The Plight Before Christmas(113)
“It’s freezing out here,” Brenden whines.
“Eli!” Peyton barks again, and I grin. My little man, ever the bossy one.
Whitney shakes her head as the ramblings continue.
“What is taking so long?” Gracie asks.
“Would you two please. Get. Out. Of. The. Car!”
“Serena,” Thatch scolds. “Maybe they want a moment alone.”
“I can’t see shit with these lights blinding me,” Dad says as Whitney and I shake with laughter.
Another knock sounds. “Whitney, this is your father. I’m not getting any younger, Sweet Pea. Come on out of the car.” Allen peers in, his hands covering his eyes to block the blinding white lights.
Whitney shakes her head and looks back over to me, her smile breathtaking. “We’re eloping. You hear me? We. Are. Eloping.”
“Whatever you want, Bee,” I say with a chuckle.
“And we’re not sleeping here tonight,” she says heatedly.
“Fuck no,” I whisper. “I’ve got us a room ready. I’m going to do things to my fiancée tonight that will have us both on Rudolph’s naughty list.”
“Fiancée,” she sighs. “We’re getting married.”
“Yeah, baby,” I lift her hand and kiss her ring, “if we ever get out of the car.”
“I love you so much, Eli.”
“I know.”
“Arrogant,” she sniffs.
“Confident,” I say. “In us.” She kisses my palm and presses it to her cheek.
“I’m so happy.”
“That’s all I want.”
Past Whitney’s shoulder, I see Ruby standing alone on the porch, her hands on the railing, her smile a mile wide as her family continues to batter my SUV.
“Ready?” I ask Whitney.
“Absolutely. Let’s do this,” she replies just before I unlock the doors.
THE END
KATE – “ALEXA, WISH MY READERS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
ALEXA – “HERE IS SOMETHING I FOUND ON THE WEB—”
A packet and a half of hot chocolate mix made with milk 3 Hershey’s Kisses
2 packages mini candy canes - crushed
A handful of mini marshmallows
Stir all ingredients, including (1) crushed candy cane, until kisses are melted. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle the second crushed candy cane.
Enjoy!
XO
In the mood for more Romantic Dramedy?
Check out the first chapter of
The Guy on the Right
Theo
College Station, Texas, population 113,564 and I’ve finally got a match. It’s not something I’m used to, but my luck’s been changing for the past few months, and seemingly for the better. It only took a few hours for my online profile to go live, and now that it has, I can freely admit I’m enjoying the ego boost.
TJGrand: How’s it going?
BlueBelle2001: Good night so far, you?
TJGrand: No complaints here. Just got home from the game.
BlueBelle2001: Me too. I thought that might be you.
TJGrand: You know who I am?
I can’t hide my grin as I look over her profile pic. She’s a bombshell and out of my league. But second guessing myself is not something I indulge in much anymore.
BlueBelle2001: Of course, I know who you are. I look for you at every party on game night.
TJGrand: I’m flattered.
BlueBelle2001: I can’t believe I just admitted it. So, I’m new to this. How do you want to do it?
TJGrand: Do it?
BlueBelle2001: You know (winking face emoji)
The loud clink of beer bottles jars me from where I sit on the couch, and I look up to see Troy has just tapped Kevin’s bottle, forcing him to down it or it’ll overflow. It’s going to be another long night. Too stunned by the bombshell matter at hand, I stare at her last message, unsure of what to say. Is this girl really propositioning me so soon? It can’t be this simple. It happens all the time, random hookups through an app. It’s not news. But this would be my first time, literally.
TJGrand: What are you thinking?
That’s perfect, Theo, let her think she’s in control. But don’t give her too much.
BlueBelle2001: I could come to you.
“You have got to be shitting me.”
“Sup?” Troy asks, walking over to where I sit on our couch.
Adrenaline spiking, I can only shake my head before I look back at the screen, incredulous. In seconds, my phone is yanked from my hand.
“She’s hot,” he mutters, “and she wants to hook up.”
Charging from the couch, I manage to snatch my phone away just as he finishes typing our address and hits send. Glaring at him, I push at his chest. “You dick, I might not be interested.”
“She wants it. You need it. What’s the issue?”
“The issue is, I don’t want herpes. What if this is her MO?”
Troy shrugs. “So, wrap it tight. Everybody’s doing it.”
“Everyone? Your mom on here?”