Page 26 of Promise Yule Be Mine
She groaned. "Nothing. I'm just here to check on Elaine."
"Elaine is fine. She knows her job."
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to give her a hand." She shrugged.
"I'm pretty sure Elaine would tell you the same thing I am, which is 'go home, Shelly!'"
"Oh…brother! You're so stubborn. Fine. I'll go home and sit all alone in the house with nothing to do."
I chuckled. "Uhm…what about Dad?"
"Pfft. He doesn't count."
"I'm sure he'd love to hear that." I shook my head.
"Oh he knows. We've been together long enough. We don't need to be attached at the hip. We're not young and stupid anymore.You, on the other hand, should be. Young, and stupid, and in love."
I snorted and rolled my eyes. "I am, Mom."
The lie felt bitter in my mouth but I had to embrace it. Who knew how many more times I'd have to lie like that in the future.
"Really? So are you off to frolic with your fiancée?"
"Ah no. My fiancée is stuck abroad, thank you very much," I pointed out.
"Otherwise you'd be frolicking?" It was Mom's turn to raise an eyebrow.
"You're a very nosy woman, aren't you?"
She shrugged. "I'm just invested in my son's happiness."
"Sure. That's what we call it now. Anyway, if you must know, I'm off to Jenna's to finish the invitations with Nova."
Mom pursed her lips. "Finally. About damn time."
I ignored her and with a sigh I left her to get up to her own devices. Which probably meant she'd do a shift behind the bar and then complain about her back the whole week. You couldn't reason with a workaholic.
On my way out I warned my assistant manager about Hurricane Shelly and left her to it as I made my way to Jenna's.
I knocked and Nova answered the door, dressed in a large red sweater that reached way past his thighs, and a pair of black sweatpants. His socks had a Hello Kitty pattern and I bit down a smile as I came inside.
It was so bizarre seeing him in here, as if it was his home, seeing him so relaxed, so casual. It was even more endearing.
"Did you prepare the list?" He smirked with a raised eyebrow and I nodded, licking my lips.
It was like being told off by a teacher, only he was far far cuter than Mrs. Altman ever was.
"Good b…" he started but stopped and winced.
Was he about to call me a good boy? And why did my heart skip a beat at the realization?
"Good. Good. Now come on through. I've set up everything so we can get started straight away."
He showed me through to the living room where the coffee table had been cleared of all decor and clutter and transformed into a craft table with paper, ribbons, twine, flowers, scissors and glue.
"Wow," I marveled. "You've been busy."
"Just doing my job," he answered and dropped like dead weight onto the couch. "I had to get a cab to Peoria to load up on supplies and find everything we need."
