Page 10 of Mr. Mistletoe
“Say somethin’ else and I’ll be Mr. Bullshit,” I reply with a growl and stop the machine.
I hear as Mack whistles in the background. “Who shit in your cereal this mornin’?”
“Let me guess, you crashed at Arden’s,” I say getting off the treadmill.
“I did and you’re doing the fundraiser shit or else I’ll fuckin’ leak online that you don’t care about the children. The sick children. Don’t you care about the sick children, first deputy mayor?” Mack teases.
I laugh. “Are you still bitter because the girl of your dreams, Imala LeClaire is now a Hale?”
Mack makes some kind of noise. “Now, why did you have to go and do all that? She didn’t even look up from her book to talk to me the one time I went there on official lawyer business.”
“You know she didn’t do it on purpose. She seems like the biggest sweetheart.”
Mack scoffs. “Yeah and her husband looks like fuckin’ Clark Kent,SmallvilleEdition.”
I can’t help but laugh. “True but you also look like Prince Eric from Ariel. Maybe what it is, is that she likes a hero with a mysterious look and not a fuckin’ chauvinistic prince.”
“Fuck you. I’m a gotdamn lawyer and I’m good at my job. Prince Eric couldn’ get on my level even if he actually recognized Ariel the first time aroun’. Dumbass,” Mack replies.
I laugh way too hard. I needed this.
I calm down and leave my gym. I walk into my hall towards my shower. I begin removing each piece of clothing as I head towards the other half of my home to shower. I’ll be back to pick this up when I’m done. “One of these days, you’re gon’ fall for a woman who will appreciate romantic movies while your ass sits there and criticizes them left and’ right.”
“Before you two go on, Hiram, you’re Mr. Mistletoe, got it?” Arden says.
“Ugh, fine but if I do this, you owe me,” I reply.
“Whatever,” she replies. “Just know that you’re going to wear a suit and maybe lose the Stetson?” she whispers that part.
“Girl, you musta lost your ever-lovin’ mind. The Stetson is me and I am the Stetson. I leave when it leaves. Make your choice, Leeeessa,” I tease.
“Whatever. Meet me for lunch then,” Arden says. “We’ll discuss it all.”
“We’ll see. We’ve got a financial meeting for the year and to make sure everything is set for next year’s budget. Tell Maverick not to be late either.”
“I’m already leavin’ asshole,” Mack answers.
“Arden, you know as the head of PR, you need to be there too, right?” I tell her. “I don’t know what ya’ll are doin’ still chillin’ and shit. Which I know y'all are.”
“You don’t know us, asshat,” Arden says and I hear rustling in the background meaning they’re getting up from their lazy ass positions that they’ve probably been lounging in the whole time.
I shake my head, “Bye.”
Kimberly
My nerves get the best of me as I knock on my best friend’s office. “Come in,” Arden answers. James and I walk in together.
I haven’t seen Arden in almost a year and I talk to her whenever I can, but I make sure I always tell her about significant events in my life like what I want to do with Deacon. How I plan on marrying him and everything. Outside of that, I do feel bad because I’ve been a terrible friend. Not being able to spend time with her or be on the phone with her like I used to be. Arden looks up at us from her laptop and she smiles. She jumps out of her seat, “Baby!! You made it back to me!”
I run to my best friend. I pull her into a hug, one that only we can give each other. “I missed you so damned much.” I sniffle.
“Aww, Kimmie, I missed you too. I’m so happy to see you even though I’m mad that I didn’t get to see you at the fuckin’ airport,” Arden says.
I chuckle as I get out of her embrace. “I’m sorry, I wanted momma to do it, but I ended up being picked up by the Fairhopes.”
Arden smirks with a knowing look. “Fairhopes, huh? Speaking of men in your life,” she turns to look at James. “Nice to see you again James, thank you for being Kimberly’s pretend fiance’, how is it going so far? I know that it’s a little hard because Deacon is a little scary sometimes. If you need me to fake man-handle him, I can.” she winks at James.
“It’s nice to see you too, Arden and I can take Deacon,” he smiles at her. “Anything for my good friend, Kimmie.” James wraps his arm around me and kisses my head.
