Page 3 of Christmas Wishes

I’d completely trusted Arlo, but now I was worried about my Airbnb reservation too. Maybe he’d booked me at a place where I had to share a room. God, that would be awful. I was in my thirties—my hostel days were over. I needed my own room at the very least and, ideally, my own bathroom for all my supplies.

I opened my text thread with Arlo. The last text from an hour ago said he’d landed in Denver for his layover.

Keaton: Are you trolling me? Is this your way of telling me you no longer want to be friends?

Arlo: What? No! Did you forget to drink coffee?

Keaton: No, I got coffee. But instead of wasting time in the Starbucks line, I should’ve been running back to my car to grab my winter coat.

Arlo: Is there a cold snap there?

I marched over to the window to snap a picture. I attached the photo with a string of middle finger emoji.

Arlo: I don’t understand…

Keaton: You really didn’t realize that you sent me to the ski capital of Arizona?

My phone buzzed with an incoming call from Arlo.

“I just googled it. Oh my god, Keat. I had no idea! I’m so sorry.” I could tell by the panic in his voice it was a genuine mistake.

“How did you not know? You’re the planner. You know everything.”

I heard an announcer overhead in the background on his side of the call announcing that boarding was starting on a flight.

“I’ll remember you said that the next time you tell me I’m wrong about something.”

That pulled a laugh from me. I could never be mad at him.

“I figured Arizona would be safe. I couldn’t make Phoenix work but thought anywhere in the Southwest would be mild in the winter, and there was a great deal to Flagstaff and an Airbnb in a nearby town. I was wrong. I’m so sorry.” Arlo’s guilty tone tugged at my heart.

I’m not even staying in Flagstaff but some random town?The week was looking increasingly grim. Good thing adaptable was my middle name.

“It’s okay. I’ll embrace my inner cocoa-by-the-fire girlie.”

“You could go skiing,” he suggested hopefully.

“Skiing? Are you kidding? You know I don’t do that.”

I practically heard his wince. “I forgot. Maybe there’s a lodge you could hang out at with good Spanish coffees.”

“Now you’re talking.” My smile faded. “It’ll be fine.”

“It will. Better find a coat.” He giggled.

“You’re a monster,” I said, laughing. “They probably cost a million bucks around here.”

“I just googled it, and there’s a secondhand store in the town. I’m sure you’ll find something, but maybe grab a sweatshirt at the airport?”

“Ew. Used coats that absorbed the sweat from their previous owners while they did outdoor activities?”

“Used clothes won’t kill you.”

“Used clothes have bed bugs.”

Arlo snorted. “You don’t get to play the bed bug card. Go buy a sweatshirt.”

I spotted a tourist shop a few gates away. He was right about the secondhand coat. I’d spent more than I was supposed to on Arlo’s trip but would never admit that to him. If he wasn’t in Dahlia Springs proper, I knew he’d find excuses not to meet his family. I didn’t want to blow the rest of my severance on winter clothes when I had more than I needed at home.

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