Jingle This! by Stephanie Rowe Read Free Book Online Page A

after the Roger thing."
    Angie managed a grin. "I am, but I'm fighting it. That's why we're here. We are going to have a great time tonight and enjoy the holiday season kick off. No talking about men anymore. Deal?"
    Heidi grinned. "Deal." She honked her nose to seal the deal, making Angie laugh.
    "What would I ever do without you?"
    "Die a miserable and lonely death, no doubt."
    Angie laughed. "Yes, no doubt." She pulled out her key to the condo, and sudden nerves assaulted her. Could she really pull off a good showing? What would her parents say when she walked in without Roger? Would she have to spend the night explaining? She hadn't thought about how she was going to handle Roger's absence. "You walk in first. They think I'm not coming, so it'll be a surprise."
    Heidi raised a brow. "Why do they think you're not coming?"
    Angie grimaced as she put her key in the lock. "Because I thought I'd be working on that online story until midnight, but since I dumped it on Kyle, I'm free." She hesitated. "Plus, I haven't told them Roger and I broke up. My family will be so bummed, because they love Roger. I don't want to deal with it. We'll just say he's working tonight." Yes, she liked the sound of that plan. It gave her space to just be cheerful and not have to dwell.
    Heidi rolled her eyes. "I love your family, but they really missed the boat on that one. When they start telling you what a great catch you lost, I'll rattle off all his faults." She tucked her arm through Angie's. "But not tonight, I promise."
    "Thanks." Angie unlocked the door and pushed it open, a huge sense of relief filling her as she followed Heidi inside. This was what the holidays were about. Family. So what if she was single? They would still love her and support her. She could skip all the parties she and Roger had attended last holiday season and stick with her family. Maybe she'd even tell them tonight after all. Tonight would be a cleansing night for her, and tomorrow she'd be the genius writer of seasons past.
    See? She could rebound.
    "Hi, all," Heidi said. "I'm here!"
    Angie heard the shouts of greeting from her family, and felt a warm snuggle settling in her chest. She was so glad she'd come tonight. Socializing with her beloved family was far better than sitting in her office being lambasted by Kyle-the-autocrat.
    She grinned and popped her head around Heidi's shoulder. "Surprise! I made it!"
    All the faces in the room froze, glasses that had been raised in toast to Heidi were suspended in mid-air, and a total silence fell over the room. A look of shocked horror was on every face as they stared at Angie. It was the usual crew: her parents and about forty of their closest friends. Notably, Sheila wasn't there, but Angie was okay about that.
    The room was full of people she knew well, and yet no one was saying anything. They were just gaping at her. For a long moment, Angie stared back, waiting for someone to shout, "Just kidding."
    No one did.
    So she carefully wiped the sleeve of her jacket across her nose. Ran her tongue over her teeth to eliminate food that might be stuck. Checked the buttons on her blouse for indecent exposure. Still no one spoke. What the hell was wrong with her? "Hello? Anyone?"
    "I thought you weren't coming." Angie's mom finally spoke up, her face still as horrified as before.
    "Thanks for making me feel welcome. Cheers to all of you. Happy holidays and all that jazz." Maybe they were horrified by the look of devastation in her eyes. Yes, that was it. Shocked because they'd expected to see her dance in with her usual holiday ebullience, yet, as family, they were so perceptive they immediately noticed their beloved Angie was carrying a heavy emotional burden.
    God, she loved them.
    "So, anyone want more eggnog?" The sound of her sister's voice emanating from the kitchen sent the room into a frenzy. Her dad nearly threw his eggnog to the floor as he vaulted over the coffee table and sprinted for the kitchen while the rest of