Page 6 of Stuck With My Christmas Crush

“No. No, thank you,” I say abruptly cutting her off.

The checkout operator purses her lips, takes my bank card, and swipes it through the machine.

“Well. Did you hear? There’s a storm coming. The weather channel has issued a warning. Severe is what’s expected. Looks like we’re in for a white Christmas.” She beams. “Now that’s something to be cheerful about, isn’t it?”

She hands my card back to me with a receipt and bats her eyelashes.

“Thanks.” I am trying to be cheerful, but I know that I’m gritting my teeth with the effort.

“Merry Christmas, sir. I hope to see you again soon.”

I grab my bags and get out of there as quickly as I can. Once safely back in my truck, I take a deep breath and hope that I haven’t forgotten anything.

The last place I want to be is a busy supermarket at Christmastime. The flashing lights remind me of emergency strobes and the tinny electronic sounds are too much like sirens. But I relax knowing that I have enough supplies for a few days if a storm does blow through. And, thankfully, I don’t need to endure another shopping trip until the silly season is well and truly over. Who knows how long the storm will last? But then I’ll be snowed in and have a valid excuse for not showing up for Christmas at Meredith’s.

With these happy thoughts in my head, I drive back up the hill to the mansion, noticing how heavy the sky is and how it is getting darker by the minute. Definitely looks like a storm’s coming. I turn onto Belleview Road. It’s quiet. There’s no other traffic which is not unusual. Even when the traffic on the main highway is at a standstill, there’s no real advantage to driving this way.

As I approach the mansion’s driveway, I see the fairy in the ladybug still sitting where I left her. I slow down, pull over, stop, and get out.

“Hey. I’m surprised that you’re still here.” I zip up my jacket. The temperature has plummeted.

“Yeah. Me too.” The fairy winds down her window. “I shouldn’t have to wait too much longer. I hope.” She holds up a hand with her fingers crossed, smiles, and shivers slightly.

“Well, okay.” Then, without thinking, I follow up with, “Why not wait at my place? It’s just around this corner, up that driveway.” I point up the hill. “You could call the roadside guys and tell them to meet you there.”

“Oh, that’s kind of you. But I think I’ll stay put. I have everything I need here. It’s fine. I’m not going to be here long.”

“Well, if you’re sure.”

“Yes. I’m sure. But thanks, again.”

“Look. If you change your mind, I’m right around the corner in the big house, The Mansion Hotel. Take my number. I’ll come and get you.”

“I appreciate your offer, but I’m fine. Really.”

“Okay, then. Take care.”

The fairy winds up her window to end the conversation. I look up and down the empty road, then back away tomy truck. She is a grown adult person who can make her own decisions. But I can’t help but be protective. It’s in my nature. I will stop by in a couple of hours to make sure she is still okay or gone.

Chapter 4

Charlie

Iwatch Mr Gorgeous Single Dad drive away and I can’t quite believe I turned down his offer. I thump the steering wheel and slap my own stupid face. Why didn’t I just go with him? It would have been so easy to say, “Yes, please. I would love to wait at your place for the breakdown service, and not all alone at the stupid side of the road.” But I am too proud to admit that I need help. And to put myself in another more awkward situation where I amclose to a man who is absolutely gorgeous and absolutely out of bounds.

I’d rather stay in my stupid broken chilly car than get in his late-model Chevy with functioning heating and go back to his happy home and meet his equally gorgeous wife and perfect family in their big old fancy house in a manicured park up their private driveway. No thank you.

“I’m fine. Really,” I say bravely knowing that the breakdown guys are delayed because of an accident on the main highway. They called to tell me.

The hot guy gets into his truck and, thankfully, drives away before I cave in and change my mind.

Oh, man. I peer out of the windshield at the ominous heavy grey sky. It’s going to be dark soon. However, the day has never properly woken up, like a lazy person who stays in their pajamas from breakfast until bedtime.

And I am seriously running out of patience. I’ve been waiting for hours for Roadside Recovery and I’m still here. I feel like a prize chump.

Lou calls back. She says that she’ll come get me, but I tell her no; that someone will be with me soon; that according to Roadside Recovery and Insurance, I am a priority customer.

“I’ll be fine,” I say looking out of the window at the scudding clouds overhead. “I’m watching the birds, andyou’ll never guess what…” I was going to mention the hot dad from Isabel’s party but think better of it because she would want to know every last detail about him and that would surely use up what’s left of my battery. “… I’ve just seen a fox!”

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