Page 15 of Blame It On the Secret Santa

Have you ever triedto wrangle a rabid raccoon that fell in freezing water, and you’re trying to get it to dry land?

Well, that was what it was like trying to get Cassidy into my bed.

Not that I was trying to get herin my bed. Nope. I was simply just trying to get her in it so she could close her eyes and get some sleep so she could wake up and choose violence again in the morning. But apparently, she wanted to choose violence now instead.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” I objected, standing in the doorway with my arms outstretched so she couldn’t try to take off running again.

I had carried her down the hallway and insisted that she take my bed, but she refused. There was no way I was going to allow her to sleep on the couch in the living room with all of the full-length glass windows and a large sliding glass door. That room was hard enough to keep warm with the heater on full blast when the power was on, and unfortunately, being a lumberjack hadn’t been on my list of priorities when I moved back, so I didn’t have any wood for the fireplace.

“I am not sleeping in your bed.” She stood in front of me, arms crossed and nostrils flaring.

“You’re being ridiculous. It’s just a bed.”

“No. It’syourbed.”

“And I have some sort of cooties or something?” I questioned with an arched eyebrow.

“Probably. Not to mention that I vowed I wouldneversleep in your bed again after we broke up, and I take that vow seriously.”

“Cass, that was over twelve years ago. You need to let it go and move on with your life.”

“Ha! You, of all people have no right saying that.”

“Yet here I am saying it. It’s getting late, and as much as I love this new found combat with you, I would like to get some sleep. I’ve already told you that I will sleep on the couch and you can have the bed. Take it.”

“No.”

“Do you just not know any other words besides no?”

“I know plenty. Most of them are considered offensive to most people, so I save them all for when I talk about you.” She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes.

I let my head fall forward as I struggled not to let my frustration overcome me.

“Cassidy. It’s negative ten degrees outside. There is at least four inches of snow that has fallen in the last hour. The wind gusts are strong enough that they have downed the power lines, making it impossible to heat the house. I am not going to stand here and fight with you all night about where you’re going to sleep.”

“If you can sleep on the couch, why can’t I?”

“Because I would feel better knowing that you’re warm and comfortable in here. Even with ten blankets on, it’s going to be freezing in the living room. I don’t have wood for the fireplace, so unless I throw a bunch of random shit in there, we don’t have that as an option tonight. I would rather be the one to suffer an ungodly cold night tonight than allow you to. I would do anything to make sure you have what you need, Cassidy.”

Cassidy’s face suddenly fell as she tried to look away before I could see it.

“What? What was that look for?” I asked, stepping closer to her so she couldn’t avoid me.

I knew I was risking my life but I didn’t care as I lifted her chin with my finger, forcing her eyes up to mine.

“What was that look for, Cassidy?”

“It was nothing.”

“Nope. You’re not getting out of this one that easy. You’ve been a hellion on steroids for the past thirty minutes and have damn near tried to kill me at least seven times. Suddenly your mood switches, and I don’t get to know why? I don’t think so. Tell me.”

She rolled her eyes and attempted to break free from my touch, but I held on tighter.

“Now, Cassidy.”

She glared at me, her anger returning full force as she reached up and swatted my hand away.

“I told you it’s nothing. Just a simple moment of me having a weakness over how kind you were being, but I’m over it.”

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