Free A Very Jaguar Christmas by Terry Spear Page A

hadn’t picked that movie to watch. How was either of them to know that it would hit so close to home? She tossed and turned all night, unable to quit envisioning Everett and Matt in the jungle fighting to save Lacy, and Matt losing his life.
    She finally managed to sleep in, did her laundry, changed bedsheets, and dusted. She did everything she could think of while trying to get her mind off Everett and how unhappy he’d seemed that she’d so quickly ended the night with him. But she couldn’t help it. Everett was the hero in the movie, had the crush on her while she’d been dating his best friend, and yet, she hadn’t loved Matt like the woman had loved the man who had died in the story. As a friend, yes, but not as a man Demetria had wanted to promise her love to forever.
    How could things get so complicated?
    She gave up on trying to sort it out in her own mind and called Tammy. “Hey, girl, need to talk. When is your next break coming up?”
    â€œI work only half a day today. Students are training in combat maneuvers for the rest of the afternoon and through the night so I’ve got a break. Want to get together?”
    â€œYeah. I’ll fix enchiladas.”
    â€œYou sound down. You’re on your vacation. You’re supposed to be happy. Is there something wrong with the case you’ve been working on? Brayden Covington’s case? Don’t tell me Lucian’s being a total jerk again.”
    â€œNo. I went and saw Christmas Trouble .”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œYou’ve seen it?”
    â€œUmm, yeah. I never read reviews or what the movie’s about. The title said Christmas, and my mate wanted to go. Believe me, getting him to see a Christmas movie is like pulling jaguar teeth. So we went and we both immediately thought of…” Tammy paused. “Well, anyway, I’ll be over in half an hour. Do you want me to bring dessert?”
    â€œYeah, sure.”
    Tammy could always cheer her up. The problem was that Demetria had never told Tammy how she had felt about the two men.
    Demetria finally threw on jeans, sneakers, and a sweater, brushed her hair and applied a little makeup. Then she turned on her Christmas tree lights before Tammy arrived. She was there in twenty minutes, as if she figured Demetria was about to go off the deep end.
    â€œHey, Demetria,” Tammy said, handing her their favorite chocolate-chip mousse cake from a shop near her and giving her friend a hug.
    â€œSorry to be so glum.”
    â€œNo problem. I brought the fixings for Christmas margaritas, perfect to go with your out-of-this-world enchiladas.”
    Demetria smiled.
    â€œLet me just grab my bag out of the car.”
    â€œYou’re staying the night?” Demetria was thrilled. “What about David?”
    â€œHe’s got nighttime tactical maneuvers with the students. You and I haven’t had a sleepover in eons. Besides, I can’t drive after we have a couple of Christmas margaritas and”—Tammy pulled a handful of Christmas movies out of her bag—“I brought a bunch of fun Christmas movies that David prefers I watch by myself. He’ll play a shoot-’em-up computer game instead while sitting with me on the couch. It will be fun to watch with someone who really wants to see the movie with me.”
    Demetria laughed. “Okay, sounds good.” She started serving the enchiladas and rice.
    Tammy began making the margaritas, adding some cranberry juice to change the lime green color to red and running a wedge of lime around the edge of the glasses, then dipping them into a saucer of sugar and adding thinly sliced limes on top.
    Demetria picked one of the Christmas comedies and started it, and then they settled on the couch to eat and drink and be merry. Until she got a call from her mother. “Hey, Mom. Tammy’s here to watch Christmas movies with me.”
    â€œOh, okay, dear. I just wanted to let you know