Page 10 of Yours to Ho Ho Hold
“Good morning,Sunshine. I hope you aren’t too good for regular brewed coffee. I grabbed you some cream and sugar, and this candy cane to stir it with if that’s something you’re into.”
I blink open my sleepy eyes to see a handsome dark-haired man with a mustache staring down at me and let out a scream of terror … which he returns with the same intensity.
He jumps back, clutching the coffee against his chest.
“What’s wrong with you? Who wakes someone up by staring at them? How long have you been there?” I fire off the questions as I pull the covers up to my chin and hurl myself against the headboard.
He places a hand over his chest and takes a deep breath as if to calm himself. Then he places the cup of coffee on the side table. “Just thought you’d like a cup of coffee to start the day. I didn’t mean to scare you. Though, in my defense, you were sleeping with one eye open, so I figured there was a fifty/fifty chance you were awake.”
I grab the coffee from the nightstand using the candy cane to stir it. “I do not sleep with one eye open.”
“The fuck you don’t.” He laughs. “I wish I could say that was the creepiest thing you do in your sleep, but after last night’s charades …” His voice trails off and he shakes his head.
“What are you even talking about?” I sip the delicious beverage that just may be the best coffee I’ve ever had, the candy cane giving it the perfect amount of sweetness—though I’ll never admit it.
Drew throws his head back and laughs, moving to the wicker rocking chair beside the bed. “You really don’t remember?”
I don’t respond, which makes him laugh even more.
He counts off on his fingers. “Let’s see, you got lost in the corner of the room at one point, and I had to come rescue you—”
“What do you mean I got lost?”
He smiles a wicked grin like he’s thoroughly enjoying holding this over my head. “You were spinning around in circles with your arms out saying, ‘Where are you? Where are you?’ At first, I thought you were talking to yourself and trying to find your suitcase, but after the fifth or sixth time, I realized you were just sleepwalking. I had to get up and lead you back to bed.”
“That did not happen.”
“Thenwhen you settled back down, and I was finally drifting back to sleep, you turned around and faced me, eyes wide open, and said in the creepiest voice I’ve ever fucking heard, ‘Someone’s in the house’.” He holds his hand against his chest and shivers. “I nearly shit my pants. I jumped up and grabbed the lamp and was ready to fight someone until I heard you snore.” He shoots me an irritated glare, and I shake my head.
“That doesn’t sound like me at all.”
“Thenafter I finally got my heart rate back to a normal rhythm, you flipped over and heart punched me.”
“Iheart punchedyou? What does that even mean?”
He looks at me like I’m an idiot for not understanding. “You rolled over and punched me right here.” He holds his hand over his heart, rubbing it like it still aches. “I don’t know what I did to deserve such disrespect, but I think I was better off sleeping on the floor.”
I roll my eyes and sip my coffee. “Has anyone ever told you you’re dramatic? I think you’re the one with sleep problems.”
He leans forward, bracing his hands on his knees. “No, you don’t. You’re not pinning this on me. I was the one babysitting your ass all night while you slept like the fucking dead. I think you need to see a sleep specialist or an exorcist, at the very least.”
I crane my neck side to side until it cracks loudly, and Drew’s eyes widen, which makes me smile. Maybe I should be embarrassed about my nightly activities, but instead, I find it mildly entertaining. That’s one way to make sure a guy doesn’t try to make a move. Maybe my subconscious is on to something?
The truth is, I’ve been known to sleepwalk, mostly when I was little and really tired. My parents actually had to set an alarm system on all the doors to alert them. They even installed baby gates by the stairs after I broke my arm falling down them in my sleep when I was seven.
I knew I was exhausted. I’ve been exhausted from working like I have been for a very long time. But I didn’t expect to actually pass out and sleep so deeply. I haven’t slept that well in months? Years? I literally don’t remember when. I guess I needed it.
All of a sudden, I remember the reason we’re here, and I jump up to find my phone. “Shit. What time is it?” I swipe open my messages and email and scroll until I see the missed call and voicemail from the airline.
“They’re still working on the plane,” Drew answers as I listen to the message basically telling me the same thing. “They don’t think they’ll have it repaired until tomorrow morning, and they’ll contact us if there’s an update.”
“Shit.” I drop the phone in my lap as I fall flat on my back in defeat.
Drew walks over standing over me again and finally says, “I was thinking about the bet …”
I move my arm from my eyes and look at him.
“I think I’ll cash in that date. Today,” he adds.
