Page 109 of Holiday Friend Zones
Mike clears his throat.“The other tenant just informed me that the pipes in the house froze and burst this morning.”
Dammit.I wish it were one of the first two options, not this.“Is everything okay?Is there a lot of damage?”
“There’s some water damage, but it was caught fairly quickly.The bigger issue is you won’t have water for a while.You might want to line up somewhere else to stay.”
“Got it.I’ll be right over.”Fantastic.Merry freaking Christmas.I hang up and shove my phone in my pocket.My chest tightens.“Some” damage could mean a few damp towels… or all my stuff is auditioning forTitanic: The Home Edition.And naturally, this has to happen right before the Holly Jolly Festival.
“What’s wrong?”Eli asks.
“The pipes burst at my duplex.I have to get over there.”
He doesn’t hesitate.“We’ll take my truck.I’m closer.”
Minutes later, we’re barreling through town, the holiday decorations streak past in a blur of red and gold.Meanwhile, my brain is spiraling into Craigslist-ad levels of panic.Single female seeks temporary housing.Must love Christmas cookies and tolerate emotional breakdowns.Maybe Val has a room open at the Fa La La Inn, though odds are slim.Maybe the next town over, but the commute would be terrible.I moved back here to avoid the long drive.
As soon as Eli parks, I fling the door open before the engine is off.A group wearing safety vests is gathered near the side of the house.Mike trudges over, hands stuffed in his coat pockets.
“Hey Lauren.”His voice is lined with guilt.“It’s worse than I thought.We’ll work on it, but with the holidays, it’ll take longer.The whole place is without water.Old houses.”He gives a helpless shrug.“I’m sorry.”
“Can I get my things?”My voice is calm, but my heart’s thumping in my chest.
“Yeah.That’s no problem.I’ll keep you updated on the progress, but feel free to reach out anytime.”He nods toward the crew and heads back across the snow.
I close my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose.“Where am I going to stay?”The words come out more like a prayer than a question.
“Stay at my place,” Eli says casually.
My head jerks up.“Your place is the size of a shoebox.”
“But it’s a cozy shoebox.”
“We’d be constantly on top of each other.”
“Sure, it’s small, but I have the spare bedroom.”
“That you use for an office.You don't even have a bed in there.”
“I have a cot.”
I gape at him.“A cot?I’m not making you sleep on a glorified lawn chair.”
“It’s fine.I’ve slept on it a hundred times while camping.”
“No, I’ll take it.I don’t want to kick you out of your own bed.”
A small chuckle escapes him.“When was the last time you even saw a cot, let alone slept on one?Middle school Girl Scouts?”
My mouth opens, ready to protest, but he cuts me off.
“You’re taking the bedroom.End of discussion.”
“Are you sure?”
“You can.And you will.And if you argue again, I’ll carry you over my shoulder and dump you on the mattress myself.”
My jaw drops.“You wouldn’t.”
His slow grin says he absolutely would.And judging by the little flutter in my stomach, I might not mind.
