Page 58 of Holiday Friend Zones
My phone dings, and I groan—although I’m not sure if that’s only in my head or if I actually do it out loud—wondering which one of my family members it is this time.They seem to be taking turns, almost on the hour, texting me to see if I’m okay, or if I’ve fallen into the bottle.Well, all of them except Mikayla.
She only texted once, a very long, novel-length message professing her regret and how she only wants what is best for me and how she hopes that I can forgive her.I didn’t bother to respond, letting her sweat it out, but I will forgive her.I know my sister, and know that she can’t shut off her lawyer brain—ever—and that protecting all of us is what she does, and it’s her way of showing love.
Lindee’s right though.We really do need to get her laid.
Glancing down at my phone, I scan over the message from my mother, rolling my eyes so hard I’m surprised I don’t see the back of my skull.
Mom
Make sure to check your teeth for lipstick before leaving the house.Don’t want a repeat of your senior year…
I swear on everything that is holy…
It was one time.One.And the only person who even noticed it in the Christmas photo was her.And everyone she pointed it out to.But that’s beside the point.I’m glad that’s what she’s focused on right now—the Murray family Christmas photo we’ll take tonight at the party.
My phone dings again, another text from Mom popping up.
Mom
and it’s raining cats and dogs, so don’t forget your umbrella!
For fuck’s sake…
I throw my head back into the pillow, snapping my eyes shut, wanting it to stop.The last thing I want to do is go to this party.Getting all prettied up, putting on a party dress, and acting the part is only so much fun on the best of days.And frankly, I’m a Murray—I know the secret recipe for an Ol’ Fashioned Preacher, so I can have one any time of year.I don’t have to be invited to the Tinsel Tangle to get one.
Maybe I can get out of it.If there was ever a chance, this is it.One should be able to play the ruined wedding card, right?
My thumbs start to tap out the message to my mother, my brain working overtime trying to wordsmith the perfect combination of public image and straight-up pity when my doorbell rings.I ignore it, not in the mood for carolers, especially in the rain, but then it rings again.And again.
And then keeps ringing.Incessantly.
Someone clearly has a death wish.
I throw the covers back, launching myself out of bed, out of my bedroom, and down the stairs faster than Superman’s speeding bullet.At this point I’m madder than an old wet hen, and I do not care who knows it.That’s not true.Whoever is on the other side of this door is about to know it.Same as they are about to know that I am not wearing a bra.
Serves them right for the way they are ringing this doorbell.
Throwing the door open, I’m halfway to blessing my guest out, and I stop dead in my tracks, my heart in my throat.Standing on the other side, soaking wet in the pouring rain is the very last person I expected.
“Davis…” I choke out, barely able to catch my breath.
My heart stops, a knot forming in my stomach, as he stares back at me, water dripping down his face, his unruly hair matted down by the rain.
“There’s so much I need to say, Kyra, so much I need to explain.I know that.But…” He sucks in a breath, licking his lips.He holds up a quarter, showing it off, like it contains all the answers.“Let me start with this.”
He flips the coin, catching it midair and turning it over onto his hand, showing off Washington’s head.“Shit, let me try again.”
So he does.Flipping it again, he goes for the catch but misses it, the coin landing in a small puddle at his feet, also heads up this time.
“Fuck…” he mutters, bending over to pick it up.
What the…
That’s when it hits me.I figured we’d flip a coin…heads my place, tails yours.Tails.He’s trying for tails.
“Third time’s the charm, promise!”
I don’t let him go for the third.I reach out into the rain, grabbing his shirt and tugging him into the house—into me—and kissing him.Hard.
