Page 149 of Between the Blue
The door opens, and I’m immediately hit with the sound of Christmas music and mingling.
“Well, well, well. I don’t remember giving this little elf leave from the North Pole,” Rhett grins, leaning against the doorway in the most ridiculous ugly Christmas sweater I think I’ve ever seen and a red Santa hat on his head.
“Sutty Claus, is it?” I shake my head, chuckling.
“Bingo.”
“Well, if you’d like to stay on my nice list, please let me inside.”
“Fine,” Rhett agrees, stepping back from the doorway to let me through. “But only because you asked nicely. Word to thewise, by the way,” he says, leaning in to whisper to me, “keep your eyes peeled.”
“For what?” I ask.
“It seems someone snuck mistletoe in and planted it all over this place.”
“Now, I wonder who that could’ve been,” I deadpan.
“Someone naughty, for sure.”
I laugh, and Rhett points down at the gift box in my hand. “Can I add that to the white elephant pile for you?” he asks.
“Sure, thanks,” I smile, letting him take it from me. “I’ll just go drop this off in the kitchen,” I add, holding up the eggnog.
“That way,” Rhett informs me, lifting his chin to my right.
And when he walks away, I’m finally able to take in Ben’s house for the first time.
It’s gorgeous. Completely spotless and modern in design with a beautiful grand staircase curving through the wide open living room space ahead. It’s clearly the house of someone very wealthy and put together. But, at the same time, there’s something so cozy about it. I know he could have easily afforded something three times the size of this with his yearly salary, but I kinda love that he chose not to. I feel like it tells me a lot about Ben. And, honestly, it just confirms the few things about him I feel like I do know.
He likes his security, his comfort zone, and to keep to himself.
I make my way into the kitchen, finding it equally as beautiful as the rest of the house. I immediately spot a large stack of red plastic cups on the island in the center of the room and head straight for it. I just begin to twist open the lid on the jug of eggnog when the sound of laughter floats in from just outside the doorway.
“Thank you so much for the invite, as always, Bennett.”
“You’re welcome, as always.”
The jug slips from my grasp just as Ben and a brunette woman walk through the kitchen door. I fumble for it just as it falls onto the island countertop, a little slosh of eggnog shooting out from the top of the container like a mini geyser.
“Oh my gosh,” the brunette woman says, covering her mouth as she rushes over to me. “Let me help you with that!”
“Oh, no, really– I–”
Before I can object any further, she’s already managed to throw open a drawer and return with a kitchen towel. She wipes up my small mess, smiling up at me. “It’s no trouble at all,” she says.
My mouth hangs open as I stare at her for a few moments, my brain trying to catch up. “I– Uh… Thank you…?”
“Kelly,” she finishes for me, holding out her hand.
I shake it, my mouth remaining open but no more words coming out. It’s not until Ben clears his throat that I realize there should, in fact, be more words.
“Kelly, this is Addison,” he says.
“Addie,” I blurt, trying my best to appear casual, which feels nearly impossible at this point.
“So nice to meet you, Addie,” Kelly grins, looking so genuinely beautiful that it kind of makes my chest hurt a little.
“You as well,” I nod, smiling tightly.
