Page 70 of A Very Snowed In New Year
MOM: Okay, Boomer!
MOM:But seriously, Piper. Just let us know that you’re okay, G! Even Ben is wondering why we haven’t heard from you.
“I think I need to FaceTime mine.” I sigh. “I should probably put a shirt on or something.”
Holden laughs. “I hope you brought more than the one you were wearing.”
It takes me a second to remember I tore that blouse apart like an animal. “Oh, gosh. I don’t know. I’ll have to see what Lainey packed for me.”
Covering myself with the comforter, I start to get up again, but Holden picks up my weekender bag from the floor. “This yours?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He hands it to me and then stretches his arms and scratches his chest. He is being so attentive and boyfriend-y that I just want to put my mouth on his penis again or something.
I set the bag down in front of me on the bed and unzip it. The first thing I pull out is a box of condoms. The second thing I pull out is two more boxes of condoms. The third thing I pull out is a bottle of personal lubricant with a Post-it note stuck to it that saysJust in case ;)
“Definitely won’t needthat,”Holden mutters. “But I like where Lainey’s head was at.”
I find something resembling T-shirt material, but when I pull it out and hold it up, it’s about the size of my nana’s sunglasses. Turning it around, I discover that it saysYes, sir.across the front. I peek under it to find Holden grinning at me.
When I pull out an unfamiliar strip of pink silk fabric with a beaded fringe and two pieces of elastic that are supposed to go…I don’t even know where, I don’t have to look through the rest of the bag to know that there is nothing in here that I can wear for a video call with my dad. Maybe there’s a sewing kit around here somewhere, but I will probably have to put on my coat.
“You can borrow a sweater or any of my clothes,” Holden says. “But I would just like to go on record as saying that Lainey seems like a really good friend and I would like to see you in both of those items of clothing at some point.”
“I think seeing me out of them is pretty much the same as seeing me in them.”
Holden goes to the living room, and I find a mesh thong in the bag. It’s slightly more useful than not wearing any underwear at all, I suppose. I just wish I had thought to bring a pair of pants at least, but I was so busy packing Shay’s things into the car that it just didn’t occur to me to bring anything for myself. He returns, now wearing his black shirt, and he gives methe creamy white sweater he was wearing earlier and a pair of sweatpants.
For some reason, wearing Holden’s clothes feels like the most intimate thing that’s happened so far today. Maybe because I’ve never fantasized about this? But I can’t think of anything more romantic than putting something of Holden’s on after he’s put something very special of his in me.
“I’m gonna go start a fire in the fireplace,” he says. “I’ll give you some privacy while you call them, but did you want me to say hello, or…?”
“To my parents?!”
“I won’t if you don’t want me to. I’m just sayin’ I get paid a lot of money to portray a guy who protects a lot of people from a lot of bad things. And it’s not just because I look good riding a dragon shirtless—it’s also because I’m really good at conveying a certain, shall we say,I’m not just here to fuck your daughtervibe. So, I’ll be in the living room building a really sexy but responsible fire if you need me.” He winks at me and shuts the door behind himself.
I think I’m having an emotional orgasm.
I check myself in the little mirror that’s on the dresser, and I’m very glad I did, because my hair is basically screaming that someone just laid the Piper. I pick up the mirror to get a closer look at myself. I don’t think I look different, aside from the hair. And the enormous smile. I put the mirror back down. “Youdidget it, girl,” I say to my reflection as I high-five myself.
I find my hairbrush in my handbag and ensure that I don’t look like I just got boned and then start an FT call with my dad.
It connects literally immediately. And then there’s a lot of chaotic movement and I just see a ceiling. My poor dad. He must have been so worried.
His face finally appears and he is wearing a black-and-gold party hat. And laughing. “Hey there, sweet pea!” He blows aparty horn at the camera and doesn’t look at all like he’s about to call a bunch of hospitals.
“Hey!” I squint at my phone screen. I can see other people in the background. “Where are you?”
“Oh, we just stopped by Dec and Maddie’s.”
“Wait, you’re at a party?!”
“It’s just a little get-together, sugar. I don’t want to keep you—we just wanted to say happy new year to your sweet face.” He waves the phone around. “Bex! It’s her!” He holds the phone in front of his face again. “She’s doing shots with the girls. We rented a car for the night.”
“Who else is there?”
“Oh, it’s just your mom and Ben and me. Dec and Maddie and the kids, of course. Aunt Mel’s here with her boyfriend. Nolan and Cora, but their kids are somewhere else. Oh, Eddie and Birdie flew in with the baby.”
