Page 11 of Havoc for the Holidays

Ollie: Probably not till seven or eight. I have to be in early tomorrow, too.

Ezechiel: Eight o’clock at the Thompson’s house is perfect. A little redheaded bird told me she was spending the weekend with a friend during dance class this afternoon.

My grin grew wider as I read over his text three more times. The second date I’d been anxiously anticipating was apparently going to happen much sooner than I had hoped for. My eyes darted to the files with apprehension that tempered my excitement. I had a lot to do if I wanted to squeeze in a night out on top of all my other responsibilities, but the strain would be worth it. Hopefully.

I shot back a thumbs up emoji and added a smiley blushy face for good measure before putting my phone down. Grimacing to myself, I pulled out my wallet to see what I had on hand for this dinner date and a pit of cold dread developed in my gut as I did the math and counted my emergency cash. One hundred fifty dollars was hardly enough for what Ezechiel was likely expecting, but if I ordered wisely and stuck to water, I could pull this off. Maybe Linc would let me pick up some shifts at the grocery store over the busy holiday season. I hated the fact that I would likely need to ask him sooner rather than later.

With a defeated sigh, I pocketed my wallet and buckled down on my work. Closing out all of the law office’s files at the end of the year was a monumental task. Knowing this was my last weekend to get everything done was piling on even more stress now that I struggled with the excitement and anxiety over a second date. I loved the holidays. I really did. I could do without the worries that crept in alongside them, though.

“Ollie, you’ve been at it long enough. Go get some rest and come back tomorrow.” Richard’s voice startled me from my focus on the filing cabinet. With a gasp, I glanced at my watch. Seven forty-five.

“Oh! Oh, God.” I slammed the cabinet closed and set the stack of files not yet put away back on my desk. “I’m so sorry. I didn't realize how late it had gotten.”

“Happens to me all the time,” he responded with a chuckle. “Tomorrow is another day. Whatever isn’t done this weekend can wait.”

“Right. Yes. I'll get it done.” I pushed my hair from my face with both hands as my eyes darted around the office. “Shit, I'm going to be so late.”

Richard blinked as his jaw fell open. “I swear in all the years you've worked for me, I've yet to hear you utter a swear. Color me curious—late for what?”

“Oh, uh…” I giggled and quickly tried to smother it with a faint cough. “I am meeting someone for dinner.”

“Is that so? Even more reason for me to give you this,” he said with a small grin, reaching into his back pocket to withdraw a bank envelope. “You've done well this year. Merry Christmas, Ollie. Be sure to send my love to little Becs.”

Stammering and flustered, I reached out to accept the offered envelope. It felt far thicker than I was expecting and I found myself growing teary-eyed as I clutched it to my chest. “Th-thank you, Richard. This means so much to me, you have no idea.”

“It’s well-deserved. Have fun tonight, Oliver. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.” He retreated from the doorway and disappeared back to his office on the second floor. He was a quiet and stoic man, but his heart was pure gold. I swiftly wiped my tears away before I turned into a blubbering mess. To say I was relieved would be an understatement. This bonus would go a long, long way toward easing my anxiety over my finances.

With another glance at my watch, I cursed and scrambled to collect my things. I was running late before. Now, I was officially late. I flew out of the door at a sprint, nearly slipped on thesleet and snow mixture that had accumulated on the sidewalk, and caught myself on the driver’s side door with a cry. Instantly, my shin bone screamed in protest as my foot slid under the car and my leg clipped the underside. The white salt dust covering my door panel from the roads got everywhere and it took every ounce of restraint I possessed not to weep in frustration.

God, I was such a mess. Unfortunately, I was too overwhelmed to make rational decisions. I failed to consider the fact that if the sidewalks were slick enough formeto slip, the conditions on the road would be no better. As I pulled out onto the street and pressed the accelerator, my car fishtailed and refused to go where I wanted it to. My gut dropped as the front end clipped an old tree before I managed to get the brakes to work with a jerk.

“Oh… oh, no. No, no, no.” I threw my belt off and was out the door in a flash. My worst fears were confirmed as I rounded the front of the car. My passenger side headlight was utterly shattered. Naturally, the tree was unscathed. Thankfully, the bumper and panels were all right, but even this small amount of damage threatened to derail my entire month and then some.

I swore up a storm as I stomped back to the driver’s side and slumped into the seat. For good measure, I slammed my hands on the steering wheel a few times while dragging deep breaths into my lungs. With concerted effort, I managed to put the car back in gear andvery carefullyresumed my drive. Even the Christmas carols on the radio couldn't lighten my mood as I crawled down the road at a snail's pace.

My phone buzzed in my pocket as I pulled into the parking lot behind the Thompson’s House Inn and I cringed. I didn't want to answer the text. To answer it would be admitting that my disastrous life had once again ruined everything. Feeling utterly defeated and struggling to breath through the hyperventilation that swept over me, I did the only feasible thing there was to do—I pressed my forehead to the steering wheel and cried.

Moments later, amid my blubbering, a tap at my window had me jumping back in my seat. Mortified, I tried to wipe my cheeks once I realized who was standing outside my car—Ezechiel himself. Because of course he was. I held up my index finger, but he ignored me and popped the car door open before crouching down beside me.

“If you changed your mind—”

“Oh… oh God, no.” I hiccuped out another sob and sank back in my seat. “No. I've just had a really terrible day.”

“I saw you pull in and texted, but you seemed upset so… here I am. Talk to me, Ollie?” Ez' hand landed on my knee. “How can I help?”

“I ran into a tree. My headlight's completely busted. Work is stressful. School is stressful.” I stopped short of laying out my financial situation. It was all bad enough as it was and I didn't think I could handle pity on top of it. Not if I wanted to come out still looking mature and capable.

“Eesh. That’s a lot.” He rose to his full height and propped his forearms against the top of the opening. “How about I grab us something to go? We can head back to my place and eat in?”

I took one look at myself in the rearview mirror and decided it was the only option. My puffy eyes and blotchy face had no place in a fine dining establishment and that wasn't taking into account my rumpled, salt covered work clothes.

“S-sure. I'm so sorry, Ez.”

“Hey, none of that. It gets me one step closer to where I'd hoped this night would end up.” With a caddish wink, he stepped back and beckoned. “Steak and fixings?”

“God… that sounds divine—wait, did you just proposition me?” I expelled a watery laugh as I grabbed my messenger bag and keys.

“I did. Should I take it back?” He grinned from ear to ear, slowly walking backwards toward the restaurant.

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