Page 57 of All I Want For Christmas

“That’s what I was thinking,” Blue said with a nod.

Christian was still stuck on the fact that Roy had checked road conditions online.

“That is, if Christian doesn’t mind me hitching a ride with him to Lexington.”

That was the stupidest thing she’d ever said and he was actually a little bit offended. “Of course not. I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

His bed would be preferable but if that weren’t an option he would make sure she was safely wherever she wanted to be.

Suddenly feeling gloomy, Christian bit off a piece of his bacon and chewed it hard, watching Roy stare at Blue with no small amount of admiration as she smiled at him. Is that what helooked like? Moony? He felt kind of moony and he wasn’t sure he liked it.

After another twenty minutes of eating and small talk Blue indicated they should be heading out.

“If that’s okay with you?” she asked politely.

What was with the sudden solicitous manners? It didn't suit her. He liked it better when she just said what she was really thinking, not this tea party attitude.

“Sure,” he said easily, reaching down to get the second unopened bottle of tequila he had bought at the gas station. He handed it to Roy. “Just a little thank you for putting us up.”

Roy’s eyes lit up. “Tequila. Alright, sir. Haven’t had a worm since I don’t know when.” He got up and shuffled over to a kitchen cabinet where he towed it away. “I won’t be sharing that with the grandsons. They can get their own liquor.”

After handshakes and Blue giving Roy what seemed like a spontaneous hug, they headed out to the parking lot. Christian had already loaded up the car with all their stuff.

Blue started walking in the direction of their room.

“Where are you going?”

“To the bathroom if you need to know,” she said testily. “And no, I don’t need help.”

That was it. He didn’t deserve the cold shoulder. Bending over, Christian packed some snow together. As Blue stomped off, back to him, he launched a snowball at her. It smacked right between the shoulder blades, bursting on the velvet of her jacket. She came to a grinding halt and whirled around, face furious.

“Did you just throw a snowball at me?”

“Well, I doubt it was Roy,” he said, fighting the urge to grin. She looked so outraged.

“That wasn’t cool.”

“Come on, lighten up. It’s Christmas. Throw one back at me. You’ll be amazed at how good it feels.” Christian held his arms out. “I won’t ever duck.”

Blue hesitated but then she bent over and scooped some snow up, packing it quickly. She hurled it at him and he took it right in the face. Fortunately her packing skills sucked so he didn’t break a tooth or his nose, but it was damn cold when it burst in powdery wetness all over his face.

“Lucky shot,” he told her.

She was laughing, wiping her hands off on her jeans. “You’re right, I do feel better.”

That was more like it. He hated seeing her as aloof. “Run, Farrow, or it’s on.”

When he launched another snowball at her she shrieked and ducked.

Then they were engaged in full-out combat, Christian landing five snowballs to every one she managed. She was having trouble getting them to stick together and half of hers fell apart in the air, but they were both laughing, snow falling off their coats, hands red and raw, snow kicked up all around them as they dodged each other’s missiles.

He stalked toward her, a ball in each hand ready to launch as she frantically tried to scoop up more snow, her cheeks pink, eyes bright. When he was two feet away, she slipped and went down on her ass, laughing, hands up.

“Ack, shit! I give up. Don’t hit me.”

Christian pretended to throw one and she screamed even louder.

“Just kidding.”

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