by Ellie Hall
"No. If anything you could stand to gain a few pounds." Penny reached for a mixing bowl. It was well known between the sisters that baking helped ease her stress, but Emma wasn’t so sure that was the solution especially right then.
"I can't now. I have to head over to Apex."
Clara, their mutual friend, received an amazingly fast response when she asked if there were any openings at the gym where she worked part-time. Apparently, they were desperate.
"Then we'll bake when you get home. It's Christmas after all." Penny opened her arms for a hug.
"Definitely." Emma nuzzled into her sister's familiar embrace, desperate for relief from the empty ache in her heart. She wanted something, anything—ice cream, cookies, Christmas carols—to provide relief, but it seemed like the more she reached out the more she was reminded of how very alone she was.
"There's a deli with healthy options on the corner by the gym that should be open for lunch."
Emma stuck her tongue out at Penny. "Okay, Mom. I'll make sure I eat my veggies too."
Penny wrinkled her nose back.
"If I were Mom, I'd tell you to find yourself a rich man and that probably won't happen at the deli."
“Or the gym,” Emma chimed.
Penny was only a year and a half older but had a maternal softness that Emma appreciated—though not so much when they were younger. Whereas their actual mother was somewhere in the Caribbean with her latest wealthy suitor and could only be relied upon to encourage the girls to marry for money.
Emma bundled up in her coat, hat, and scarf—all knit by their beloved grandmother who'd passed away. She hated being cold.
The Christmas carols in the background changed to the Twelve Days of Christmas. Emma and Penny locked eyes and started singing. It was a tradition that whatever they were doing when that particular song came on, they had to stop and sing it in its entirety. They had it memorized and found it would be stuck in their heads so over the years they'd change up the words. Then it got out of hand and they'd email each other a sound bite of the song, leave some snippet of the song in a voicemail and the other sister vowed to sing from the first day to the last, five golden rings and all.
When they got to the final verse, Emma took a deep breath. "Phew. Okay, I have to go or I'm going to be late."
Penny glanced at the time and then her eyes widened. "Wait. You have twenty minutes, and I have a great idea."
"Can you tell me later? It's my first day, I want to make a good impression."
"The gym is two blocks away. You'll be fine. Just listen. Plus it has to do with your new job." Penny waggled her eyebrows.
Emma raised hers, unsure what her sister had up her sleeve.
"Christmas is the most romantic time of the year. Couples out strolling in the snow, kissing under the mistletoe…"
"Um, yeah. That's a lovely scene and if you recall I had that with—" She didn't want to be reminded of Everett—the guy who broke her heart and her bank.
"Did you have that though?" Penny surveyed her sister.
Emma pulled her hat lower on her head.
"It's time to move on. You've been sleeping on my couch and eating my ice cream for—" Penny started counting on her fingers.
"For two days." Emma shifted from foot to foot.
"But six months before that what were you doing?" Penny asked.
"It was seven months, a week, and two days."
"You're keeping track?"
"Penny, are you kicking me out?"
"No, I'm just giving you a kick in the pants. A jump-start…Listen, I want to set you up with twelve dates. It will be like the twelve dates of Christmas, like the song. On the first date of Christmas…" she started singing.
"My true love? Penny, he—" Emma's chin trembled at the thought of Everett.
"If he was your true love he wouldn't have—"
Emma's shoulders caved and her throat felt thick.
"I want to see you happy again or at least not miserable. You shouldn't be the one suffering. Just give it some thought. You might meet some hot, ripped gym guy. That could be date number one."
"But today is Christmas day. Aren't the twelve days leading up to…?"
Penny waved her hand dismissively. "Details, details. Did I mention Clara found a Christmas hottie of her own? While you were wallowing in despair—"
"Hey, take it easy. I fell asleep last night."
"Crying."
Emma straightened. "This is a difficult time to be alone."
"So don't be alone."
Emma didn't dare say she'd rather be with her ex because even though she couldn't stop replaying what had happened and wishing things were different, she wasn't sure if that was true anymore. There was a glimmer of light at the end of the breakup tunnel, but Emma was scared of where it would lead and what it might mean to get over Everett. They'd met in college. He was all she knew. Penny was right. She didn't want to be alone, but maybe she didn't want to be with him either. Not really. Not anymore.
Penny's voice floated back to Emma. "Clara found herself kissing L Ryder, the famous singer, under the mistletoe. Can you believe it?" Penny gave her a quick recap of the previous night when their good friend, Clara Covington, roped the famous musician into volunteer work at a dog shelter, finding homes for twelve adorable puppies.
"Maybe that's what I need, a puppy," Emma said, brightening.
"Not a terrible idea, but they don't allow them here." Penny glanced around at the apartment.
"I'll find my own place soon."
"You don't have to. I like having you here. It reminds me of old times…"
Emma knew her sister was thinking of before Everett. They’d fallen for each other hard and fast. She didn't mean for her friendships, cookie-baking dates with her sister, and pretty much everything else to fall away. She also didn't mean for her relationship to fall apart but she started to wonder about her stickiness. Did she lack the glue, the charm, the whatever that kept people loyal? Loved?
"If you dated twelve guys, casually, no strings, for fun, you'd discover what qualities you value, the kind of person you're compatible with—"
Emma's thoughts remained on Everett. In the last months, he'd stuck in her mind like glue. "On paper, he was perfect."
"Exactly. On paper. In real life, he was a—"
Emma opened her mouth to defend him but felt foolish for having been so gullible to fall for his deception. She thought he was loyal and that they’d loved each other.
Penny lifted a fierce eyebrow and shook her head. "No! I know what you're going to say. Everett Craven was a toad."
Emma pressed her lips together. "I don't disagree but I have the right to defend my ability to pick a guy and not be a total failure when it comes to men." She recounted a few of the previous guys she'd dated before him—there were only a few.
Penny tilted her head in disbelief.
"I guess I do have a terrible track record."
"Think of it this way, now you know exactly what you didn't want in a guy. Giving you the opportunity to figure out what you do want."
"I just thought Everett was the one."
Penny tickled Emma's nose with the end of her scarf, softening the mood with sisterly understanding. "I know you did, Sis. Cookies later?"
"Cookies always," Emma replied, grabbing a box tied with a ribbon to bring to her new coworkers. "I'd better go. See you tonight."
Emma and Penny weren't wealthy growing up, but they were always generous in ways they could, including sharing cookies with anyone who'd eat them. They did an annual cookie bake-off to feed the homeless, donated cookies to school and church bake sales, and generally tried to brighten everyone's day with sugar, butter, and chocolate. They also had the tradition to bring them to work on the first day of a new job even though it was the last place she wanted to go on Christmas day.
When Emma stepped outside, she pulled her scarf tighter against the frigid air. The gray sky made her feel gloomier than she already did. She closed her
eyes, said a prayer of gratitude that she had a place to stay, her sister, and God’s grace. Then as she waited for the crosswalk signal, the twinkle lights glowed, illuminating New York City with that special Christmas magic she couldn’t deny. A smile hid under her scarf.
She crossed the street, passing a happy couple, hand in hand. Through the window of a coffee shop, another pair leaned close, but she turned away before their inevitable kiss. The unusual, lonesome feeling dimmed the light inside of her on the otherwise festive occasion. Her smile faded.
Emma pushed open the glass door of the gym and was met with the strains of beat-heavy music. After wiping her feet and untying her scarf, Emma approached the reception desk.
A woman with a high, blond ponytail greeted her. "Welcome to Apex Gym. Merry Christmas."
"Hi, um, I'm the new girl, Emma Jones, here for the job." She wasn't sure she could summon that level of perky cheer at nine am on Christmas morning, but she desperately needed a job and was willing to do whatever was necessary. Previously, she'd worked for Everett's firm but that and life as she knew it disappeared in a single day, leaving her with mountains of debt and despair. She'd found another job, but the company folded after she'd only been there several months.
"I'm Melody. Nice to meet you. So glad you're here. Let me go find Joe, the manager." Melody jogged down a nearby hall.
Emma waited by the desk. She'd worn leggings and a sweatshirt. Because of the suddenness of the job, she wasn't sure if there was a uniform or—Melody reappeared and passed her a black tank that had a triangle in the center over the word Apex and the slogan Attain. Build. Crush.
Joe, the manager, trailed Melody as he scanned his tablet. He bobbed his shaved and shiny head in Emma's direction. "Glad you could start on such short notice. So many people have been calling in sick. Yeah right, they just had too many holiday jollies." He clicked his tongue disapprovingly and then consulted a list on the sleek device. "Another girl just left." He puffed his cheeks and let out a breath. "Let me have you fill this out." He passed Emma the tablet. "Have you ever worked as an assistant?"
Emma wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad omen because she'd been Everett's assistant, which meant she'd gotten him coffee, made copies, and essentially ran the company. "Actually, yes. My last job—"
Joe clapped his hand on her back. "Excellent. Looks like my Christmas wish came true. You'll do great. Just finish that up. It's a month-long position and then we'll find you something else within the company." He leaned over Emma's shoulder while she filled out her personal information, including address and phone number. "Just your last job for the previous work experience will do. Great. You're a lifesaver, Emma."
A mixture of confusion and appreciation flashed across her face because the number in the pay rate box was significantly higher than she expected to earn working at a gym. Joe grabbed the device from her hand and walked away. Over his shoulder, he said, "He'll be here soon."
Emma turned back to the desk and gazed up at an enormous photo print of a set of abs. Rock hard abs.
Melody sighed and fluttered her lashes as she gazed at the photo. "They belong to the owner."
"Huh?"
"The abs. I'm sure you've seen them around town, on billboards, model spreads in magazines, stores. He's everywhere. Has quite the reputation." Melody leaned in and dropped her voice. "Despite his health and wellness empire, he likes to have a good time. I've been hearing rumors about his partying, clubs, women... Then again, I wouldn't say no to a night with those abs…" Melody pointed to the print on the wall and went on to tell stories of the gym owner's lifestyle and rampant spending on everything from gold-plated gym equipment to placing a wager on a small island in the Caribbean during a card game.
Emma's thoughts darted to how she preferred the simple, quiet life. The one she'd wanted with Everett: travel, fine dining, theater, art museums...
Her chest tightened. She'd never told anyone the entire story because she was embarrassed. She'd hardly even let herself think it. Everett had frequent business meetings and often worked late. As his assistant, she kept track of receipts and expenses. She logged a huge bill into the accounting software; a bill she reasoned must have been a mistake on the company card. She'd Googled the payee and discovered it was for a club, one she'd never expect her fiancé to patronize, but certainly could imagine the owner of the gym visiting—if the rumors about his wild lifestyle were true. She already hated him on principle alone. However, Melody and Joe seemed nice enough even if she didn't agree with the values of the gym owner. Thankfully, she'd probably never have to meet him.
"Why don't you go change into your tank and we'll get you started," Melody said, apparently done gossiping.
"Who works out on Christmas, anyway?" Emma muttered.
At the same time, the doors behind Emma opened, sending in a gust of cold, winter air.
She turned around and laid eyes on a tall guy wearing a fitted wool coat. A shadow of stubble lined his jaw and his eyes were as blue as northern ice.
Her heart stuttered and her mouth fell open. If guys like him worked out on Christmas, she might just enjoy her new job.
KEEP READING...
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Acknowledgments
For the girl who’s as sweet as sugar, as smart as can be, and as beautiful as they come. Thanks for your creativity, your bright smile, and for being my bestie...
Big hugs to you too, readers!
♥
About the Author
Ellie Hall loves puppies, books, and the ocean. She writes sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels. Oh, and she loves tea in the morning and pizza for dinner. She believes
in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God's grace.
♥
P.S. If you have a moment, and enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a starred and written review so other readers can find it too.
Thank you!