Page 60 of Christmas Chaos
Elle lifts her phone and says, “MacPlace, Sonoma Inn, Three Sisters and the rest of the hotels in town are sold out.”
“So, what you’re telling us is there’s no room at the Sonoma Mission Inn or anywhere?”
David chimes in, “Pretty much.”
Bax says, “Josh and Elle’s couch it is.”
Josh says, “Yes, but no fucking. I’ve seen what your powerful lovemaking can do. And I like my floors.”
* * *
I can’t sleepand move to a different couch. Bax is snoring. Good for him. Sleeping through my existential crisis and PTSD from falling though my house. Soreness is starting to set in, but it’s not bad. The doctor said we were fine, no signs of concussion or anything wrong and that the giant bed saved us.
* * *
TABI:Our bed fell through our floor tonight.
RORY: And you claim my cock is too powerful? Bax must be loaded.
TABI: Yeah. Ok. Whatever. Here’s the thing, there’s a baby. I mean there’s going to be one. And the mother chose us, but she could change her mind. And things could go horribly wrong. The little shit could turn out to not like us. Or some other fucked-up thing. And Bax and my friends are sleeping. And I have no house or a place to sleep and tomorrow I have to journey to the West to pick up a child who may or may not like me. I’m alone and thinking too much and soon I have to get up and be pleasant.
RORY: Well, that’s a lie. There’s no bleeding way you’re going to be pleasant.
TABI: Exactly. I’m freaking out.
RORY: If it helps, so am I.
TABI: What does that even look like?
RORY: My voice gets louder.
I laugh. I know he’s got a ton of joy and details to deal with, but I can’t help but lean on him when all the other men in my life have fucking disappeared into sleeping. I function better talking to men.
TABI: What if it isn’t ours?
RORY: It is.
TABI: But what if?
RORY: I’m slowly bloody learning that everything is what if. You push on anyway, so you don’t miss something.
TABI: Wise. Am I your best friend?
RORY: No.
TABI: Yes, I am.
RORY: Not even a little.
TABI: Oh, a little bit I am. You raging stoic wall of a kilt man.
RORY: Don’t you have a child to collect?
TABI: Don’t you?
RORY: {Insert Picture of baby girl asleep on his chest} I’m busy. Now bugger off.
