When jaded journalist Juniper reluctantly agrees to chronicle a holiday blind dating experiment, she never expects her greatest love story to unfold behind the lens of her assigned photographer, Eve—forcing her to question everything she thought she knew about love, the holidays, and herself. Join me in this Hallmark-esque romcom romp through 12 dates of Christmas.

The smell of fresh coffee and cinnamon rolls filled the house as Juniper made her way downstairs. The soft murmur of voices and the rustle of wrapping paper drifted from the living room, where her parents had already begun their Christmas morning tradition of opening stockings. “Morning, sleepyhead!” her dad called as she walked in. He was in his wheelchair next to the couch, a mug of coffee balanced precariously on his knee. “Morning,” Juniper said, smiling as she tucked herself into an armchair near the tree. Eve was cross-legged on the floor near the coffee table, still in her festive flannel pajamas, her stocking beside her. She looked up with a grin, holding up a small jar of red-and-green pepper jelly. “Is this a family tradition, or does your mom just have really eclectic taste?”

The coffee shop buzzed with quiet energy, the steady hum of conversation blending with the hiss and gurgle of the espresso machine. Juniper sat at a small table by the window, her laptop open in front of her and a fresh notebook to her right. Snowflakes drifted lazily past the glass, the city moving at its usual brisk pace just beyond the cozy warmth of the café. She twirled her pen between her fingers, staring at the blank page of her notebook. The success of her Snowflakes and Soulmates articles had sparked something in her—a desire to write on her own terms. Not fluff pieces or corporate clickbait, but stories that mattered. Stories that dug deeper, stories that were hers. She tapped the pen against the notebook rhythmically, trying to untangle the swirling ideas in her head. Maybe something about families, she thought, or about love in unexpected places. She smiled faintly, remembering how far she’d come in just a few months. “Still deciding what to write next?”

Juniper stirred awake to the soft creak of floorboards and the faint, familiar aroma of brewing coffee. For a moment, she lay still, tucked beneath the thick blanket in her old bed, staring up at the ceiling. The house was quiet except for the occasional rustle of movement from the living area, the kind of peaceful quiet she only ever experienced when visiting her parents. The warmth of the previous evening lingered in her chest, mingling with a bittersweet pang. Coming out to her parents had been one of the most terrifying moments of her life, but the way they’d embraced her—embraced Eve—was something she’d carry forever. A soft knock at the door broke her reverie. “Juniper, honey, breakfast is on,” her mom’s voice called gently. “I’ll be right out,” Juniper croaked, her voice still groggy from sleep.

The crunch of snow underfoot was the only sound as Juniper and Eve made their way up the driveway. The house loomed ahead, glowing with a warm, inviting light that spilled through the frosted windows. Wreaths adorned the front door, and the faint sound of Christmas music drifted through the air. “Your mom really goes all out,” Eve said again, her tone equal parts admiration and amusement. Juniper huffed a laugh, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. “You don’t even know the half of it.” Before Eve could reply, the front door flew open, and Juniper’s mom appeared, her face lighting up with excitement. “Juniper! You’re here!” She checked her watch. ”It's almost 6:30, but who's counting.”

By morning, the snowstorm had passed, leaving a thick blanket of white across the motel parking lot. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft golden glow over the landscape as Juniper loaded their bags into the car. “Not bad for a motel adventure,” Eve said, sipping from a steaming cup of coffee she’d snagged from the front office. “But I’m ready to hit the road again.” Juniper nodded, brushing snow from the windshield. “Me too. My mom’s probably already planning the dessert courses for when we arrive.” “Multiple courses of dessert?” Eve asked, her eyes lighting up. “You didn’t mention that before.” Juniper laughed, sliding into the driver’s seat. “Brace yourself. She’s serious about her holiday desserts.”

Note this chapter is censored due to NOTD's terms of service. Juniper heaved her duffel bag into the trunk of her car, wedging it between the carefully wrapped gifts and a tote bag stuffed with last-minute essentials. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the overcast sky, dusting her windshield as she slammed the trunk shut. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out with gloved hands, smiling faintly at the message from her mom. Mom: Are you on the road yet? Don’t forget—Christmas dinner is at 6 tomorrow! Drive safe, sweetheart. Juniper glanced at her car’s clock—5:35 a.m. She had two long days of driving ahead of her, twenty five hours if the weather held up. And she wasn’t doing it alone.

Juniper stirred as sunlight peeked through the edges of her curtains, her phone buzzing insistently on the nightstand. She groaned, turning over and blindly patting the table until her hand closed around the device. 8:47 a.m. Way later than she’d meant to sleep. She unlocked the screen, expecting an avalanche of notifications, but there was only one email at the top of her inbox—from Max. Her stomach twisted as she sat up, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Subject: Assignment Update: Two More Articles Juniper’s heart raced as she opened the email. Two!?

“Do you think it's bad luck or good luck to bring a lesbian to the Nutcracker?“ Eve asked as they walked the cramped downtown sidewalk. “I guess we'll find out,“ Juniper replied. The towering facade of the city’s historic theater loomed ahead, its arched windows glowing warmly against the crisp winter evening. Strings of white lights framed the entrance, and an enormous wreath hung above the double doors, its red bow fluttering in the breeze. Juniper adjusted her coat, her heels clicking against the icy pavement. The theater’s marquee read The Nutcracker – One Night Only, and a small crowd of well-dressed patrons streamed inside, their laughter and chatter creating a lively buzz. “Final date,” Juniper muttered under her breath. “Never thought I'd make it this far.”

The office Christmas party was everything Juniper expected it to be: beige. The conference room was dressed up with a sad strand of tinsel, a lopsided fake tree in the corner, and a buffet table of store-bought cookies and lukewarm cider. The holiday playlist crackled through an old speaker, Jingle Bell Rock battling the hum of office chatter. Juniper leaned against the wall, nursing a plastic cup of cider and trying not to look too bored. Around her, coworkers milled about in clusters, swapping polite holiday greetings and half-hearted compliments about the decorations. Max, her editor, clinked his glass loudly, calling for attention. “All right, everyone, listen up! I just want to say how proud I am of the team this year. We’ve hit some big milestones, and I couldn’t ask for a better group of writers, editors, and photographers.” The room applauded dutifully. Juniper clapped twice, then took another sip of cider.