Christmas with her, p.1
Christmas with Her, page 1
Christmas with Her
A Lesbian Romance
Like Her
Book 4
Fiona Zedde
Red Hills Publishing
For my readers.
Thank you for always coming back.
Acknowledgments
To my village that supported, fed, and encouraged me throughout this writer’s journey: Angela, Asmara, Sheree, Connie, Pedro, Sharon, the mamas, and Kia. Words can’t express my gratitude and love.
To my supporters on Patreon, you all are my shining stars! April, Aries, Dimakatso, Frankie, Jessica, Katy, Kelsey, Mileka, Mishael, Shavon, Sheree, Sonja, Valerie, Roland, and Zaïna. Thank you a thousand times.
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Copyright © 2025 by Fiona Zedde
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without the written permission of the author.
These are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover image by SheerGenius
Contents
A Week Before…
1. Vega
2. Pam
3. Pam
4. Vega
5. Vega
6. Pam
7. Pam
8. Vega
9. Pam
10. Vega
11. Pam
12. Vega
13. Pam
14. Pam
15. Vega
16. Pam
17. Vega
18. Pam
A Year Later
*Thank you*
Fiona Online
Femme Like Her Excerpt
Stud Like Her Excerpt
Eve Falls First Excerpt
Those We Run From Excerpt
Also by Fiona Zedde
About Fiona Zedde
A Week Before…
“They’re burning through all that electricity for these Christmas lights for what reason?” Vega squinted up at the tall Christmas tree in the middle of the bright town square. She leaned back in the wooden bench where she sat, arms crossed over her chest. “They might as well stuff the city’s money up somebody’s ass.”
Perched on the other end of the bench like she was about to slide off into the bushes to hide her face, her sister, Leticia, scowled at her. “Your attitude is so foul right now.”
Vega grunted.
Truthfully, the decorations looked good. The small village square that celebrated every holiday like it was the last one on Earth had done a decent job. The holiday lights and the Christmas night market with every jingling thing imaginable for sale. The merry-go-round and the Christmas songs playing over the sound system, while a happy crowd filled the square. It certainly evoked a mood.
Too bad Vega wasn’t in the mental space to enjoy any of it. Was she ever these days?
“Golly gosh!” To irritate her sister, Vega used her swishiest tone. “Can you ever guess why?” She clutched non-existent pearls and fluttered her eyes at her sister, sure that she looked ridiculous doing all that. What six-foot-three stud in dreads and a beanie wouldn’t?
“But you don’t have to act like this, though,” Leticia said.
“Should I be grateful? You’re fucking up my whole vibe here. If I was into Christmas, you would’ve ruined it by asking me to meet up with you here.”
“Here” was one of those self-styled small villages in the Atlanta area. It always puts on out-of-this-world Christmas shows, the whole town bright with lights, every front lawn a Disney-level light show. Not Vega’s thing, but since she didn’t live under a rock, she knew about it.
“Don’t shoot the messenger.” Leticia, who could’ve been Vega’s twin except she was a foot shorter, didn’t wear glasses, and wore her hair straight instead of in shoulder-length dreadlocks, scrunched herself up tight on the edge of the bench. She looked miserable. “I’m here because Mamá asked me to come.”
Vega made a dismissive sound. “That was your first mistake. Feel free to leave at any time, hermana.”
Never mind that Vega was the one who’d brought her own dumb ass here to meet Leticia, even though she already knew what she was going to be in for. What was the definition of doing the same shit over and over again but expecting different results? Yeah, she was that.
“Fine!” Leticia said. But she didn’t move a single inch. What was she waiting for?
At one point, she and her sister had been close, but when her closet door flew open, out went that relationship.
A cool wind slid its icy fingers in the gap between her coat and her scarf. Shuddering, Vega adjusted the thick wool around her neck. From her seat on one of the benches lining the cobblestoned walkway leading to the Christmas tree, she had a good view of the crowd. Around her, people took pictures, snacked on roasted chestnuts, drank from insulated paper cups, and otherwise enjoyed themselves.
The profile of a familiar person caught her eye. Pam Sutton. Her friend’s sister. She stood next to another pretty woman, both of them eating from a clear bag of caramel popcorn and laughing about something.
Pam, short and illegally cute, wore boots, jeans, and a black coat over a sparkly sweater. A red and green elf hat with a bell perched on top of her plucked out afro.
“What are you smiling about all of a sudden?” Leticia’s snarky voice was like a blade to the ear.
“About how great it is to hang around here with you, obviously.”
Her sister snorted. After a few seconds, she sighed and stood up. “I’m heading out.”
“Okay, bye!” Vega tossed her a fake smile and a set of wiggling fingers.
“I’ll tell Mamá that I saw you tonight.”
“Isn’t that a necessary part of this whole performance?” Vega stood up too. “Don’t tell her I said hello.” Then she turned her back on her sister and walked away, the taste of bitterness on her tongue.
She glanced back toward the crowd, searching for Pam again, but she wasn’t there. What was she going to do anyway? Go up to a woman she’d never met and introduce herself as the creep who knew all about her life.
Not today.
Hands in her coat pockets, Vega headed toward the food stalls. Maybe the caramel popcorn lady was still there…
Chapter 1
Vega
“I really could do without all these fake glitches.”
Michelle Vega finished inputting the details of the latest machine she’d had to fix for yet another moron in the firm. The closer it got to Christmas, the more bullshit work orders came into the IT department. More computers got broken, bugged, or just plain beat up. “They should take off work and go home like normal humans instead of giving us unnecessary work to do.”
Seriously annoying AF.
Paul, who shared the office with her, grunted from behind the gray partition separating their desks. “But then they wouldn’t get to bleed the company dry while waiting for Christmas Day to get here.”
Vega snorted, saved the report, and started shutting down her computer. It was almost five thirty, and time to go home. After the week of bullshit, going home to her quiet Edgewood area duplex was going to be heaven.
A brisk knock rattled on the other side of the office door and, before she could say “fuck off,” it opened.
Don’t these people know that knocking didn’t automatically give them permission to enter?
Leon, the only person on their IT team who didn’t have to share an office, poked his head in. “Come grab some beers with us, Paulie.” His thin hair flopped over his forehead this way and that as he checked out their office. Not like there was anything new for him to see since his last visit. “I hear we won’t see you for a week because of your vacation.” Then he turned a fake smile on Vega. “Hey, Michelle.”
She grunted at him.
“I already have plans with my sister tonight,” Paul said. The sounds coming from his side of the partition said he was packing up for the day, too. “Thanks, though. Maybe next time.”
Vega tucked her mouse away in the sliding drawer under her monitor and glanced over her shoulder at her office nemesis. “What, no invite for me, Leon?”
“No girls-for-girls allowed, Michelle.”
Ah, good old office homophobia. “Afraid I’ll get more play than you with the ladies?”
“You wish.” He genuinely looked upset at the idea. “Your stone face and shitty sense of humor would drive them off right after you reel them in with your height and looks.”
“Awww. You think I’m pretty…” She showed him her white, well-shaped teeth that were perfect for chewing up assholes like him. “Should I tell HR?”
Stuttering, Deon backed out the door. “Um, see you, Paulie. Have a good vacation with the wife.” Then he turned tail and ran off like a little bitch.
The sound of wheezing laughter came from the other side of the partition. “You’re so mean sometimes,” Paul chortled.
“Only sometimes? I need to up my game.” Vega pulled her messenger bag out of her desk’s bottom drawer. “Anyway, I’m out. See you when you get back.”
“Wait a second.” Paul jumped up into view, his indestructible work backpack already dangling from one shoulder. She often joked that he was the Superman to her Clark Kent. Dimpled chin, stella
“Why?” What was he up to? Although they were work friends—which often surprised the hell out of her—she and Paul had never hung out in the real world. For her, the parking lot outside their office building qualified as the start of the real world.
“Can’t a friend walk another friend out to the parking lot since they’re both heading in the same direction anyway?”
She gave him another look before shrugging. “Sure. It’s a free-ish country.”
“Facts.” He chuckled.
Vega waited while Paul locked their office door and walked with him to the elevator. As the car slid down toward the lobby, he pulled a greeting card envelope from his backpack. “Here.” His expression was suspiciously neutral.
“What’s this?” She took a step back like the envelope was about to attack her. “You’re not having one of those corny office birthday parties, are you?” Vega was pretty sure his birthday was in September, though.
“Take it and see.” He flapped the envelope at her and smiled, showing off his extra-pointy and slightly crooked canines.
“Fine.” She took it, narrowing her eyes at him again before opening it. Why did she feel like this card was about to change their whole relationship? As slowly as humanly possible, she opened the envelope. By the time she had the card between her fingers, the elevator chimed and the doors slid open.
“Now you’re just being dramatic,” Paul said. He was a pretty cheerful guy. Always smiling. Even when any of the lawyers or paralegals, and whoever else worked in the massive law firm, asked for dumb shit, he always made a joke and carried on.
Paul didn’t even take it personally when Vega was an asshole to him. He was the definition of water off a duck’s back.
She envied him sometimes.
Vega stepped out of the elevator with the card held carefully between two fingers.
“Woman, stop,” Paul muttered, but she ignored him.
It was a nice card, thick green paper with beautiful calligraphy in silver ink. Vega stepped aside for other people to get into the elevator and quietly read what the words said.
Vega,
You’re joyfully invited to join Pam Sutton and Alix Fowler’s annual holiday party. We’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa —everything! Bring happiness in your heart and a box, bottle, or bag of something delicious to share.
Happy holidays and see you soon!
XOX
Pam & Alix
“Why do I feel like I’ve been tricked?” Vega looked up from reading the card.
“Because you’re paranoid and don’t like to indulge in wholesome human contact outside of work?” Paul nudged her with his shoulder. “Let’s keep walking. The sooner we get out of here, the sooner I can get home to my wife.”
Vega rolled her eyes but fell in step with him anyway. Although he and his wife, Lumi, had been married for about three years, they still acted like newlyweds and went on a Holiday-moon, whatever that was, every Christmas.
“You know I don’t do Christmas,” Vega said as she slipped through the revolving doors ahead of Paul. She put the invitation in her messenger bag anyway.
“I know, but my sister told me to invite you this year or else.”
“Or else what? She’s only as big as a teacup.”
“Man, don’t underestimate that girl because of her size.”
Vega had been working with Paul for nearly five years now and had gotten to be friends-ish with him. His sister, Pam, who Vega had never met but had a sad little crush on, was a decent cook. She loved to try new recipes and often gave the results of her culinary experiments to Paul. For the last year and a half, she’d been giving him two portions, one for him and the other for Vega. It was sweet.
And only added fire to Vega’s crush.
Bright sunlight stunned her for a few seconds before she slipped on her sunglasses and headed out to her parking spot. Their building had underground parking spaces, but she’d rather put her car outside where there was less likelihood of being trapped under the building if it collapsed. After a few conversations on that theme, Paul had started parking his Volvo convertible outside, too.
At her old ass Honda SUV, which happened to be parked next to Paul’s, Vega stopped. “Look, man, tell Pam I appreciate the invitation, but I’m good on my own this year.” If she went to the party, she’d just bring the mood down. Vega tossed her bag in the front passenger seat, remembering the last time Pam sent her food. It was mangú, a Dominican dish she’d made because Paul told her how much Vega missed her mom’s cooking. That was only one of about a million things the little pint-sized ray of sunshine did that made Vega’s crush worse. “Thank her for me, though.”
“She really wants you to come,” Paul said, forehead crinkling in his sincerity. The Volvo chirped and the lights flashed as he clicked the key fob. “If you change your mind, just come. The address is on the card.”
“I won’t change my mind.” Pam was going to be hopping around on her usual Christmas holiday high. Vega didn’t want to ruin that.
“Whatever you decide.” Paul got into his car and slid down the window. “If you’re at the party, see you on Christmas Day. If not, see you in the New Year.” With his favorite rap-opera artist blasting from the stereo, Paul waved and drove off.
At home later that evening, mangú haunted Vega.
Not the mangú Pam had made and sent over in a covered casserole dish that Vega had yet to return. No, not that one.
Sitting on her porch with a glass of lemon water, Vega remembered the many times she’d eaten mangú at her mother’s table. At breakfast with the triple threat of fried eggs, fried cheese, and fried salami. Not great for the arteries, but the absolute best way to start the day when she’d lived at home.
Home.
A place she hadn’t been in seven years.
Not since her mother stopped talking to her for being gay. Stopped allowing her at family get-togethers. Stopped sending her birthday packages. Stopped…being her mother.
Vega swallowed her sadness. But the salt from it still ran down her face, dripping into her mouth, and down her chin.
How could Pam, someone she’d never met, be kinder to her than the woman who gave birth to her and raised her?
Vega clenched her jaw to stop her chin from wobbling.
Damn. It’s been seven years already. Get over it.
If only it were that simple.
On the table next to her, the silver lettering from Pam’s invitation caught the faint light coming through the window to the living room. It was too shadowy where she sat to read the words, but she couldn’t forget them.
You’re joyfully invited…
She leaned back in the French bistro-style chair, and it creaked softly, amplifying the quiet. Through the porch screen came the creaking sound of bare tree limbs moving in the wind, the bursting call of some kind of owl.
Her mother’s house had never been silent. Not with her three kids and later, five grandkids, endless relatives, plus various neighbors always coming over to gossip.
Vega loved the quiet, but at times like this, it only made her feel lonely. She chewed on the inside of her cheek. Before she could come to her senses, she picked up her phone and dialed.
“Hey,” she said when Paul answered. “What should I bring to your sister’s party?”
Chapter 2
