Page 23 of UnLucky Christmas
I yawn widely. It’s only five-thirty in the morning—I need to go back to sleep. I rub Dasher’s ears and wander back to my bedroom.
* * *
“I’ve been waiting patientlyto hear about your evening,” Janelle says as soon as I answer the phone. I still have a headache, but it no longer feels like my head is going to explode.
I fill her in on the events of the evening and tell her about Chad.
“He sounds really sweet,” she exclaims.
Sweet, huh?I replay the exact words Grant said when I had used the same word to describe Chad.
“Are you excited to go out with him?” she continues, her question pulling me out of my thoughts. “Or maybe what I should be asking is—are you ready to be going out with another man who isn’t Pete?”
This is a valid question. I’ve been wondering the same thing. I told myself I wasn’t going to sit around and be sad.
“I think I am,” I tell her. “And Chad knows that I just got out of a relationship, so there aren’t any expectations.” I stretch my arms over my head and make my way to the kitchen to make some coffee.
“Well then, it sounds like you’ve got this under control,” she says. “Just have fun and don’t rush anything.”
“That’s the plan,” I reply.
I lean on the counter while I wait for my coffee to brew.
“Okay, so I’ve been researching venues, and I think I’ve come up with a few possibilities,” Janelle says.
“Excellent. Where?” I pour some creamer into my coffee and adjust my earpiece.
“Don’t get too excited yet,” she adds. “The first two places I called are booked solid until January.”
I groan. “Maybe we should just cancel the party this year. It seems like there are too many obstacles in the way.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to ask your mother?”
The thought makes my palms sweat.
“Yes, I’m sure,” I reply. “Things with my family are weird right now, especially my mom. She’s the one who initiated my parents’ divorce. The last thing I want is to have a party at her house. My poor dad is packing up his life and moving into a bachelor condo.”
“I know—I’m sorry,” she apologizes. “I’m still shocked that’s really happening.”
“You and me both,” I say taking a sip of my coffee.
“Maybe they’ll change their minds,” she suggests. “My parents have been on the brink of splitting more times than I can count.”
I tell her what my brother said. “I don’t understand how I missed the fact my parents’ marriage was falling apart. Although it seems to be the direction my life has been going over the past few weeks.”
Janelle clears her throat. “Hmm…it sounds like your life is turning around as of last night. When am I going to meet all these new friends of yours?”
“Soon,” I exclaim. “Will you be able to take a real lunch break anytime soon?”
“I eat lunch every day,” she retorts.
“I’m talking about eating away from your desk.”
She’s quiet for a few seconds. “You name the date, time, and place, and I’ll be there.”
I giggle. “Okay. I’ll hold you to that. I’ll set it up with Macy.”
“Great.”
