Page 1 of Holiday Hookup

Chapter 1

“Mommy! I need help!” my son, Jaxon, screams from down the hall.

If I didn’t love him so freaking much, I’d strangle him. I don’t know how many times I told him to get dressed and I don’t know how many times I walked into his room only to find him playing with his spaceship. So, as I walk down the hall, I curse the universe for giving me a son who has no concept of time.

“Mommy! Help!” His little voice sounds so panicked that I start to walk a little faster because maybe this time he’s actually hurt.

Yet when I open the door, I can’t help but laugh at the sight before me. My five-year-old has put his sweater on all by himself but has gotten his little head stuck in the sleeve. I contemplate running into the living room and grabbing my phone off the coffee table, knowing my mother would love this moment, but instead I decided to help my poor boy.

“What did you do, sweetie?” I tease, sitting on the side of his small bed, which is covered in astronauts and spaceships, and gently turn him toward me.

“Mommy, I’m stuck!”

I smile, loving the way he’s laughing as he struggles to get out of his sweater.

“Jaxon, sweetie, you need to stand still.”

He does as I ask, and when I finally untangle him from his cotton prison, he graces me with his biggest grin, which reminds me so much of his father. That smile gets him more than it should, especially since he lost his second tooth, giving his smile that extra charm. When did he grow up? It seems like yesterday I was holding him in that hospital blanket after twenty-hours of labor, wishing my husband wasn’t too busy to realize his wife called to tell him he was becoming a father.

“That better?” I ask and he nods as his blond hair that I can never seem to tame stands on end. He holds up his arms above his head, knowing I’ll help him get dressed.

Sweater on, he proceeds to head down the hallway and into the kitchen where I placed his bowl of cereal.

“Mommy, is Daddy picking me up after school today?” he asks, a mouthful of cereal spilling out of his little mouth with each word.

“Jaxon James, what have I told you about talking with your mouth full?” My voice is stern as I get a cloth from the sink, wiping up the mess and thanking God he didn’t get any on his clothes this time.

“Sorry.” His head lowers, and that guilt I feel every time I raise my voice creeps up my spine and I wish for the millionth time I had someone here to tell me I’m doing okay and not ruining everything.

“It’s okay, sweetie. I just want you to remember not to do it. It’s rude and messy!” I say, tickling his sides as he bursts into a fit of laughter, causing all that guilt to wash away with every small giggle that leaves his mouth.

“Mommy, please!” he pleads as I concede, kissing his forehead and place the bowl back in front of him.

“Finish your breakfast so we can get going. I don’t want you to be late for school… again.”

Is it my fault my alarm goes off and I don’t hear it? Or that my son doesn’t know how to get dressed by himself yet? Maybe. But some days are just better than others and I hope to God today is a good day.

“So, is he picking me up?” Jaxon repeats as I nod my head.

“Yes, he will pick you up today.”

He pumps his fist in the air as I smile. As much as Brian and I don’t get along, I do appreciate how much he loves our son. If only I could have convinced him to love me as much, but that’s beside the point.

“I’m not going,” I mutter as Jenn, my best friend, sits down on my bed and wraps her arms around one of my throw pillows that are surrounding her.

“Nellie, seriously? What do you mean you’re not going? It’s your night off, go out and have fun.”

I roll my eyes because as much as I love Jenn, she lives in a fantasy world where children don’t exist and neither do responsibilities.

I got pregnant young, fresh-out-of-college young, and not ready for the burden of caring for another human being. Brian and I tried to make a relationship work, we even got married right before Jaxon was born, but that didn’t last. Especially when he decided that monogamy wasn’t for him.

“Jenn, I’m exhausted. I just want to go to bed at nine and sleep for a thousand years. Okay?” I’m pleading with her, but from the look on her face, I know I won’t win this fight. I never do.

“No, I don’t accept that. You are going to get into that shower of yours and shave every part of your body that hasn’t been touched since Brian left, put on the slutty outfit I brought for you, and come to the bar with me.”

I sigh, getting up from the chair in the corner where I sat when she entered the room and make my way into the bathroom.

“I hate you,” I mutter.

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