Page 13 of Stuffing His Stocking

“I actually ran into her at the site the other day. Some jerks were giving her a hard time while she was walking to her car. I actually didn’t know it was her until after I ran 'em off.”

“I wouldn’t expect too many kids to still be left on campus now that it’s winter break.”

“She stayed a few extra days to wrap up a project or something. We talked for a few minutes and decided to meet up for coffee today.”

“Oh, so you two had a little date,” he teases.

“It wasn’t a date. Just catching up.”

“Yeah, but you get this glimmer in your eyes when you talk about her.”

“No, I don’t,” I argue while knowing he’s probably right. I’m attracted to her and I have been since the day we met. There’s no point in denying it.

“So coffee and…” He gestures with his hand, urging me to keep going.

I might as well tell him because he’ll get it out of me eventually. “She asked me to go home with her for Christmas.”

Mike freezes mid-bite and stares at me with wide eyes.

“I told her I would, but now I’m second-guessing it. I was planning on working in the office anyway.”

He unceremoniously drops his slice onto his plate and wipes the grease from his hands. “You’re an idiot,” he says, and I rear back like he just slapped me. “A cute girl, who you’ve known for several years, asked you to spend Christmas with her. And what? You’re gonna turn her down?” He looks at me with disbelief written all over his face.

“The last time we saw each other, I was a complete tool. I was late, I insulted her mother, and I stormed off like an entitled prick.”

“Well, either she’s extremely forgiving or she’s blocked out that memory.” He resumes eating his meal and I do the same.

“I doubt she’s forgotten that night because I most certainly haven’t, and I’ve regretted it ever since. Not because of my father, but because of how I treated her and Carol.”

“Here’s your chance to make it up to them, then. Sounds good to me.” Mike raises an eyebrow at me, daring me to disagree.

“So I’m supposed to spend an entire week with two women I hardly know? Barge in on their family plans and holiday traditions? Insert myself into their lives when they probablywant to forget all about me?” My heart sinks at the thought of being forgotten. I’ve never mattered to my parents, so why should I matter to Carol and Liv? We’re no longer family and really we never were. Theyshouldforget about me and move on with their lives. “Nah, I’ll just stay here. It’s fine. Been doing it the last several Christmases.”

Mike gives me a hard look and points directly at me. “I’m gonna tell you something, son, and you listen to me good.” He pauses to make sure I’m paying attention. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You deserve to be happy. Some of your cards might’ve been shitty, but you still got a good hand. I’d hate to see you blow it.”

I sink into the booth and think about his advice. Maybe he’s right and this is my opportunity to fix things and have a fresh start. Maybe I need to stop thinking of Carol and Liv as merely my father’s ex-wife and her daughter, and start seeing them as two people independent of his failed marriage.

Liv is a beautiful girl I met a few times and hoped it could be more. It wasn’t the right timing for us back then, but perhaps it can be now. Itisa second chance and I shouldn’t waste it.

With my mind made up, I dig back into my pizza. “Alright, I’ll go. Assuming she still wants me to.”

“She will. She wouldn’t have asked you if she didn’t.” He sounds confident but I’m not so sure. She’s yet to text me her address.

We eat in companionable silence for a few minutes before my phone chimes with a notification. I clean my hands on a napkin, then pick up my cell to look at the screen. I’m damn near smiling from ear to ear as I read Liv’s message.

1015 Grand Avenue, Apt. B

Looking forward to our mini road trip. I’ll bring the coffee.

I glance up at Mike, who sits back in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest and a shit-eating grin on his face. “Don’t even say it,” I warn.

“Don’t have to. You already know.”

He’s right. I can hear his voice in my head, telling meI told you so, but that doesn’t mean I want to hear it out loud.

5

LIV

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