A Filthy Christmas (Filthy Line #6) - Jaxson Kidman Page 0,34

a while. They were going to get back together after the holidays. Christmas Eve he must have been in town and got in touch with her. She knew I was at a gig. She didn’t know I told her the wrong time because I was coming home early to propose.”

I took a deep breath.

I felt Lita take a deep breath too.

She reached for my hands and hugged my arms as my arms hugged her.

“I kept the ring… I don’t fucking know why. Maybe to tell myself to not get involved again. Because people don’t change for one another. I’m not going to change for someone. So why would someone change for me? It’s only fair, right? The ring reminds me of how stupid I can be when it comes to love. Does it mean I still love her? No. Not at all. I checked up on her hoping she would be miserable. That Christmas tree lot? That’s hers. Peter bought her that building. She runs the entire building. She’s all about small business and supporting it. She’s a good person, Lita. Maybe the situation with me and her wasn’t, but I blame myself for that. Okay? Anything else you want to know?”

Lita shook her head. “No offense, but that is so fucked up.”

“I know it is.”

“But at least it’s real. And you’re honest about it. Can I tell you something?”

“Sure,” I said.

“I secretly love Christmas, Shane. I say that I hate it because living here makes it easy. But I really like it. I like the lights. The music. Having a Christmas tree. I just kind of lost all emotion because of what happened with Blaze. I was so stupid to fall for that trap. I fell for it because of Christmas. That sounds so dumb, right? I just always thought it would work. He and I. But I… I found pictures on his phone once. On Christmas morning. I wasn’t snooping. I didn’t mean to see them. I was trying to take a picture of something. I knew he was cheating. I stayed with him for another two years, thinking it would be okay.”

I squeezed Lita tighter.

As fast as she was willing to open up to me, she was that fast to close up again.

Silence was our soundtrack as we stood there.

That’s when an idea hit me.

I shook my head and sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Lita asked.

“I’m about to do something that proves you right, Lita.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, yeah, I really do like you.”

I pulled up to the Christmas tree lot and curled my lip high into the air.

“What are we doing here again?” Lita asked.

“Come on,” I said.

I opened my door and Lita grabbed my arm. “Shane…”

“We’re getting a fucking Christmas tree,” I growled at her.

“What?” Lita asked.

“That’s right. I’m going to go pick out a goddamn Christmas tree. Then I’m going to tie it to the roof of my car and drive it to my place. All so you can decorate it.”

“Do you have Christmas lights?” Lita asked in an almost whisper.

“No,” I growled. “So that means I have to go to a store and get fucking Christmas lights.”

“Shane…”

I got out of the car and slammed the door.

Lita had no choice but to follow me.

She jumped at me and tried to do what I did to her back on the road. Her arms wrapped around me and I was suddenly giving her a piggyback ride through the Christmas tree lot.

“Pick out a tree,” I said.

“This is stupid.”

“I’m leaving with a tree. You pick it, or I will.”

“Fine,” Lita said. “That one.”

She pointed to a thick tree that looked like it was going to damage my car.

She slid off my back as I walked to the damn tree, stuck my hand into it and picked it up.

The needles cut at my skin but I didn’t care.

I tossed it over my shoulder and walked to the counter where Stacy stood.

When she saw me this time, her cheeks turned red.

“Shane.”

“How much for the tree?” I asked.

“Sixty-five.”

“For a tree?” I asked.

I looked at Lita.

She jumped up to her toes and kissed my cheek.

“He’s the best, isn’t he?” Lita asked Stacy.

She smiled. “It seems that way.”

I threw seventy dollars on the counter.

“Keep the change,” I said.

“Do you want me to get you some rope?” Stacy asked. “I can ask… uh…”

“Rope is fine,” I said.

I didn’t need Peter to help me with the tree.

There was some machine that put string on the tree to condense it.

Peter was pulling a tree through it for someone else.

No fucking way.

Stacy