Page 110 of Holiday Friend Zones
“Thank you so much, Eli.I don’t know what I’d do without you.”I throw myself against his chest.It’s not exactly the living situation of my dreams, but it’s better than spending December in my car.
His arms circle around me, solid and warm.It’s the kind of hug that’s all comfort… except for the part that makes my heart race in ways it definitely shouldn’t.
Eli pulls back too soon, and I already miss his warmth.He tugs his keys from his pocket, removes a silver one, and drops it into my palm.“Here.I’ll use the hidden spare.Help yourself to anything.Except my chocolate Snack Pack.”
I blink.“Pudding?”
“There are six in the fridge.”
“I don’t know if I should be concerned with your lifelong fascination with chocolate pudding or that you count them.”
His mouth quirks, but he only says, “I’ll see you tonight after work.”
After Eli drops me off at the festival, I fill Brie in on my situation.She shoos me away for the day so I can move my things.Since my new living arrangement is temporary, I pack only the essentials.I shove the key into the lock and twist, pushing open the door to Eli’s cabin.Staring back at me are bare wooden walls and minimal furniture.It looks like a lumberjack’s bachelor starter pack.
“Absolutely not,” I mutter before dropping my suitcase and racing back to my duplex.Ten minutes later, I’m shoving bins into my car like Santa on an adrenaline rush.It’s Christmas time; I need a little holiday spirit to keep my spirits up.Eli won’t be mad over a few lights here and some decorations there, especially since his place is severely lacking.By the time Eli gets home, his living room is buried under plastic totes, and I’m at the stove, stirring chili.
He steps inside, snow still dusting his shoulders, and freezes.His gaze slowly tracks the avalanche of bins stacked to the ceiling.“Should I be concerned?It’s only you moving in, right?Not the entire street.”
“Hi!”I wave the spoon at him.“I brought over some decorations.This place desperately needed a vibe upgrade.”
“A vibe?You brought over a department store.”
“Wrong.I broughtjoy.You’re welcome.But seriously, I hope it’s okay.Being displaced at Christmas doesn’t help my holiday happiness meter, and I kind of need that for the festival.”
His mouth twitches.“While you’re here, my house is your house.”
“Thanks.And as your new temporary roommate, I made dinner.Chicken chili.”
He shrugs out of his coat, toes off his boots, and heads straight for the kitchen.His arm settles over my shoulder like it’s the most natural thing in the world.“Now this I could get used to.”
I glance up at him, pretending my pulse isn’t doing cartwheels.“Hopefully, you didn’t already have dinner plans.”
“Just me and a frozen pizza.But I’m sure it’ll survive the heartbreak.”He leans against the counter, nodding toward the bins.“Alright.What’s going on in there?”
I set the lid on the pot and spin around, pointing to each color-coded bin.“The blue ones have all my blue decorations, and the red ones have all my red decorations.Gray is for the silver and gold ones, and behind those are the garland, lights, candles, and various decor.”
He lifts an eyebrow.“Did you bring over your entire duplex?”
I laugh.If only he could see what’s still at my place.“Not even close.Also, do you have a Christmas tree?”
“No.”
“Are you planning on getting a Christmas tree?”
“No.”
I gasp, clutching my imaginary pearls.“So you’re going to go the full Christmas season without a tree?”
“Correct.”
“What kind of monster did I move in with?Do you hate Christmas or something?”I whisper.
“No.I just don't see the point in spending hours setting up a bunch of decorations only to take them down in thirty days.How many hours of your life do you think you waste decorating?Plus, if I had a tree, it’d probably look like the Charlie Brown tree.”
I cross my arms over my chest and mutter, “You’re bahumbugging my Christmas spirit right now.”
“That’s okay.You have enough Christmas spirit for both of us.”He nudges me with his elbow.
