Page 18 of Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms

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Her eyes widened. “Oh no. Did I forget to tell you it’s booked, and we have a guest?”

“Yes. Yes, you did.”

“I could have sworn I mentioned it. Or texted you. Didn’t I?”

“No. And I walked in on him right when he came out of the shower.”

She put a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh. “Oh no.”

“Oh yes.”

“Well, I mean…” Grinning, she raised her eyebrows. “Did you get a good look?”

I set the laundry basket down. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You did, didn’t you?”

“He’s a guest, Nina. We’re not having this conversation.”

“Yeah, but I saw him fully clothed and—”

“Mommy?” Annabel came in. “Is it time to put shoes on?”

Nina pressed her lips together and gave me a knowing smile before replying. “Did you go potty?”

“No.”

“Okay, go potty first, and then we’ll get shoes on.”

“I don’t have to go.”

“Are you sure? Remember how sometimes you think you don’t need to go, but when you try, you really do?”

“Actually, I have to go big potty.” Annabel spun around and scurried toward the bathroom.

“Why are six-year-olds so opposed to going potty?” Nina asked. “If you have to go, just go.”

“It’s a good thing you asked.”

“Believe me, it’s a required question before we leave the house these days. So about our guest over there.” She waggled her eyebrows at me.

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “He’s attractive. But that’s not the point. Can we focus on the fact that I just humiliated myself?”

“I’m sorry. That does suck.”

“Thank you.”

“How did he react? Was he mad?”

“No,” I said, confusion plain in my voice. “Actually, he asked me out.”

“What?” Nina shrieked. “He asked you out? When, tonight?”

“I guess, but I said no.”

If she’d looked surprised before, she looked positively shocked now. “You saidno? Tohim?” She stuck her arm out to point at the apartment.

“Of course I said no. I’m not going out with the random guy who rented our Airbnb for a few days.”

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