Page 3 of Merry Elfing Xmas

“I think the party is winding down,” Mr. Elkins tells me, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Hopefully, we can wrap this up so I can get home in time to have a long soak in the tub and a huge glass of wine. Then, I’ll work at trying to forget all about Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome Citified Scrooge. Lucky for me, it’s the weekend. I plan to wipe Greyson Woodward from my mind before I return to class on Monday morning.

* * *

Ireach over and knock my phone off the nightstand, trying to silence my freaking alarm. My stuffy nose burns as coughing racks my body, and I realize I’ve caught the dreaded cold going around town. Groaning, I stare at the ceiling and debate calling in sick. Ugh. If it was Friday, I’d try to force myself to go in, but there’s no way I’ll survive a typical Monday feeling like this. I reach up and run my palms over my cheeks, realizing they’re hot. Oh, man.

Snoopy, my black French Bulldog, grumbles when I push him to the side and lean over to search for my cell phone. “I don’t want to hear it,” I croak, realizing how horrible I sound. My pup snuggles back under the covers, ignoring my rapidly deteriorating condition.

“I can’t believe you’re not more concerned about me,” I grumble and send a text to Mr. Elkins, letting him know I caught the plague and I’m not going to make it in today. Then I decide to text my mother and let her know I’m sick before the town grapevine does it for me. I send my message, letting her know I won’t be bringing Snoopy over today, and immediately get a response from my mother.

Mom

What’s wrong?????

I caught the bad cold going around school.

Mom

Do you need me to come and get Snoopy so you can rest?

You don’t have to come. I’ll be fine

Mom

I’m coming to get my little man.

Why did she even ask? I roll my eyes and glance over at Snoopy. “Wake up, sleepyhead. Grandma is coming to get you.” My pup’s large black ears twitch when I mention my mother. He loves spending workdays with my retired parents.

Five minutes later, I hear my mother’s key turning in the front door. “Where’s my poochie poo?”

Snoopy completely ignores me and takes off running for the front door. “Thanks, Mom,” I tell her as she sets a bag of medicine on my coffee table.

“Of course.” My mother feels my forehead and jumps into mothering mode. “You need to take something to get rid of that fever.”

“Okay.” It’s not worth my effort to fight her. I’ve spent the last seven years, since I turned eighteen, unsuccessfully trying to convince my parents that I’m an adult and perfectly capable of taking care of myself.

I know my mom isn’t going to leave until she watches me take the medication, so I reach into the bag and pull out the small white bottle. I swallow two small blue pills and start choking as the cold water hits the back of my scratchy throat.

My mother pounds on my back a few times before pulling the covers tightly around me. “Call me if you need anything.” She gives Snoopy a little pat on the head. “Come on, sweet boy. Your mommy needs rest.”

“Have a good day with Grandma and Grandpa,” I tell my pup. Yes, I talk to him like he’s human. Sue me.

“Your dad will stop by later with lunch,” my mother tells me while hooking the leash to Snoopy’s collar. “Get some rest.” Too tired to fight her, I sit back and close my eyes as she heads for the door. “When you’re feeling better, I want to hear all about the two citified scrooges.” I’m not really surprised she’s already heard about the Christmas party. Gossip is the main source of exercise in Blue Spruce.

Once my mom and Snoopy leave, I drag myself off the sofa, figuring a shower might help clear my head. As the hot water runs down my body, my mind wanders into dangerous territory. Fantasies of Mr. Citified Scrooge doing all kinds of forbidden things to me assault my brain. No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to wipe Gray Woodward from my mind. I attempt to blame these crazy feelings on the fever, but I can’t help worrying that I’m in trouble here.

After my hot shower, I only have enough energy left to stumble over and fall into bed with the soggy towel still wrapped around me. I don’t even bother covering myself as I fall asleep.

Loud knocking wakes me up sometime later, and I sit up and push my wild hair out of my face. Darn, my dad is impatient. I pull on my pink fuzzy robe before stumbling out to the living room. “I’m coming,” I croak out, sure he’ll never hear me through the solid wood door. Why in the world didn’t my dad use his key?

Chapter3

Grey

After spending the weekend learning everything there is to know about my girl, I came up with a strategy to win her over. Unfortunately, all my plans went up in smoke when I discovered Noelle called in sick today. It took a tiny bit of lying and manipulation, but I managed to convince the school secretary to tell me why my girl isn’t at school today.

On the way to her apartment, I stop by the local coffee shop, hoping sugar and caffeine can help me bribe my way into her home. After spending the entire weekend missing my little elf, I can’t wait a second longer to see her again. Fuck. My curvy little elf wormed her way into my heart and soul, and I’ll never be free of the hold she has over me.

I walk up the stairs to her second-floor apartment, juggling coffee cups and not paying attention to where I’m going. “Excuse me, but who are you?” I look up to find an elderly man standing at the top of the stairs.

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