My Rainbow Advent Calendar Story - Plus One Elf

I really enjoy being part of this annual event. I did it last year and I’m here for it again!
It includes FREE fiction throughout December, from a wide variety of authors – and I’m so excited to be here on day #3!

Please read, enjoy, and feedback to as many authors as you’re able to throughout December. I’d like to pass on a very heart-felt thank you to Alex Jane for her splendid and unwavering organisation throughout this event.

You can follow it all on the Facebook group If you bookmark THIS LINK it will include each story as they go live throughout the month.

I’ve chosen to write a short story that includes one of the secondary characters from one of my Christmas novellas. This one includes Dylan, the nurse, who is in Mistletoe Kisses. When I wrote him, my editor and I left comments in the margin saying that I had to write his own story. With Plus One Elf, I’ve gone as far as I could in a short story but rest assured, I think Dylan will be back!

I’ve included a link for you to download my short story below if you’re happy to sign up to my newsletter.
I do hope you enjoy it. I’d love to hear people’s comments and feedback about Dylan and Will’s story!

Love and light,
Liam Livings xx



Plus One Elf
Dylan has a wedding to attend, but since he’s newly single, he no longer has a plus one. With little money and less of a clue, he’s stuck for what to buy as a wedding gift.
Will is working as an elf in Santa’s grotto in a department store, and offers to spread a little Christmas cheer and help Dylan find the perfect gift.
Will is cynical about romance since having his heart broken. Dylan only wants a friend to join him at the wedding.
How long can you remain cynical in the face of emotions to the contrary?
How many friends does one man really need?


Download your free e-book copy here https://dl.bookfunnel.com/egyudycla1

The image below shows how many other splendid authors are taking part in this great event!

EXCERPT Plus One Elf
"I mean, who actually gets married on the 30th of December?" Dylan stared at his sister and niece as they stood outside Santa's grotto.
"I suppose they know it won’t be warm enough to be outside. Not like in summer when you can bank on the weather and then end up huddled inside a marquee."
"I understand that. But it still doesn't help me with my current situation."
By now they were nearing the front of the queue and his niece, a small lively seven-year-old called Claire, was jumping up and down with excitement and tugging at her mum’s sleeve. She’d been very well behaved during the rest of their day’s shopping in Southampton and this had been the agreed treat at the end of the day.
His sister raised her eyebrows. "Are you just going on your own?"
Dylan sighed. He didn't have long enough to explain to his sister all the reasons why he didn't want to go to the wedding on his own. He wasn't shy. Far from it. He got to meet all sorts of people through his job as a nurse. It's just that he was sure everyone, all of his university friends, would want to know where his ex-boyfriend was.
Fabio-the-not-so-perfect Italian stallion, and also speech and language therapist. On paper Fabio had seemed the perfect boyfriend. In real life, not so much.
"Why can't you be my plus one?"
"Because, I don't know either the bride or groom, and I’d really rather do something else with an entire day than go to a wedding with you."
Well, that told him. "I just can't bear all the questions. All the pitying looks. I don't think I'll bother. I’ll just get them a present and send it with a nice card. Not that I know what to get as a gift yet."
"She is your best friend from university. Don’t you think she's going to notice if you don't go to her wedding? Buy something here."
Fair comment. Also the bride knew that Dylan had recently split up from his boyfriend. And she'd insisted that he come and see her. However that hadn't quite materialised. His shifts, and her living far away, hadn't made it easy for them to get together. Dylan had kept ignoring the present and plus one problem, until now that it was less than a week away. Staring him straight in the face.
His sister nodded, and they walked towards the grotto. “Are you coming in with us?"
Putting on an Oliver Twist, please sir can I have some more voice, he said, "Can I sit on Santa's knee?"
She huffed, and disappeared into the archway of Santa’s Grotto that consisted of a wooden hut.
He had noticed one of the elves standing outside the building, wearing a green elf’s outfit and pointy green shoes. Even in those he still managed to look rather attractive.
Dylan turned and started to walk away from the wooden hut.
"Have you not been good enough to get a present this year?" The voice was quite deep.
It made Dylan turn, more out of curiosity than anything else, definitely not anything to do with the voice that sounded like warm honey dripping over a pancake.
It was the Elf. Of course Dylan knew that the Elf would have an actual name but he wasn't really bothered about that.
The Elf raised his eyebrows and smiled.
Much as he didn't want to admit it, Dylan agreed that it was a very cute smile. Dark brown eyes too.
"Honestly, everyone queues for ages, and speaks to Santa. Old, young, most of the time I think the parents are just as excited as the children."
"She's not mine. The little girl. She's my sister’s." There. That ought to do it. Stop him talking to me. So I can carry on thinking about how to overcome this wedding conundrum.
The Elf nodded. "I see." More honey, more pancakes, more twinkly brown eyes.
***

The story featuring Dylan as a secondary character is Mistletoe Kisses:

Steven spends Christmas with his parents in the New Forest. His workaholic boyfriend Edmund is stuck in London. Concussed from an accident, Steven wakes in hospital. Everything feels…odd.

His mother’s taken up baking, their house is decorated like Christmas is on overdrive, the town pottery needs saving from Edmund’s company takeover. Rugged yet reserved carpenter Rich, offers to save the pottery. But only if Steven helps.

Snowed in, opposites attract, small town, mistletoe kisses, ice skating, hot chocolate, sweet Christmas romance for everyone who’s ever loved those made-for-TV Christmas movies, and wished there was a gay romance version. With a twist.

mybook.to/mistletoex