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My sip of coffee goes straight down the wrong pipe, and I cough into my arm, my eyes watering.

“Hilde,” I hiss once I can breathe again. “These people think I’m still married.”

Although there’s no wedding ring on my finger anymore, thanks to my best friend. And I’m okay with that.

“Right.” She grimaces, then glances around the now eerily silent coffee shop. “Sorry.” Then she leans closer, dropping her voice. “But you did, didn’t you? You had sex with that neighbor. He ate your Christmas cookie. You jingled his bells. He decked your halls. I’m right, aren’t I?”

I press my lips together, trying to hide my smile behind my coffee cup. But it’s impossible, especially when I think about how thoroughly Joshua ate my Christmas cookie last night. And this morning.

“You are,” I finally admit.

“Thank you, Jesus! It’s a Christmas miracle!” Hilde shouts, throwing her arms toward the ceiling.

Again, people look our way, but I don’t even try to silence her. At this point, it’s a lost cause.

“Oh. My bad,” she apologizes to the other patrons once she realizes how loud she was. “I was just so moved by the Christmas spirit.” She turns back toward me and waggles her brows. “Just like Joshua’s Christmas spirit moved you last night. Am I right?”

I shake my head, laughing. “It definitely did. Multiple times.”

“Multiple?” Her eyebrows shoot toward her elf hat.

“Yup. Multiple.”

“How many times are we talking?”

“If I had to guess, I’d say eight or nine.”

Her mouth falls open. “You don’t know?”

I shrug. “I lost count.”

She stares at me as if I just grew another head. Then she slumps back in her chair.

“It’s official. I hate you. And I say that with all the love in my heart.” She forms a heart with her hands.

“Love you, too.” I mirror her gesture.

“I should find myself another younger man,” she muses, looking out the window. “I’m tired of the three-pump chumps. Or jackhammers.”

“Jackhammers?”

“You know the type. The guy who fucks you like a damn jackhammer. Even worse when he talks during it because he thinks he’s God’s gift to sex. ‘Oh baby. You like it like that. Don’t you?’” she mimics, rolling her eyes before bringing her coffee back to her mouth.

“Well, Joshua is neither of those. Although he does like to talk during. And it’s…very effective.”

“I’d say so. Especially if he gave you that many O’s in one night. I’m not sure I’ve had that many O’s in a week.”

“It was unreal.” I shift in my seat, and the delicious ache that courses through my body reminds me just how incredible Joshua was.

His hands.

His mouth.

The way he made me forget, even for a few hours, that there was a world outside our little bubble.

“Although I’m not sure how I’ll keep up. That man has stamina. I might have to look into some sort of gym or workout while I’m here.”

A mischievous glint shines in Hilde’s eyes. “Funny you should say that, because I have the perfect solution.”