Free Beauty from Pain by Georgia Cates

of sex toys.
    Addison couldn’t be happier as she
admires a Santa-themed bra with matching panties and garter belt
complete with the red and white candy cane-striped thigh-highs. She
stands in front of a mirror and holds it up to herself. “Damn, Zac would have
a very merry Christmas if I were wearing this.”
    “ Speaking of Christmas, what are
the plans? Are we cooking at the apartment?”
    She twists so I can’t see her face and
it’s my first clue that something is going
on . “Umm, about that.”
    There’s my second clue. When she stutters and
stalls, it’s never good. “What exactly does ‘umm, about that’
mean?”
    She has this please don’t be pissed off look on
her face. So, what do I do? I get pissed off. “Don’t freak out, but
Zac wants to take me home with him for Christmas so I can meet his
family.”
    Worst. Friend. Ever. “Addison! You’re not
leaving me by myself with Ben. You know how he’s been with me since
I met Lachlan.”
    “ I wouldn’t leave you alone with
him. Both of you are invited to Zac’s.”
    No freakin’ way. “You and Ben can go without
me. I’d rather spend Christmas by myself than be uncomfortable
around a bunch of people I don’t know.” She knows I hate feeling
like I’m imposing. I can’t believe she’s asked me to do
this.
    “ You don’t think Lachlan will
invite you home with him?” This is Addison’s way of trying to feel
better about ditching me.
    That would be a negative. “Definitely not. We
just met.”
    She puts her hands on her hips as though I’ve
offended her. “Why do you say it like that?”
    Maybe because I don’t even know his real
name—that would be my first reason. “We don’t know each other well
enough to spend the holidays together.”
    “ I haven’t known Zac much longer
than you’ve known Lachlan.”
    Maybe not, but she’d been banging
him since the day we arrived. Okay, it was day three. “You and Zac
are different .
You’ve spent almost every minute together since we got here. I’ve
only been out with Lachlan on a couple of dates. It’s apples and oranges .”
    She holds the sexy Santa lingerie out for me.
“Wear this for him and I guarantee you’ll get an invite to his
family’s for the holidays. Maybe even a marriage
proposal.”
    I’ve gotten all the proposals I need from Mr.
Lachlan Henry. I’m still debating the one currently on the table.
“I’m not looking to get an invite to his family’s house. Or a
marriage proposal.” I take the red and white furry lingerie from
her and admire it in the mirror. “He’s asked me to spend the next
few days with him. And nights. Maybe I need this. What do you
think?”
    “ You didn’t tell me you’d be
staying over at his place. That sounds more serious than a couple
of dates.”
    I hang up the Santa outfit and pull a
naughty-elf set from the rack. “I don’t know. He asked, but I
haven’t decided yet.” That’s another lie. I know I’m staying with
him, but I don’t want to sound like a ho, so I pretend I’m unsure.
And I pretend like I don’t know if I’ll buy this lingerie. But
that’s a lie too.
    –––––
    I hear fear is a gift. In the
event that it’s true, I’m very gifted today. I’m almost shaking as
I wait for Lachlan to arrive.
    My phone starts singing “Talk Dirty to Me,” so
I answer and try to sound like I’m not a bundle of nerves. “Good
morning.”
    “ Good morning to you. I’m almost
at your place. Do I need to come to the door to challenge lover boy
for your hand?”
    That might be the case if Ben were
here, but he’s not. Thank goodness. “I’m the only one here. I’m
ready so I’ll come down and meet you.” I hang up and slip my Lachlan issued cell into my purse next to my own. I grab my floral duffle and
lock up.
    As I come out of the apartment building,
Lachlan steps out of a fancy-ass convertible wearing faded jeans
and a khaki button-up. It’s not dressy; it’s rugged, more like what
I’d expect someone