Dottie checked her makeup one last time before heading out the door.

“You look so great,” Jen said enthusiastically when Dottie got into her car. She turned up the heater. “Sorry, it’s freezing in here. I’m so glad you decided to come with me.”

“I wasn’t doing anything better,” Dottie said, trying to sound cheery.

Her parents were going to be delayed at their home in Indianapolis for another day. One of the pipes had burst, and there was no way they could get that worked on if they came back to Maple Creek. Even though it sucked to have a broken pipe, they had been lucky to find someone willing to come and fix it so close to Christmas. She was kind of hoping they were getting her a big surprise for Christmas, though. She could really use the cheering up right now. She hadn’t told them that she had officially broken it off with Wy, but they had known she was going to do it before Christmas.

“So, what are you doing for Christmas?” Jen asked.

“Nothing, if my parents don’t get back in time.” Dottie sighed. “I think maybe I’ll get myself some McDonald’s, or maybe Chinese food.”

“Why wouldn’t they get back? You said it was only a quick trip.”

“But there’s so much snow. What if they can’t get here? I have to prepare myself. There’s nothing wrong with getting fast food on Christmas. That’s why they’re open. I bet a ton of people hit the drive-through.”

Jen gasped, horrified. “I don’t care how many people do it. Nobody should be eating fast food alone on Christmas. If your parents don’t get back, you should come to my house. I’m having a misfits’ Christmas. My parents decided they were going to take a vacation again this year, so I’m alone too. I invited a bunch of people over, and we’re going to have a big dinner and do a white elephant party. That’s one of the things I need to pick up today.”

“That actually does sound fun,” Dottie admitted. “Not as much fun as being with my parents, but way better than my fast food idea. I’ll grab something for the white elephant, just in case.”

“How are you doing?” Jen asked.

Dottie shrugged. “I’m not crying, so I guess I’m doing fine.”

She hadn’t told Jen that she and Wyatt had broken up. She’d said that they’d had a big fight. She didn’t want to go into too much detail. It made her feel so bad.

“You want to talk about it?” Jen asked. “I’ve been told I’m a great listener and I give good advice.”

Dottie shook her head. “I don’t think so. I don’t really need any advice.”

Jen smiled. “It’s okay, girl. We’ll keep it positive today, if that’s what you want.”

She turned up the music, and Dottie relaxed as the car filled with cheery Christmas music.

“I really wish you got to dress like that while we were at work,” Jen said as they drove toward the mall. “I really loved your costume, but Wy was right. You look great in street clothes. I am so jealous of your style. I can’t pull anything like that off. My clothes are so boring.”

Dottie looked down. She had pulled together her outfit quickly, without any thought. She was wearing a mint-colored sweater with a penguin on it and a pair of black leggings with snowflakes. She didn’t even think her clothes looked that good. The only thing she’d taken time with was her makeup. Doing her makeup always made her feel better.

“Thanks. I didn’t think I looked that great. And you can pull off anything. Your clothes aren’t boring at all. You have a great body. You can wear anything and make it look like a million bucks.”

“I have a great body because I work for it,” Jen laughed. “I didn’t always look like this.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yeah. In middle school, I was so overweight. Okay, who am I kidding? I was a fat kid. I was fat until I learned to drive.”

“What happened then?”

“I got a job and a gym membership. After I learned how to work out, I never looked back. Do you work out?”

“Does dancing alone in my room count?”

Jen laughed. “Of course! Not everyone has to be crazy about it like me. And, honestly, I only work out so much so I can eat like a pig. If I ate better, I wouldn’t need to work out so hard.”

Dottie looked at Jen. There was no way she ate like a pig, ever. They had had lunch together, and Jen was always very careful about what she ate. Maybe she ate more when she was alone, but Dottie doubted it.

“Maybe I should start working out.”

“You could use my guest pass. Or, I guess you’d probably want to use Wyatt’s. He doesn’t come often, but I’m sure you’d rather work out with him.”

There it was again. His name made Dottie bristle now. She hadn’t seen him since what had turned out to be their last day of work before Christmas. Because the snowstorm, the people in charge had canceled the last two days. It was easier this way. It made Dottie sad, but she was glad she wouldn’t have to see Wy before the holidays again.

As painful as the whole thing was, she was glad it had happened. And at least she was making one new friend out of it. Jen was so nice. Dottie was glad that at the very least, one good thing had come out of the whole ordeal.

“I don’t think so,” she said. “But I would like to work out with you. I bet you can give me tips on how to get a great butt.”

“I can do that! I have so many tips and tricks. The gym is going to be packed at this time of year, but it’ll still be really cool.”

“Sounds fun,” Dottie said. “So, what else are we shopping for today?”

“I need a new dress for the party. Something really sexy,” Jen said. “Everything I have just isn’t right.”

“Oh, yeah, the party.”

“What are you wearing for it?”

“I don’t know.”

Dottie didn’t want to tell Jen that she wasn’t going to the work Christmas party that night. She had forgotten about it, really, but even if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t go. She couldn’t risk seeing Wyatt right now. She didn’t want to cry in front of all her coworkers.

“Are you and Wyatt going to do some kind of matching outfits?” Jen joked. “If you convince him to do that, I’m going to die. Seeing him in his elf costume is funny enough, but I know you’ll come up with something much better.”

“We aren’t,” Dottie said carefully. “But I’m sure we can find you something great.”

Jen shook her head. “It can’t be just anything, and it has to be better than great. I’m trying to get Tim to notice me.”

“I’m sure he notices you already. You guys are friends, right?”

“You would think he does,” Jen said. “But he only seems to see me as a friend. He won’t ask me out. I’ve been dropping hints about it all the time, but nothing has happened.”

“Why don’t you ask him out?”

“I tried, but it didn’t go right.” Jen sighed. “I asked him to go to the bar, and he brought a friend. I don’t even know if he thinks of me as anything more than a friend. I had hoped that working together would make it better, but nope. I’m hoping that this party will be when he realizes that I could be more than a buddy. I want him to see me as something more. Hence, the need for the perfect sexy dress.”

“You know, maybe the work thing backfired. He is so professional. I don’t think he would ever date someone who worked for him.”

Jen’s mouth dropped open, and she smacked herself in the forehead. “I am so stupid! Of course he wouldn’t date someone who works for him. God, this is why you and I need to be friends. You’re so smart about these kinds of things. I can see why Wy fell for you so fast. He is so lucky to have you.”

Dottie stared out the window. She was going to have to come clean. “I was lucky to have him. But we aren’t together anymore. We didn’t just have a big fight. We aren’t together or anything.”

“What do you mean? I thought you two were dating.”

“We kind of were, but now we’re not.”

“Oh.” Jen looked at her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really.” Dottie kept looking out the window. If she looked at Jen right now, she knew she would start crying.

They drove in silence for a while, listening to the music. Then Jen changed the subject, and they spent the rest of the drive talking about the latest reality TV news. Dottie was so grateful to talk about something besides Wyatt.

When they got to the mall, they made a beeline for the nearest store. Jen tried on a whole armful of dresses. She insisted that Dottie try on some too.

“You should come to the party with me. There’s no way Wy will be there,” Jen said from the dressing room next to Dottie’s. “I can call him to be sure, but he doesn’t like parties like this. You can just come and have fun with me.”

Dottie slowly pulled the dress over her head. It was much sexier than anything she had ever worn.

“Did you hear me?” Jen called.

“I heard you,” Dottie said.

She came out of her dressing room to look in the big mirror. Jen came out too and surveyed her.

“You should buy that dress. It’s perfect for tonight.”

“I just don’t think I can go. It won’t be good. I’m going to be sad.”

“Why would you be sad?”

“Because I really miss Wy. If I’m where we met, I’m going to break down.”

“If you’re so sad, you could try to get back with him. Get him to change his mind.”

“I’m the one who broke up with him,” Dottie said.

She went back to her dressing room to try to be alone, but Jen followed her in.

“Hey, talk to me.”

Dottie shook her head as tears flowed down her cheeks. “I can’t.”

“Dottie, do you still love him?”

“I don’t know. No?”

“You don’t sound so sure about that.”

Dottie hung her head. “I don’t know what I feel anymore. I thought I liked him, but I can’t trust my feelings anymore. I make so many bad decisions. My parents don’t even think he’s right for me.”

“So?”

“So, my parents are usually right. They know what’s best for me. If he was really my mate, I would be sure. But I’m not.”

Jen put her hands on her hips. “Do your parents even know him?”

“They met him. And they looked him up on the internet. Something didn’t sit right with them. They think he’s nice, but to them, something is off about him.”

“How many times did they meet him?”

“Once.”

“Once? Seriously, Dottie. They don’t even know him. I’ve known Wy for years. There is nothing ‘off’ about him. He’s a really great guy. Maybe a little rough around the edges, but really great.”

“He is a great guy.”

“Okay, and you’re really sad you broke up with him. So what if your parents are unsure? How do you feel? Because to me, you look heartbroken right now. If a breakup is right, you should feel a little bit happy and relieved. Even if it’s only a teeny tiny bit.”

“I don’t feel relieved at all. I feel really, really bad. But there’s nothing I can do about it now. I’ve already broken up with him.”

“Nonsense. You still love him, and I would bet anything that Wy still loves you. You two belong together. I’ve never seen him like he is around you. He loves you, Dottie. This isn’t something you should take lightly.”

“How can you be so sure? You barely even know me.”

“I know enough. You two belong together, and you shouldn’t let anything stand in your way. Do you want to be back with him?”

“Yes. I think I do.”

Jen nodded. “Okay. I have an idea.”