Page 61 of Booked for the Holidays
“I wouldn’t be able to do this otherwise. My mom insists she sleep over twice a week so I can have some time to myself.”
“What do you like to do in your free time?” she asks.
“Watch sports. Read. I do chores and run errands. Sometimes I sit quietly and stare at the wall.”
“Have you read that book I gave you?”
“I did, actually, and I enjoyed it. Good recommendation.” I reach into the utensil drawer, pulling out two spoons. I hand her one and slide the bowl her way.
She dips into the chili and brings it to her lips. “Holy crap, Theo. This is delicious.”
“Oh.” I shrug. “I also cook.”
“What can’t you do?”
“Drive a stick shift, believe it or not. What about you? What do you do in your free time? Besides baking enough pastries to end world hunger.”
“I read a lot.”
“A shit ton?” I ask.
A grin and a twinkle in her eye at the joke. “A fuck ton, actually. Romance novels are my poison. I hang out with my friends. I’m meeting them tonight for dinner. I love theme parks. I also love sports. Basketball is my favorite.”
“Really? My buddy is a coach.”
“In the NBA?”
“Yeah. Third assistant, but it still counts.”
“That’s awesome! Skylar is a commentator.”
“No shit. I thought she looked familiar. Good for her. I wonder if they’ve ever crossed paths.”
“Maybe. She avoids anyone in the league like the plague and keeps business and pleasure very separate,” Bridget says.
“Makes sense. Where are y’all going to dinner?”
“Pannullo’s on the avenue. It’s kind of our weekly thing.”
“That’s fun. They seemed like a nice bunch. I appreciated how welcoming they were to Mac.”
Her tongue licks up the drop of liquid hanging on the corner of her mouth.God, that shouldn’t be a sexy sight. “They’re good people. I expect an interrogation from them tonight, but I won’t tell them the whole story.”
I shrug. “You can tell them whatever you want. I know what you say won’t be malicious. You don’t need to lie to them.”
“I kind of like having a secret,” Bridget answers. Her eyes wander around the room. “Your house is really nice.”
“Thanks. Perk of working at a hardware store is getting shit for cheap. This place looked totally different when I originally moved in.”
“And no Christmas tree up, I see.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Not until after Thanksgiving.”
“Okay. At least it’s part of the plan. I need an idea for our next group outing. We have the holiday hayride the week after Thanksgiving. But I don’t have any other plans.”
“Caroling?” I suggest. “We could do the scenic boat tour and carol around the lake? Or down the avenue? Anything except getting back on an ice skating rink. I refuse.”
“That’s a great idea! I love the scenic boat tour. There aren’t many places on this side of the world where you can jump on a boat and do a lap around a lake in December.”
