A Mate for the Christmas Dragon by Zoe Chant

Author:Zoe Chant [Chant, Zoe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Abigail

Abigail jiggled her feet as Jasper climbed up the ladder. This was such a stupid idea. God, it was the worst idea she’d ever had. Why was she doing this?

Jasper’s head appeared through the trapdoor, and there was her answer. Because of him. Because he made her feel like no one else ever had before.

Because she was so close to having a happy Christmas, it hurt.

She watched Jasper carefully as he climbed up into the small attic room. This was about to go terribly wrong, she knew it. Her heart thudded in her throat.

Jasper’s ember-like eyes moved around the room. The walls were peeling, cheap old paint flaking off in strips. There was no insulation— she’d left her jacket on for a reason, and now her and Jasper’s breath mingled in white clouds.

No furniture. No carpet or wallpaper. Even the light coming in through the three small, round windows seemed muffled and flat.

Abigail bit her lip, wondering how long it would take Jasper to figure out where he was— and what his reaction would be.

“This is… nice,” he said diplomatically. Abigail bit back a nervous smile as he stepped carefully around the trapdoor and did up her jacket. “It’s…” She watched him hunt for something complimentary to say about the cold, bare attic. “Hang on. Where are we?”

“Above the shop.” Abigail rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet.

“But there isn’t anything above the shop. It’s only two levels from the outside. The only thing above that is—” Jasper’s eyes widened. Abigail’s stomach fluttered as he darted to the nearest window. “Abigail, be honest with me… am I staring out at the square through Santa Claus’s stomach?”

“Yes!” Abigail covered her mouth. The word had come out far too excited. Because she was far too excited, about this little, stupid thing. Sneaking up to the shop attic like a couple of teenagers. It was idiotic. So why was her head spinning?

Because you want this to work. Because you think it’s going to work, and that’s the stupidest thing of all.

She shook her head, trying to dislodge the nasty, vindictive voice, and bit her lip. When she looked up, Jasper was staring at her, an uncertain look in his eyes.

Jasper stuck his hands in his pockets and looked around the small attic slowly, his eyebrows furrowing. “This isn’t…” He stopped and rubbed his forehead, staring appealingly at Abigail. Then he sighed and gestured around the tiny room. “Is this how you see Christmas? Festive and fun on the outside, barren and cold inside?”

Abigail’s mouth fell open. She snapped it shut, wrapping her arms around her. “No,” she burst out. “No, I just— I wanted to—” She paused and swallowed hard, willing the sudden queasiness in her stomach away. When she spoke again, her voice was small. “I thought you would like it. That you’d think it was… fun.”

And see where that got you.

Jasper thought she’d planned this as some sort of jab at Christmas. At him. She couldn’t even bear to look at him, remembering the stricken look on his face as he looked around the attic.

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