Page 49 of The Night Before Grumpmas
I’m trying my damn hardest to make it up to her, though. Every day, I send her a different Christmas ornament, because apparently I’ve developed an interest in holiday décor. And every Friday, I drive up to Maple Ridge. I don’t leave until Sunday, after we’ve cleaned up my parents-in-law’s—well, future in-laws’—kitchen.
She’s still cautious, I can tell. But I’ll prove to her that I’m not just the guy who fucked up—I’m the guy who’ll get it right. Thanksgiving is in a couple of days, and we’re doing a video call since I won’t see her until next week. Her parents are in Boston picking up essentials for their dinner, and she’s home alone. So, I sent her a little present.
A vibrator.
We’re going to have some fun, even if it’s long distance. There’s no way I can go without sex for an entire week. Not when I have her. A week apart feels like forever. But we didn’t have any other option. Her grandma’s flying in from Arizona, and my big, overly enthusiastic family is gathering at my parents’ place. There’s no way I can bail without giving some sort of explanation, and let’s be real, “I’m dating” isn’t something I’m ready to tell my wedding-crazed mother just yet.
She’s got a wedding binder ready, just in case my girlfriend doesn’t have one of those. The only reason she hasn’t pushed Max and Zoe down the aisle is because Zoe threatened a permanent granddaughter embargo if she did. I don’t have that kind of leverage. Noelle might be able to forgive me for the whole eviction thing, but my mother? That’s a different beast entirely.
With a deep breath, I grab my phone and hit the call button. It rings twice before Noelle’s face pops up on the screen. And—of course—she’s nearly naked, just like I am. Because of course she is.
Her hair is messy, like she just rolled out of bed, and she’s wearing nothing but a black lace bra that barely covers anything. My eyes widen as she smirks at the camera, completely unbothered by the fact we’re video chatting while half-dressed. Meanwhile, I can feel my pulse quickening, trying not to get too distracted.
“Hey beautiful, I missed you,” I say. “How’s the organization of the gala going?”
She sighs and shakes her head. “It’s going . . . but I feel like I don’t have enough time to get this done. Three weeks. Only three weeks, and they might fire me.”
“Why would they fire you?” I ask, frowning.
“Still haven’t sold out the tables. Everyone’s either spent too much or just doesn’t care about the cause . . . you name it,” she says, her frustration palpable.
“We’ll figure it out,” I say, trying to be reassuring.
“When did you say it’s happening?”
“It’s the third week of December,” she replies with a faint smile. “The night before Grumpmass.”
I chuckle at the name. “I’m not sure I can make it to . . . Grumpmass.”
Her expression falters, and she glances away. “It’s going to be the only time we can celebrate Christmas together.”
“We could try to split our time between our families on the twenty-fifth,” I suggest, though I know it’s a stretch.
She shakes her head firmly. “Nope, we’re not there yet.”
That hits me like a punch to the gut. It’s like she wants to take everything slow and I’m already there. In the place where I want to get to know her better while living together. There’s a lot I learned from her while she lived next door to me. I’m learning more when I spend weekends with her or are on the phone.
“Where are we, Noelle?” I ask, my voice softer. I know we haven’t been together long, but I want us to take this more seriously. I need to know if she does too.
She bites her lip, glancing up at me from under her lashes. “I’m in Maple Ridge, trying to figure out what you want,” she says with a hint of sarcasm. Then, casually, she holds up something—a small pink vibrator, twirling it between her fingers. “This arrived today instead of an ornament, the note said, love JM. Know anything about it?”
I blink, surprised, but then I smirk. “Well, you did say you were going to be alone, and I thought . . . we could have a little fun with that over the phone,” I suggest, my tone dropping slightly.
She wiggles her nose playfully, but before I can elaborate, she brings out something a lot bigger. My eyes widen as I take in the sheer size of it. This thing could power a small town. It’s huge, complete with attachments—one for her clit, and another for . . . well, everywhere else. My brain short-circuits for a moment.
“Are we having long-distance . . . anal?” I blurt, my mind struggling to process what’s happening.
She grins wickedly.
“I did not send you that,” I manage to say, my voice rougher than intended.
“Nope, this is mine. Meet Captain Buzz Lightmyyear,” she says, waving the thing around like it’s her prized possession. “He’s what I use when you’re not around.”
“Seriously?” I croak, my throat suddenly dry. “How . . . practical.”
“Oh, it’s very practical,” she purrs, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Multitasking at its finest.” She leans back in her chair, giving me a wicked smile. “So, why’d you send the little toy?”
I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. “I thought… we could have some fun. You know, something more intimate for when I’m not there,” I say, suddenly very aware of how small my gift looks compared to Buzz.
