Page 12 of Bed of Roses

He held up his hand as a goodnight and shut my door. Sleep was a slippery little sucker that didn’t want to be caught. Instead my mind tumbled over thoughts of Bear like the sea buffeting the shore. He perplexed me. Hard edges, brusque—but then also these bouts of empathy that seemed like they would be counterintuitive to his abrasive nature. Even more perplexing—he had such a pessimistic worldview, yet still showed concern for strangers. He was a Rubix Cube.

9

There was a near total stranger asleep in my guest room. For all I knew she could have been the town swindler and ransacked my entire house while I slept. However, I actually slept hard. I felt, rested. Sleeping in until six when I normally got up at four didn’t hurt either.

“You made me breakfast?”

I heard her before she stepped into the kitchen, her voice still weighted with sleep. Truth be told I wasn’t sure how this morning after when a stranger is in your house thing worked. It was almost nine in the morning. Did she have to go to work? Would she think I was trying to kick her out if I woke her? So instead, I chose to let the smell of fresh brewed coffee and frying pancakes do the job.

“I don’t know how much of a breakfast person you are. So, there’s coffee, I have some orange and banana slices, and if you like, pancakes.”

Usually I drank a protein shake before heading to the studio and then energy drinks during the show. This was the first breakfast I’d eaten at a casual pace in months.

“I have an idea.” She beamed at me from the other side of the counter. The sexy eyes and false lashes from the night before had been washed away. She was fresh faced and natural, with her braided hair draped over her shoulder while she ate. “I have these tickets that you gave me… and since you’re allbah humbugand I’m likeChristmas why don’t you like me anymorehow about we both get force fed some holly and some jolly at Santa’s Workshop?”

She shook the tickets in her hand like a cheerleader at homecoming, drawing out the words ‘Santa’s Workshop’ in that singsong-y way women did when they wanted to be sarcastic cheerful.

“Pass. Hard pass.”

Christmas could fuck off for all I cared. I deliberately had no Christmas decorations in my house. Not a single stocking was hung, nary a string of tinsel. I liked it that way. It was so much easier to come home and forget all thatgoodwill to all menhappening like the plague outside.

“You’ve been here for two years, and you have never experienced North Pole’s greatest treasure. I think the town would be disappointed if they found out it’s Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Christmas Spirit himself has never paid homage to the destination that put us on the map.”

She was kind of cute when she was persistent.

“No. Actually…fuck no.”

“Bear.” She drew my name out like an animal calling its pack. “Please? You have the day off, I have the day off. We can hate Christmas together. Plus, we pass it on the way to my house anyway.”

That’s right. I still needed to take her home.

“Fine. But, we’re in and out. No lingering. And if there is any kind of bullshit group participation, like fucking caroling, I’m out.”

* * *

“Ut oh! You best watch out Bear, that was almost a smile!”

Marley shoved her hand between my bicep and my ribs, linking arms with me.

“Who knew that bad boy Bear would actuallyenjoyhimself.”

We had just finished competing in the snowman building contest, where I had come out victorious. Not only besting her sad rotund Mrs. Claus, but also edging out some stiff competition.

“I detect a little jealousy behind that proclamation. Are you still upset that Santa didn’t appreciate you making Mrs. Claus so portly?”

“I’d be careful you don’t trip taking yet another victory lap. I know you’re super excited to best a bunch of eight-year olds to win that coveted plastic trophy.”

I held up my pint-sized gold cup and dangled it in front of her face.

“Green isn’t a good color on you Marley. Maybe, if you practice at home, add some more wrist into your rolling game, next time youmightbeat me.”

We settled into amicable silence as we strolled the grounds. Our little outing had been, surprisingly fun. Despite being forced to be a passenger on a ridiculous number of emasculating rides, overall, I couldn’t complain.

“Omigod!” Her arm snaked around mine, choking it into submission. “I just thought of the perfect cherry to top of this day! Come on.”

She proceeded to drag me across a bridge that sat above a frozen lake, into a tiny house where the big guy himself cheerfully welcomed anyone who walked in.

“No.”

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