Snow Place Like Home (A Cozy AF Christmas 1)

“Can we stop at McDonald’s?” my father chimes in.

I drop my head, take one last look at the red door, and then back out of the driveway with my heart in pieces.What feels like hours later, I have my parents in their bed and am in my pajamas with my make-up washed off.

My mother never threw up in the car, but I can’t say that she’s going to keep her non-puking streak intact tomorrow morning. It’s going to be a sad Christmas morning with my parents either sleeping through it or vomiting through it, but probably both.

I sigh as I sit on my bed and look at the window. Snow is coming down. I want to lay outside and let it bury me. How could it have ended like this?

I guess that everyone was right all along. Ethan was never interested in settling down.

And I guess that Christine knew her uncle better than I had hoped because we weren’t meant to be.

I was just a piece of Holiday ass to him. A present to unwrap and then toss to the curb the next morning.

He was about to tell me something in the car before we got interrupted. “Mandy,” he said as I knelt at his feet. “This is me at my most honest. I want to tell you. I—”

I’m so stupid. I thought he was going to profess his love for me. I thought he was going to tell me he wanted this to continue…

What a dope I am. He was going to tell me that this was just some harmless fun. That it was a casual fling. That he’ll see me again next Christmas Eve.

How could I not see the truth? I guess I never could when it came to Ethan.

I lay on my bed and the tears start coming as I pull up my blankets. I just really wanted a Christmas miracle, ya know? For once, I wanted things to work out.

I close my eyes and cuddle my blankets, feeling more alone than ever when I hear a tapping on the window.

I spring up to a seated position and gasp when I see Ethan’s face in the window, smiling at me. I rush over and open it. He’s standing on the barbecue, looking like he’s in a Christmas snow globe with light snowflakes falling in his hair and on his shoulders.

“I would have come through the chimney like Santa Clause but I didn’t think I’d fit. Are you crying?” His face drops as I quickly wipe my eyes.

“I thought…”

“What?”

“That it was over. Between us.”

His face drops as he looks at me like nothing could be farther from the truth. “Oh, Mandy. I’m not done with you. I don’t think I’ll ever be done with you. The way you make me feel… I can’t even describe it. You are a Christmas angel. You are the love of my life.”

All the anguish I’ve been feeling since I left the party dissipates and I’m left with a lightness that makes me feel like I’m going to float up to the ceiling.

“Come with me,” he says with a loving smile. “This night is not over yet. And we are definitely not over either.”

I stand there grinning like the lovestruck girl I’ve always been for this man as he reaches for my hand.

I give my hand to him, I give my heart to him, and I step into the future I’ve always wanted.

With Ethan by my side.Chapter EightEthanI don’t know how it’s possible, but Mandy looks just as good in tight black yoga pants and a big bulky sweater as she does in her tight red dress. Her hair is tied back in a ponytail and she looks just as striking with no make-up on. Maybe even more so. Her innocence is radiating throughout the car.

I’ve fallen for her big time. I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind the entire night.

She’s sitting in my car, holding my hand as I drive down the snowy road to my house. Chrissy gave me Mandy’s parent’s address after she left. I wasn’t about to make a scene with everyone watching. I wanted to tell her how I felt when it was just the two of us.

I pull into my garage and we head into the house. We barely make it to the stairs before we’re kissing and groping each other and pulling off clothes.

We shed an article of clothing for every step and by the time we get to the top, we’re both in our underwear.

She’s ready to let me take her on the hardwood floor, but I stand up, offer my hand, and help her to her feet.

“Come,” I whisper. “Your first time is not going to be on the floor.”

I throw her over my shoulder and she yelps as I smack her soft ass.