shit. I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you. It was four years ago. My son was just a toddler. Will went out to get some batteries for a toy that I’d bought our son—a toy that he wasn’t even big enough to play with yet—and the police knocked on my door an hour later.”

  “Jesus, Holly. That’s awful. And here I am being a jerk to you on Christmas Eve.” Bryce raked a hand through his hair. “I can’t even imagine how hard the holidays are for you.”

  I forced a smile. “Yeah, I think that’s why I always overdo it for my son. I want him to have anything and everything since I can’t give him the one thing he’d probably want more than anything.” I felt myself getting emotional, which I didn’t want to do, so I was relieved when a customer walked up to our table. She had a cart with a few items.

  “I will give you the fattest tip if you can get these done in five minutes. I’m late to meet my boyfriend’s parents for the first time.”

  The woman had been standing in front of Bryce, yet he waved her off and stood. “Holly here will have to take care of you. She’s faster. Plus, I need to go to the men’s room.”

  I don’t know why, but I got the distinct feeling that Bryce had just bowed out so I could get the fat tip the woman had mentioned, and I had mixed feelings about that. Of course, I wanted to take home that stupid robot, but I also didn’t want sympathy. So when he came back, I couldn’t help but say something.

  “I don’t want to sound unappreciative, but if you just went to the bathroom so I could get that tip because you feel bad for me—I’d rather win on my own.”

  Bryce’s eyes flickered to my lips before returning to me
et mine. “Perhaps my motives weren’t as altruistic as you might think…”

  Bryce

  There was no way I could take that damn robot from her now that she’d told me her husband freaking died on Christmas.

  I’d have to figure something else out for that little boy I’d promised to find one for. Maybe after Christmas it would be easier to snatch one up. A lot of people probably hoarded them, and someone was bound to return one. I’d come back and stand guard when the store opened the day after Christmas if I had to. Hopefully, he’d be okay with a belated gift. It’s the thought that counts, right?

  I could’ve just ended this now and told Holly I was going to give her the robot. But then she’d leave, and I might never see her again. I was enjoying getting to know her despite the crazy start we had. And let’s be honest, I found myself insanely attracted to her. Her skin was so smooth, her blond hair like silk. Her eyes were a deep blue, the color of a dark ocean. And her body made me think thoughts that weren’t appropriate to have about someone’s mother. So, yeah, I decided to keep this game going a little while longer, even though I knew I was ultimately going to let her win.

  My line was empty while Holly wrapped a simple tie box to my left. She had this habit of running her tongue along the corner of her mouth whenever she was concentrating. It was adorable and sexy at the same time.

  I bit the bullet and asked, “Are you single, Holly?”

  She placed a piece of tape on the corner of the box as she glanced over at me. “I haven’t dated much since my husband died. Life is just too busy to really make the time.” She tied a bow, then asked, “What about you?”

  “I’m single, yeah.”

  “I know why I’m single, but what’s going on with you?” she asked as she handed the box back to the man.

  He dropped a dollar into her jar. When she frowned, I smiled, knowing that it no longer mattered what she earned. She’d already won and didn’t know it.

  “I’m picky, I guess.” I finally answered honestly. “My mother would tell you I’m selective to a fault. But I don’t think you can be too selective when it comes to a life partner. So, I’m in no rush.”

  A woman appeared, handing me a garden statue of some sort that seemed like it was going to be a nightmare to wrap. Another opportunity for me to look like a dumbass in front of Holly tonight.

  She immediately took notice as I started out by cutting way too much paper.

  “Want some help with this one?” She laughed.

  “Are you sure you want to help the enemy?”

  “In this case, it’s going to honestly be painful to watch, so yeah.” She winked.

  I handed her the scissors and smiled. “Thanks.”

  When she took it, her petite hand brushed along mine, and I became more determined than ever to not leave here tonight without her number.

  “Where is this little competition keeping you from being tonight?” she asked as she cut the paper in a straight line.

  “My family’s annual Christmas get-together. The favorite uncle and life of the party is just going to have to be fashionably late.”

  She cocked a brow. “Well, you’re welcome to give up the fight and leave now.”

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

  The way I’d said that almost sounded…suggestive. I was having way too much fun with Holly, and it hit me that my prolonging this was actually keeping her from her family, which wasn’t fair. Jesus, Bryce. Can you be more selfish?

  I decided to concede now. Then I’d ask her out. In that order. I figured that was the correct chronology, since it was doubtful she’d agree to go out on a date with me if I was still trying to “steal” the toy.

  A second after I’d had the thought, Holly’s phone rang. She answered it, and that’s when things went in a very different direction.

  Her face turned white. “Oh my God, what?” She rushed up from her seat, clutching her chest.

  I stood up, readying myself to help her if she needed it, even though I had no clue what the hell was going on.

  “He’s okay, though?” She paced. “Where did they take him?” Nodding repeatedly, she said, “Okay. I’m heading there right now.”

  She hung up, then rushed toward her seat to grab her coat and purse.

  “What happened?”

  “My son was sledding outside of my sister’s house, and he had an accident. She said she thinks he’s okay, but he did hit his head. They’re taking him to the hospital as a precaution.” Frenzied, she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

  I blinked. “Okay…uh…”

  I didn’t have a chance to respond because she ran off, her heels clicking against the ground as she disappeared into the distance. I couldn’t blame her. But this sucked. The whole thing, but especially the fact that her son was injured.

  My heart was still racing even a few minutes after she was long gone. I just sat there in a daze.

  As a new customer approached the table, I immediately held my hand up. “Sorry. We have to close down for the night.” I stood up and turned the sign around. “Merry Christmas.”

  I walked over to the customer-service desk where the woman was keeping the robot.

  “Store will be closing soon. Do we have a winner?” she asked.

  “Not exactly.” I ran my hand through my hair. “Holly had to leave suddenly because her son had an accident. Sounds like he’s probably okay but needed to be taken to the hospital as a precaution.”

  “Oh no.” She covered her mouth with her hand.

  “Yeah. He was sledding. Very scary. And on Christmas Eve, no less.”

  I could only imagine how she felt, having lost her husband on Christmas, the fears that must be running through her mind.

  “What a terrible way to spend Christmas Eve,” she said.

  “Yeah.” I sighed. “Anyway…I’m gonna take the toy. I only have her name. Gonna see if I can look up her address and drop the toy off to her so her son can have it on Christmas.”

  “I take it she won?”

  “Yeah,” I said in a daze, too tired to explain things any further than that. “I left the money over there in the tip jar. Someone should head over there before someone steals it.”

  “You got it.” She grinned.

  After I paid for the toy, I wished her a Merry Christmas and hit the road.

  Back at my family’s house, I greeted everyone, but soon after, disappeared into a quiet study to spend a few minutes Googling her name. Not one Holly Johanssen in her age range popped up in the entire Chicago area. I tried spelling Johanssen multiple ways, too. There was one listing for that name, but she was sixty-three years old. Nothing came up on social media, either.

  That night, while I played along with my nieces and nephews, I was completely preoccupied, although I tried to stay as engaged as possible. The irony wasn’t lost on me when my niece unwrapped a Christmas book, titled Holly Jolly Tales.

  I felt like I’d somehow lost Cinderella, except I had no glass slipper. Nothing to go on to find her besides a name that seemed to be a dead end.

  But after coming up empty in regards to Holly, I decided to go along with my original plan to drop the toy robot off at that little boy’s house. At least someone will get the toy on Christmas. Maybe seeing his happy face would cheer me up.

  I was really striking out today.

  Pulling my hood up as I stood on the front porch, I looked around at the empty driveway and the street behind me. There were no cars anywhere, and not one light on inside the house. Not even the Christmas lights dangling from the roofline were lit. Snow had started to fall on my drive over, and a thin layer of white already coated the street and grass. Every fifteen seconds or so, a random gust of wind blew, making the tiny house resemble the inside of a snow globe.

  I looked around for somewhere to leave the robot, but the porch only had a small awning, and snow already covered the ground below it. If this family didn’t get home soon, the box and the toy inside would probably
be ruined. It was seven o’clock now; maybe I could stop back in an hour if the snow wasn’t too bad and see if anyone came home. It would really suck if this stupid robot went to waste.

  Before today, I hadn’t even known this thing was the popular toy for the season. It made me think about how my family had probably never gone through what Holly had—running around and trying to get the hot item so her son wouldn’t be disappointed. My family could just pluck one from inventory before the toys even hit the shelves. Maybe there had been a little truth to what Holly had said earlier. What was it she’d called me today? Entitled. Yeah, that was it. Though, that thought only made me want to make sure this thing got into the hands of the little boy who I’d bought it for even more.

  So rather than go home, I decided to stop by and visit my grandfather—the man who had made my cushy life so possible. It was after visiting hours, but I figured since it was Christmas Eve, the nursing home would probably be a little more lax than usual.

  “Hey, Rena.” One of the regular aides was at the front desk when I walked in.

  “Hiya there, Bryce.” She smiled warmly, and I held up a cardboard tray filled with hot chocolates and a box of munchkins from Dunkin’ Donuts.

  “I brought some hot chocolate and a snack.”

  She perked one brow. “Trying to bribe me so that you can sneak in after hours, are you?”

  I grinned. “That depends. Will it work?”

  She pointed her eyes down to the drink carrier. “Any of those have whipped cream?”

  “They do.”

  She held her hands out. “He’s in his room watching TV. Merry Christmas, Bryce.”

  “Thanks, Rena.”

  I found Pops all by himself, laughing out loud. The deep, baritone sound warmed my insides. As usual, he had on a full suit, vest and all, even though he was sitting in bed. “Hey, Pops.”

  He glanced over at me. “Are you the shoeshine boy?”

  It made me sad that he didn’t remember me anymore, but Pops wasn’t hard to make happy, so I played along. “Sure am.”

  He looked down at his feet, and his forehead wrinkled. “Where the hell are my shoes?”