Page 33 of Holiday Unscripted
“I led you right into that, didn’t I?” she says as I turn the tree down.
“You’re going to have to guide it in.” I turn the tree down.
“That’s what he said,” she comes back with her own joke, and now I’m the one snorting at her.
“Walked into that one,” I tease as I feel the tree being moved and I try to hang on. “Hurry.”
“I’m going as fast as I can,” she hisses at me. “There are five screws,” she informs me, working around me. “Okay, let go.” I let go and it starts to fall over to one side. “Shit,” she hisses as she moves over to the side to make sure it’s as tight as she can get it. “Okay, let go again.”
I release my hand slowly and then wait for it to tumble, and it doesn’t. “I did it!” she crows, lifting her hand in the air. “You’re welcome.” She smirks as she shrugs off her vest, and I walk over to let Whiskey out, who has been bouncing at the back door.
She sits on the couch as she unties her boots and pulls them off. “Okay,” she says walking to put her boots at the front door, “let’s do this.” She heads into the kitchen and goes to the drawers as she looks for scissors. “Let’s get her open.”
“That’s what he said also.” I walk over to Whiskey’s bowls and put some fresh water in one, then put in a cup of his kibble in the other before walking back over to the door to let him in.
He runs in and goes straight for his bowl as if he hasn’t eaten for five days. “Are you ready?” she asks me and I look at her confused. “I’m about to let her loose.”
“Can’t wait,” I say to her as she goes to the tree.
“Do I cut bottom and then work my way up?” she asks me and I shrug.
“From the top,” I instruct her and she gets on her tippy-toes as she tries to reach the top of it. I lean on the counter, holding my chin in my hands, as I watch her try with all her might to cut the top rope.
“Do you need help with that?” I try not to laugh at her as she turns and glares at me.
“I think I can get it,” she hisses at me as my eyes go from her hand trying to cut the rope to the way her sweater moves side to side, and then I see her ass. She has to be the sexiest woman I’ve ever been with, and she has no idea how sexy she is.
“Yeah, if you grow maybe a couple more inches,” I goad, pushing off of the island and heading toward her. Pine needles have already started to fall and there is a trail from the front door to the corner. “Give me the scissors.” I stand behind her and lean over her, fitting my front to her back. I put a hand on her hip, waiting for her to hand me the pair of scissors. “Thank you,” I say, letting go of her and cutting the top.
“Don’t do them all,” she orders me and I look down at her, cutting one more to give her back the scissors.
She grabs the scissors from me and her head looks back as she stares into my eyes. “Thanks,” she mumbles as she pushes her back into my chest.
“You’re welcome,” I say softly, our eyes are on each other as we both hold the scissors in our hands. My free hand wraps around her waist and I pull her more into me.
“Nate,” she says my name in almost a whisper or a moan. I don’t know, I’m too far gone to figure it out. Being here in my home with her and being so close to her, everything starts to fade away. The hurt I felt the morning after our night together. The hurt I felt when I heard she was leaving and didn’t tell me. The hurt that she left without looking back. It’s all faded into the back because now she’s here and she’s in my home.
“Elizabeth,” I whisper as my head moves down and I’m almost about to kiss her. Almost seven years after our first kiss, I’m about to kiss her again; the thumping of my heart echoes in my ears. The room spins all around me and the only thing I can focus on is her. I lick my lips as I get closer and closer to her. I can taste it, and just when I’m about to kiss her, the doorbell rings, making Whiskey let out a bark.
She jumps in my arms and the hand that was on her stomach now falls to the side. “That’s the pizza,” she says and turns in my arms. “I’ll get it.” She rushes away from me and out of the room, giving me a moment to get myself together.
I look up at the ceiling and close my eyes. “Don’t be dumb,” I tell myself. “She’s leaving in less than two weeks.” I rub my hands over my face. “Two weeks and she’ll be gone again, and you’ll be left alone...again.”
CHAPTER 13
Elizabeth
UNDERNEATH THE TREE
I walk away from Nate, with my feet moving at the same time my heart feels like it’s about to come out of my chest. I pull open the door and all I can do is blink at the pizza delivery man. “Elizabeth,” he says my name as he balances the blue bag in his hand, keeping the pizza warm. I nod at him, my mouth suddenly dry. I’m also afraid if I speak, it’ll come out in the squeaky voice I use when I’m very nervous. He unfolds the top of the bag and the steam from the hot pizza rushes out as he hands me the two pizza boxes, nods, then walks away. I shut the door with my foot and give myself a minute to calm down. I thought Nate was going to kiss me. Forget that, I knew he was going to kiss me. I also knew I should have pushed him away from me, but when it comes to Nate, I’m always doing things I shouldn’t do.
I don’t look at him as I walk to the counter and put down the two boxes of pizza. “Food is here,” I call out, like he doesn’t know I just brought in the pizza. “Come and eat.” I look over at him before walking to the sink and turning on the water to wash my hands.
“I’ll cut the tree open after I eat,” I tell him as I turn to grab two plates, trying to act like we didn’t just almost kiss.
“Do you want a beer?” I ask him as I walk to the fridge and pull out two bottles before placing both on the counter next to each other. Nate walks to the sink to wash his hands before coming back. I open both pizza boxes. “I got cheese and the meat lovers.”
“I don’t need a plate,” he tells me, grabbing a slice of meat lovers and eating it over the box.
