Page 15 of Christmas in July

CHAPTER 8

LEILANI

Tacos or sleep? Tacos or sleep? That is the question.

I am so hungry, but so tired at the same time, and too tired to even think, or brush my teeth. I am not even sure why I'm so tired, because I did take micro naps on the plane and the car ride over here. I guess I've been traveling for a while, as my hometown isn't on the big island. It took a while for me to even get to the airport in Honolulu. I collapse onto the couch, enjoying the way the soft cushions sink underneath me.

Damn. Even the sofa feels presidential.

“Hey, you crazy girl," Theodore says when he enters the room. "I wasn’t serious about punishing you with the couch. It was just witty banter. I was just trying to entertain Suzy. I mean Stacy."

"It was Sally," I say, my voice muffled in the pillows of the comfy couch.

"I got something for you, little lady," he says as he comes closer. I open one eye and see that he is carrying a tray of Christmas tacos. I manage to push myself up to get a better look. They are similar to regular tacos, except the shells are red and green, and there are extra colorful toppings sprinkled in different colored sauces.

"Oh my god," I say as my stomach growls. "Teddy. That looks so good."

He laughs softly. "Well, dig in! The butler brought it for us."

"Can I marry him?" I ask, after taking a bite of the taco and closing my eyes with sublime pleasure. The kind of pleasure only a good taco can give you.

"No," Teddy responds. "I'm pretty sure he's already married. But you could marry the person paying for the butler,” he says, waving his credit card with a grin.

"You mean your mother?" I tease. "Then would I have to adopt you?"

"Eww, no! Definitely don't do that, unless you want a cold and emotionless marriage with someone who is about as affectionate as a mannequin. Actually, that's an insult to mannequins, who have been known to smile a lot more."

"Ouch. And you got mad at me for calling her names," I say as I finish scarfing down my tacos. "Are you sure that you won't get in trouble for the cost of the hotel or car?" I ask him. "I'm worried about you. It's all really excessive. I don't want her to be angry with you."

"It's fine," Teddy answers. "I don't know if she'll even notice. I'm usually quite frugal, and she's never satisfied. Maybe this will be a nice change of pace."

"You can always blame me," I tell him as I get cozy on the couch again. "Just say that your girlfriend pressured you into it.”

He is quiet for a second, and I open one eye after a minute. I find him staring at me.

“What?” I ask with a yawn.

“I’m sorry, I just can’t get over it. That was so kind and thoughtful of you,” he says finally. “Speaking to my mother on my behalf.”

I smile tiredly. “Want to know a secret, Mr. President, Teddy Roosevelt?”

“Sure,” he responds with a chuckle.

“Come closer,” I say sternly. When he obliges, I whisper into his ear: “I have a minor in geology too. So, I wasn’t defending you—I was protecting the rocks.”

“You do?” he asks with an audible gasp of amazement. “Really?”

I nod sleepily. “I like big rocks and I cannot lie.” I giggle softly to myself, and Teddy laughs too.

“Don’t sleep here on the couch, Lani. We are paying so much for a good bed, you better enjoy it.”

“Mmmm,” I respond sleepily, but I’m already drifting away.

Then, in the next moment, I find the couch suddenly moving under me. Like a little earthquake. But I come from Hawaii, so I’m used a dozen earthquakes a day, or more. Sleeping through them is a breeze. I can even do my eyeliner during an earthquake, no lie. But then I discover that it’s not an earthquake at all: there are big arms around me.

I open my eyes to see that Theodore has scooped me up, and he iscarrying meover to the bed. “Teddy,” I gasp, inhaling the dizzying scent of his cologne again as I’m held against his warm chest. Which is far more comfortable than any bed or sofa could ever be.

“She said it was a magical mattress, like sleeping on a cloud,” he says as he gently lowers me onto the bed. “I would hate to have you miss out on that.”

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