Page 9 of Stuck With My Christmas Crush

“Hey, Jase. What’s going on?”

“Meredith. Please tell Charlie, here, that I’m a good guy.”

“Charlie? Boy or girl?”

I breathe deeply and feel a little bashful. “Girl.” I sit down next to Charlie.

“Ah, Jason. It’s so great that you’re dating.”

“No Meredith. Not dating. I just rescued Charlie at the side of the road. She thinks I’m an ax murderer.”

“Okay. Put her on.” I hand my phone to Charlie. Her pink sparkly dress drips on the carpet.

“Alright, Charlie?” Meredith’s voice is clear. Charlie says hello. Then my helpful sister says, “Run and keep running.” Charlie’s eyes ping wide open in shock. She jumps up, spilling her coffee. “Only kidding. Jason’s my big brother. Ask me anything you’d like to know.”

“Ha! Meredith.” Charlie laughs, putting the mug on the floor and brushing the spilled coffee from her skirt. “You almost had me. Thanks for the scare.”

“Sorry. Just my sense of humor. But really, Jason is a bit rough around the edges and he may come across as a total grump but he’s the sweetest, nicest…” I take back my phone before Meredith gets too carried away.

“Thanks, Meredith. I think I’ve got it from here.” I hang up the call.

Rocko lifts his head and blinks at me. The wind is picking up. Leafless branches thrash around outside the window. My dog grumbles, yawns, and goes back to sleep.

Charlie picks up the coffee mug and holds it with both hands. She’s still shivering but I can tell that she has relaxed a little.

“Maybe you need to call someone? You can use my phone while yours is out of action.”

“That would be…” I hand Charlie my phone. She smiles. “My roommates will be worrying now. Thank you,” she says. Then she looks at the ceiling and laughs. “I don’tknow Lou’s number. I only ever call on speed dial.” She thinks for a minute. “No. Wait. It’s on the website. Could you help me?”

“Sure.” I take back my phone.

“My friend’s number is on the Sparkle Entertainers website.” I type the name into the search engine and Sparkle Entertainers is at the top of the results page.

“Is this it?”

“Yup. Okay.” Charlie sits close beside me as I scroll down to the end of the colorful homepage showing an array of photos: jugglers, clowns, stilt-walkers, wizards, and fairies.

“Ah, is that you?” I say pointing at a pretty pink fairy with beautiful wings and a wand, blowing enormous bubbles.

“Yes.” Charlie beams at me. “That was at Coachella a couple of years ago. So much fun, I can’t begin to tell you.”

“Coachella?”

“The festival? Not as big as Burning Man, or Bonnaroo, but it’s right up there for me. And that year, we had the best time. I forget who was headlining but when the vibe is buzzing and everyone is on the same wave, it doesn’t matter, does it?”

“I guess not.”

“What’s your favorite festie, then? No. Let me guess. South By Southwest? Something more C and W?”

“C and W?”

“Country and western. Stagecoach, say? Or maybe you’re into jazz in which case New Orleans would be your bag.”

“My bag?”

“Yes. What you’re into.”

“What I’m into.”

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