tri

I'd been having such a good time with the

keries in the next town over to no avail. Of course, it didn't help that I didn't have a description of the woman I was looking for. All I knew was she was

and I had been broken up for a year now, but she still weaseled her way back to me at least once a month. She'd probably hear

joy that had been built up in me meltin

e acted innocent and frail. But it didn't take long to real

ry time you see me?" she

didn't want to cause a scene in the middle of the parking lot, but I couldn't help but flinch away from her touch. I couldn't trust her anymo

ng her hand through it and tossing it behind her shoulder. "You couldn't

er her head at the muddy bumper

e effort she was putting into her smile to try to appear charming. "It's been a w

didn't understand why she thought t

gned innocence. "I'm not a

ross my chest. "How did you find

y had no shame. "You know I have connections," she s

me why yo

a bit. "I already told y

oot down if I was ever going to get rid of her. "It's

letting you walk away from me," she said, rubbin

id firmly. "You didn't let me do anything. I chose

line and stared at me fiercely. It seemed

d her before she coul

quickly with that whine t

t. Let me move on." I stared strai

ed her arms

said, accidentally rai

it that you want to 'move on' wit

was this funny, intriguing volunteer. There were good women out there, right? Surely they weren't all like Emily. I wasn't sure how I had

had mentioned anyone, she would have probably taken that

ou loved me once," she sai

ferent man then. Now I was stronger. I had

eel and left. I waited until I saw her get in her car and drive away b

ra stuff into one of the city vehic

hink they all took off

. I might have asked her out someday if I couldn't find the mysterious woman from t

ive away before he spotted Emily and decided t

ersion of 'go out' h

ut the intriguing volunteer woman. I couldn't quite place the events, but I felt like in the dream we knew each other. Maybe it was because we got along so well an

bly never be able to

ore things making my mind buzz. Emily had sent me a message every forty five minutes since we parted the night before. I couldn't

iss

you m

e someon

er love someone

t you tal

do to make y

try a

r, but rather than reading it, I simply deleted it an

mess of sheets, brought up Emily's contact, and blocked her. I didn't feel the slightest tinge of

ember over, there were a lot of calls for installing and wiring special Christmas displays and lights. That was probably eighty pe

e did for hobbies. I wondered where in Noel she lived. Or was she there at all? I was beginning to doubt that I'd actually seen her

arly two years in our relationship, I trusted myself not to pine ove

g honest, mostly because I was mad at myself for believing her con for so long.

y taken in by her. She didn't have to do anything to hold m

d a dark blue hat on over my wild hair and gave myself a stern look in the eye. "I just know

volunteer woman again if the chance occurred, but mostly I was holding out for the mistletoe woman. I figured if she attended the Santa Claus Ball, then may

nline and found a local toy drive event. It was in a couple of weeks, and I did

man. I enjoyed kids, and I really did want to support them. Christmas was always so important to me as

, I decided it would be worth i