This is a holiday fantasy I wrote for the
Winter Holidays Story Contest 2023
.
.....
The festive noise of Joey's Bar and Grill soothed my lonely self into thinking maybe this Christmas wouldn't be so bad. Alone for the holidays... Why did that sentence bother me so much? Probably because I had never spent the holidays alone. Garrett, my boyfriend for the last three years, tried to turn me into a miserable entertainment director when it came to the holidays. I was always stuck planning, without any help, the parties for both sides of the family and the party with the friends, and then, when I was utterly exhausted after making everybody else happy, I realized I was miserable. Then I declared I would rather be alone than overworked and miserable. Yes. The holiday slavery role was over for me, but that also left me alone for the next one. My parents were always good company for the holidays, but after their little girl grew up and got a big girl job and a boyfriend, I was no longer the center of their universe. They were planning a mini beach vacation for Christmas and New Year's. Thus I would be alone for the holidays. Damn it.
Jane, the only woman I ever found arousing, wanders over and nudges me with her shoulder. I can't help but smile. God she smells good. She scoots onto the barstool next to me and sighs a happy sigh. Her holiday spirit is high after three chocolate peppermint martinis. She leans over and whispers in my ear.
"Victoria, I was thinking... fantasizing really... that I would be thrilled if you spent Christmas with me. I claimed the family cabin for myself this year. I'm also planning a naughty surprise. It would be a pity if I had to enjoy it all by myself."
I chuckle and chew my bottom lip.
The first day I met Jane at work, she declared I was her type. I thanked her and said I wasn't attracted to women. Later I realized I was wrong. I had never felt more flattered in my life. She was and still is gorgeous. Dark brown hair perfectly cropped just below her small chin, big brown eyes and a sexy attitude. Her style is always impeccable. She and I both love short skirts and tailored suites. My hair is black and stops just above my shoulders. I keep my lips red more often than not. My small black frame glasses give me a sexy librarian look that I know Jane likes. Her breasts are bigger than mine. Mine aren't small, but I wouldn't call them average either. Perky handfuls is a good way to imagine them. A good bra can really make my tits distracting. Speaking of distracting, Jane's low cut red sweater, tight black skirt, and tall black boots made me hot in my seat. I would be an idiot to refuse her offer.
"I'll gladly impose myself on you for Christmas if there will be lattes."
"You said the magic word. Just when I think I couldn't adore you more..."
Jane gazes at me for a moment. I blush and feel extra warm. Again, she is the only woman able to make me feel that way. She leans a little closer and my heart crashes into my ribs. She wants a kiss. I seriously want one too, but my brain backfires from the sheer excitement of it. My face gets hot and my heart rate ebbs up as her gaze drifts between my eyes and lips. She inches closer, and the sweet smell of breath makes my eyelids heavy. Her lips slowly touch mine, and we melt into the softest, hostess kiss. How can anyone's lips be that buttery and soft? She pulls away too soon. I breathe in fast. Did that really happen?
"Oops, probably shouldn't have done that in front of coworkers," she chuckles.
We glance around the bar. No one is looking our way. I feel relieved and a little disappointed. I was hoping for a witness to the incredible moment. Jane gives me the address of her family cabin and orders me to be there early on Christmas morning. It was official. I would spend Christmas with my first female crush.
Christmas morning came slowly since I was looking forward to it. I hopped out of bed that frosty morning and packed a small bag. My chess set was sitting on the side table. I almost grabbed it, but I didn't want to bore Jane with my nerdy habits. My glasses fogged up on my way to the car. I gave them a good buff before my scenic drive into the mountains. A light snow turned the forest into a winter wonderland and made the roads scarier than I was used to, but I made it to the cabin in one piece.
Jane awaited me on the front porch. She was sipping coffee while bundled up in a puffy red jacket and tall black boots. Her nose and cheeks pink from the cold. She hops up and greets me with a hug before helping me carry my stuff inside. The cabin is fancy. Not just a few nice things, but everything is new and comforting from the expensive kitchen appliances to the massive white couch and fireplace that were begging my ass to sit and get cozy, but Jane has other plans. We have to find a Christmas tree before we start relaxing. We were going to actually cut it down from the woods. I'd never done anything like that before. My mom let us have a real tree once (bought from a parking lot beside the hardware store) and it left needles in the carpet like glitter. We still find them to this day. The cabin's hardwood wouldn't suffer that fate, at least.
We bundle up in our thickest jackets and head to the shed out back so Jane can grab a small ax. The cold mountain air smells clean as snow crunches under our boots. We march down the hill and hop over an icy stream before going up again. A thicket of blue dwarf conifers greets us at the top of the hill. Jane says the trees were planted by her grandfather first and then her dad continued the tradition so they would always have a perfect Christmas tree. She goes to work hacking off the lowest branches of a fat, four-foot-tall tree. I'm impressed with her lumberjack skills. The smell of evergreen wood permeates the air and makes me groan. Jane says to save the groaning for later. I blush and chew my lip. I enjoy her random flirting.
Five minutes later, we shake the snow out of the tree branches and carry it back to the cabin. Jane's oversized tree stand awaits next to the fireplace. We bolt it in place and step back to admire its brilliance.
"Thanks for the help, Victoria. This little tree will keep me company into the new year."
"You're welcome. I can't get over how good it smells."
"It's my second favorite smell. My first is coffee. Would you like a latte or cappuccino while we give it a makeover?"
"I would love a latte. Your fancy machine didn't escape my notice."
With hot, frothy mugs of coffee in hand, we decorate the tree from the basket or ornaments Jane pulled out of the coat closet. We reminisce about our favorite Christmases, and I realize most of mine occurred before I was an adult. Lunch interrupts our decorating. We step into the kitchen to devour turkey sandwiches before returning to the den to light the tree. Jane plugs it in, and the LED lights sparkle like stars in between red and gold ornaments. Finally, we sit on the couch to admire the fruits of our labor. I hadn't felt more relaxed in years.
"I've never seen you smile this much. Is it safe to assume you're enjoying yourself?" Jane asks.
"I am. The last five hours have been more enjoyable than the last three Christmases combined."
"Damn... why is that?"
"Well, I was exhausting myself to please everybody and no one seemed to give a shit about my happiness. So I said, 'Fuck it all!' and moved on with my life. Despite being lonely sometimes, it was an excellent decision."
"I love it when you shit talk," Jane smiles.
I laugh and indulge in her attention. She props her cute chin in her palm and gazes back. Her tight red sweater and black leggings make her look like a perfect Christmas present.
"Thank you for inviting me, Jane."
"You're welcome. You needed it. I also couldn't wait to have you all to myself."
I blush and raise an eyebrow at her. She gives me the most seductive pixie grin.
"Sorry, that sounded mischievous. I was a lot like you before my last girlfriend, Tonya. She intervened and taught me how to be human again. We parted on good terms. I still miss her, but then I fell in love with you. You are dazzling, Victoria, and you need to learn how to pamper yourself. I want to help."
My cheeks grow hot as I search her eyes.
"Um, what if I don't meet your expectations?" I gulp.
"I honestly think that's impossible. I want you to be happy and enjoy yourself. If that happens a little, then I'm thrilled. You be you and I'll be me. Okay?"
I smile and nod. She knew exactly how to put me at ease. No one ever really did that for me before.
"You know what?" I begin. "The bottom of the tree looks bare. I'll be right back."
I dash into the spare bedroom and retrieve the gifts I bought for Jane; one box of boutique lip balms and an expensive bottle of champagne. On my return, two gifts magically appeared under the tree. I smile and add mine to the little pile before returning to sit with Jane on the couch. That's when I remember her mentioning a naughty surprise when she asked me to the cabin. Jane is an amazing project planner, and she made that entire morning fabulous for me. I couldn't wait to see what else she had in store. Suddenly, Jane laughs and shakes her head.
"What's up?" I ask.
"I miscalculated something. In my excitement to have you here, I wrapped a present that we were supposed to use after lunch."
