The Christmas Girlfriend

by Taylor Hart

His father stared at her. “Ann, is that Mike’s MSU sweatshirt?” He studied it intently.

  Mike swallowed.

  “It’s mine,” Grandpa said suddenly, moving behind her and putting a hand on her shoulder.

  Michael looked confused. “Dad, you have a pink MSU sweatshirt?”

  His grandpa shrugged. “I gave it to Ann when she came in from mucking out stalls last night. I had it lying around and thought she might like it.”

  “Hmm,” Mike’s father said. “Oh.”

  Zoey grinned, but her face turned tomato red. “I love it.”

  As Mike’s father hauled one of the bins over to a truck, Grandpa patted her shoulder. “I got your back, little lady, but you two need to come clean about this. In my experience, the longer you fib, the more apt you are to hurt someone.”

  Mike and Zoey stared into each other’s eyes. “We will,” Mike said.

  She nodded and took his hand. “Yes, we will.”

  His mother called out to them. “You two, over here.”

  As they walked to his mother, a girl turned to Zoey. Mike saw who it was and tried to veer them out of sight, but it was too late.

  His cousin’s face lit up, and she rushed over to hug him. “Mike.”

  He held her. “Hey, Chelsea, I thought you were on the cruise still?”

  Chelsea pulled back and then turned to Zoey. “Zoey? What are you doing here?”

  Mike’s mother looked confused. “Chelsea, this isn’t Zoey. This is Ann.”

  Chapter 23

  Zoey hated this moment. She hated standing here and looking like a complete idiot in front of everyone, especially Mike’s mother. She could only watch as the walls came down.

  Chelsea laughed and put her arm around Zoey. “Naw, this is Zoey. She was in my nursing program at MSU.”

  Adrenaline coursed through Zoey at a rate she couldn’t begin to process.

  Mike’s mother looked even more confused. “What is this?”

  Zoey looked at Mike. He was speechless.

  Chelsea laughed. “Yeah,” she said, looking between Mike and Zoey, then to Mike’s mom. “Do you guys know Zoey?”

  Neither of them spoke, both staring at each other.

  Zoey didn’t know what to do. “No, well …”

  Chelsea snapped her fingers. “Oh—did they know your husband, Josh?”

  “Husband?” Mike’s dad chose that exact moment to join them.

  “Husband?” His mother gasped, putting her hand to her mouth. “Mike, how could you?”

  “No!” Mike burst out. “She’s not married. Her husband’s dead.”

  Zoey had had enough. She ran.

  Chapter 24

  Mike ran after her, but she was fast, rushing out of the gym and down the halls. Snow Valley High School wasn’t very big, but it was a school, and there were more than a couple of hallways to go down. He thought he heard her running toward the art room, so he took off that way, but when he reached to end of the hallway, he heard an exit door close and realized she’d gone another way.

  It took him a little longer to rush down that hall and burst out. He was just in time to see Zoey take off in his truck out of the parking lot. He cursed.

  Rushing back into the high school, he flew to the gym, where his parents and Grandpa were clustered around Chelsea. “It’s not like that,” Grandpa was saying loudly. The group around Grandpa was growing, including some of his high school friends and neighbors.

  Nellie stepped out of the group and crossed her arms. “Were you just pretending to be girlfriend and boyfriend, Mike?” she asked, looking like she would personally drag him down and punish him for everyone.

  Ignoring all of them, he held out his hand. “Dad, can I borrow your keys?”

  His dad furrowed his brow. “Mike, you need to explain yourself.”

  He didn’t have time for this. He knew she would bolt.

  Grandpa was already holding up his keys. “I’m on the east side. Go quick!”

  Mike grabbed the keys and took off. “Thank you!” Whipping out his phone, he tried to call Zoey. He only reached voicemail.

  When Mike pulled up to the house, he saw his truck in the driveway. As he rushed inside, he instinctively knew she was already gone.

  “Zoey!” he yelled out anyway, rushing up to his room.

  She hadn’t brought that much, just the duffel bag, and it was gone. The bed was still a mess, but there was a note. It simply said, “I’m sorry.”

  Then he saw the envelope. Opening it, he counted the two thousand dollars he’d given her—and the ticket to Salt Lake.

  “No!” He rushed out of the room, down the stairs, and back to Grandpa’s truck. She couldn’t have gotten very far.

  He took off, heading to Billings on the highway, and scanned the roads. Today, it wasn’t snowy. It was clear, but he didn’t see anyone for miles.

  Pulling out his phone, he tried to call her again.

  Of course, it went straight to voicemail. Again.

  Slamming his hand into the steering wheel, he cursed. “Where are you, Zoey?” He thought about how she liked to hitch rides, and he slammed a hand into the steering wheel. “Dang it, Zoey!”

  Fear pricked at the back of his neck. If she was already picked up by someone, he would have to go back to Billings to catch her. Unfortunately, Grandpa’s truck wasn’t the vehicle for that. Turning around, he ignored the anger that pulsed through him and the myriad of emotions that crowded his heart.

  His phone buzzed—his dad was calling. Mike didn’t want to answer, but this whole thing was way past ignoring. Feeling like an idiot, he said, “Hey.”

  “Son, would you please tell me what this is all about? Your grandpa is telling us her husband was military and died last year. Husband?”

  Mike sighed. “Meet me at the house.”

  Chapter 25

  Zoey got out of the truck that she’d hitchhiked in. They were at the truck stop that she worked at. Well, used to work at. “Thanks, Gus.” The guy who had picked her up had been a trucker that made runs in the western U.S. He’d been a nice guy.

  “No problem.”

  She started toward the restaurant. The whole way from Snow Valley back to Billings, she’d been chewing herself out for thinking it could work out, for believing that maybe she was falling in love again. That was stupid.

  As she entered, she saw Rick, her old boss, by the cash register. Turning to her, he cocked an eyebrow. “What?”

  It wasn’t the best plan, but she was desperate. “Rick, you have to pay me my last paycheck. If you don’t, I will sue you. I’ll call corporate first, though, and let them know you’re doing illegal things.” She pulled out her phone and hit the number she’d googled earlier.

  Her ex-boss looked skeptical. Then he sighed. “Fine. Wait here.”

  He left, and she looked around, not recognizing the new waitress. She checked her phone and saw three more texts from Mike and five missed calls.

  Annoyance and regret rippled through her. Why had she ever agreed to that stupid deal? Why?

  She remembered kissing him last night, and thought of how, for the first time since Josh, she’d cared about someone.

  She already missed Mike. Missed him being there every second. Missed him treating her so well. Missed the way he looked at her. The way he seemed fascinated by her. Emotion swelled inside of her, and she sniffed and pushed it back. It wasn’t real. None of it. It wasn’t.

  Rick came back, holding a check. She took it and almost sagged in relief to see the full amount was there: six hundred and fifty dollars. This would let her get her car and pay for rent. She would be okay.

  “I need you back,” Rick said.

  She frowned. “No way. Why would I come back after the way you’ve treated me?”

  Rick reluctantly pulled out another check. “Because I want to give you a bonus. Call it a late Christmas bonus.”

  Nervous flutters wove through her. She wanted to shout no and turn and leave, but the truth was that she needed
a job. And it was flexible with her nursing schedule. Furthermore, she still clung to the idea that she could somehow make to the audition. “How much?”

  “What’s it going to take?”

  “Really?”

  He sighed. “I’ve had some people quit and I need you back.”

  It was a long shot, but she had to try. “Five hundred, and I won’t be back until the beginning of the year.”

  “What?” Rick hesitated.

  Her eyes narrowed. “And I won’t call corporate.”

  Rick winced, then filled out the check for her. “Fine. But you’re scheduled all day New Year’s.”

  Excitement pulsed through her as she took it. All she wanted to do was call Mike.

  The elation quickly turned to sadness. She walked out of the truck stop and started toward her place, wishing she was still his fake girlfriend.

  How weird was that?

  Chapter 26

  Mike rushed around the guesthouse, packing his things. He didn’t take that much. His plan to get her and bring her back was ridiculous; he knew she would never come.

  Or would she? She’d been comfortable with his family, and she was so different from the Ann who was supposed to come. He grinned and thought about how Grandpa had tried to cover for her. So weird.

  Mike heard his parents pull up, and he grabbed his bag and went out of the guesthouse.

  His parents got out of the truck, and his father motioned to the house. “Let’s talk.”

  Mike knew he had to face them. They deserved an explanation. He followed them inside, and his mother didn’t make a fuss about taking off all the snow stuff. She didn’t even insist they stomp their feet on the snow rug.

  “What the—?” his father started to say.

  His mother put up her hand, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Explain yourself, Michael.”

  It was strange to hear his mother say his full name. His father’s name. Maybe because he was Mikey or Mike to her, and she only used it when she was angry at him.

  Dropping his bag, he stepped farther into the kitchen, took a breath, and started from the beginning. “She was standing at the top of the storage units. You know, those storage units in Billings.”

  “You’re making no sense.” His father shook his head. “What about Ann from Boston?”

  “The truth is, Ann broke up with me almost three weeks ago now. I don’t think she even liked me. I mean, we met at the debate tournament, but she liked fish and snails, and—” Mike’s mind whirled with all the things Zoey had told him. “—Zoey is nothing like her. Zoey lost her husband in the military a year ago. Her parents died in a plane crash right after she graduated from high school, and she’s amazing.” He blinked. “The girl wants to be on The Voice, and there’s an audition tomorrow night in Salt Lake.”

  His mother shook her head. “Mike, you’re making no sense.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. Look, all that matters is that I like her. Okay, it started off a little crazy with me telling her I would pay her two thousand dollars to be my fake girlfriend because …” He threw his hands up. “I didn’t want to be the guy who is pathetic at the wedding. I didn’t want to have that be a thing and have to tell Grandpa and the other grandparents and aunts, uncles, cousins, and this whole town that I was dumped and didn’t have a girlfriend.”

  His mother sized him up. “And you didn’t want to have Nellie move in on you again.”

  He shrugged. “It sounds worse when I say it out loud now. I’m sorry I embarrassed you guys. I’m sorry Grandpa tried to cover for us.”

  Mike’s dad’s face broke into a little smile. “Yeah, what was up with that?” He and Mike’s mother started laughing.

  Mike shook his head, tears coming to his eyes. “I don’t want to go back to Boston.”

  All the laughter stopped. His parents looked at each other and then to him.

  “I know that disappoints you, and I know that I am not being grateful for getting this opportunity, but I—”

  Cutting him off, his dad yanked him into a hug. “Good.”

  Mike did a double take. “What?”

  His dad’s face softened. “We have missed you so much. We’ve tried to be supportive, but we hate you being back there.”

  His mother touched his shoulder. “It’s true.”

  “But you tell everyone about your Harvard son.” Mike protested.

  His dad let out a light breath. “Because I am proud of you. But son, I love you and I’ll be proud of you no matter what, and no matter where you’re at.”

  Tears misted in Mike’s eyes. “Really?”

  His mother pulled him into a hug, and then his dad was hugging them both.

  “Really,” his father said.

  His mom broke the embrace. “So where is … Zoey?”

  “And what’s her real name?” his dad asked.

  “Zoey Harper.” Mike felt out of sorts just thinking about her. “I don’t know, but I’m going to go find her. She likes to hitchhike.”

  “What?” his mother said, following him to the door.

  “I’ll follow you to Grandpa’s so you can return his truck,” his father said.

  Mike pulled up to Grandpa’s and found him waiting on the porch, rocking in his chair, a toothpick in his mouth. Grandpa stood. “Where is she?”

  Mike ran up to him and gave him a huge hug. “I don’t know. I’m going to Billings to find her.”

  His grandpa shook his head. “That girl has hitchhiked, and you tell her I’m not happy about that.”

  “I know. Me neither.”

  Grandpa pointed to the barn. “Go get that lucky horseshoe; she forgot it the other night. I want her to have it.”

  Mike laughed and rushed to the barn, swinging the door open and racing to the bench. He stumbled, and his phone dropped. He tried to backtrack and ended up stepping on his phone. It cracked. “Crap.” He stumbled again and fell right onto the pitchfork he’d left out. Pain seared through him and he screamed, grabbing his thigh. “Grandpa! Call 911!”

  Chapter 27

  Zoey left at eight in the morning, buzzing with nervous excitement. It would be a long haul to Salt Lake, but she could make it there and spend a night in a cheap motel she’d booked online. Then she would be there bright and early for the audition.

  As she headed out of Billings, she thought of how she hadn’t heard from Mike again. No texts. He hadn’t even tried to call. Truth be told, part of her had thought he would show up at her apartment last night.

  Guilt filled her. She’d left them. His mother. His father. Grandpa. The whole town.

  Oh well. She pushed it out of her mind. It’d been the deal, right? It was just a five-day thing. After that, they went back to their lives. Of course, she’d left the money. She’d left all of it.

  Turning on the radio, she focused on the audition. She sang along with the popular songs and relaxed her vocal chords. Yes, she would finally get her shot. She would get her dream.

  An hour later, she pulled into a gas station and thought about how the exit for Snow Valley was coming up. Not so long ago, she’d taken that exit with Mike on their way to the wedding.

  She rushed to the bathroom and checked her phone, not really expecting a text. Her phone almost tumbled out of her hand when she saw the message.

  This is Grandpa. Mike is hurt.

  Chapter 28

  Mike sat in the Snow Valley hospital. The stupid pitchfork had torn up his thigh. He’d had to have a couple of stitches. Now that he was resting, he felt like an idiot.

  The worst thing was that he felt resigned to not being able to catch Zoey. His phone was broken, so he didn’t even know if she had texted him back.

  His parents had gone back to the high school to make sure the two semi-trucks were filled with toys and ready to go. Even though he was immensely grateful he’d told his parents everything, he was sad and confused too. Would he ever see Zoey again? Would she be able to go to Salt Lake and try out for The Voice?

  As isolated a
s he felt, he wasn’t going back to Boston, and that was good. At least, he thought it was.

  “Hey, fry guy.”

  He turned and couldn’t help but grin at Nellie and her bag from Big C’s. “Hey.” Embarrassment coursed through him.

  “I thought you might be hungry.” She put the bag next to him on the bed and sat on the chair.

  “I’m sorry, Nells. For everything.”

  She shrugged. “Yeah, that was quite a show with that girl.”

  Mike didn’t know what Nellie wanted, but he knew he had to be honest with her. “Nellie, look: I need to tell you that I was a jerk, that it was stupid to have a fake girlfriend. But I also need to tell you that you and I won’t ever work out. I’m sorry.”

  Nellie looked confused, then sad. Shaking her head, she said, “You know I was dumped pretty hard.”

  He remembered that she’d been engaged. “I’m sorry.”

  Nellie’s eyes filled with tears. “I think I just convinced myself it was okay because you and I were meant to be together and that should have been the plan. When you were coming back for Christmas, I thought I could steal you away from a girlfriend.” She looked embarrassed. “Stupid, right?”

  He reached out and took her hand. “No, because desperate people do desperate things.”

  Nellie nodded.

  Mike reached for the bag. “Are you going to take this away, or can I have some?”

  Nellie laughed. “Friends forever.”

  “I would like that,” Mike said warmly.

  “It better only be friends, because this guy is mine.”

  Mike whipped his head to the door, and happiness erupted inside of him. Standing there, in her combat boots, jeans, and the blue sweater his mother had given her, Zoey looked just as fierce as she had the first time he’d seen her.

  Nellie stood, cocking an eyebrow at Zoey. “I’m only leaving because I think my friend wants to talk to you, not because I actually like you after you ran off like that.”