Page 125 of Waiting to Lose
“TELL ME AGAIN why I’m here?” Kendra asked as she turned in a circle. “Not that I mind. Jeez, look at that view.”
Madi handed Kendra a bottle of water as she glanced out the floor-to-ceiling window in the condo in Chicago. “It is amazing.”
“I can’t believe he bought this. You must be better than I thought you were,” Kendra said, raising her brows.
Madi laughed. There was a thud against the door. “The reason you’re here just arrived.” Madi opened the door to a large evergreen tree. “Rob?” she questioned.
“Yep, back here. Move out of the way and I’ll bring it through.”
Madi stepped back as Rob pushed the tree through the doorway and almost fell on top of it. Kendra chuckled lightly.
“Where does this fall into his duties?” Kendra asked as she motioned to Rob.
“I volunteered,” Rob stated. He stood and glanced toward Kendra. She met his eyes and turned away quickly. Madi studied them.
“Am I missing something here?” she asked as she glared at Kendra.
“You’re missing lights and decorations,” Rob stated, pulling his long-sleeved t-shirt down his waist.
“I have those,” Madi said as she moved toward the door, closing it.
“So you asked me to come over here and work?” Kendra flinched. “This is not my idea of a fun Friday night.”
“It will be fun. Christmas is only a week away. Finals are over and we need to relax and kick back. I have pizzas in the oven and a bottle of wine. I had hoped Jake would be home—I mean back—to decorate, but things took a bizarre turn and he’s going to be there through the weekend.”
Madi watched as Kendra sighed at the enormity of the tree.
“This tree is huge. Did you pick it out?” she asked Rob.
“Yeah, why?”
“Some might say it’s a phallic symbol. That you’re making up for what you’re lacking in your pants with the size of this tree.”
Rob stared at Kendra and Madi rolled her eyes.
“Well?” she asked.
“Maybe I’m so used to looking at large things that I chose this tree in admiration of its similarity.”
“Doubt it,” Kendra huffed.
“You’ll just have to take my word for it, won’t you?” Rob asked as he bent to turn the tree.
“All men think they’re bigger than they really are,” Kendra stated.
Madi giggled.
“See,” Kendra said, pointing to Madi. “Apparently Jake does too.”
Madi shook her head. “No, Jake doesn’t think he’s big. I do.”
“TMI, Mads,” Kendra said, rolling her eyes.
Rob poured water into the base of the tree as he shifted it into place. He stood intimidatingly close to Kendra, who tried to appear unaffected. “I think you have a few too many thoughts about the bulge in my pants. I’m here to do a job. Not you, sweetheart.”
Kendra pushed him away. “Eww, I have zero interest in you or your inflated ego. I would never want someone like you.”
Madi shuffled over to the kitchen, pulling the pizzas out of the oven, listening and watching.
