Page 34 of Another Christmas from Hell

“Ooomf!”

“We talked about this,” Cayley mumbled sleepily as she reached over and shoved Sean off the bed.

“You are the worst best friend ever!” Sean snapped as he stormed off, only to add. “I hate you!”

“He really is high maintenance,” Cayley mumbled as she curled back up in his arms.

“I’ve been saying that for years.”

CHAPTER18

There was definitely a lot to be concerned about, Cayley decided, shifting to get more comfortable as she glanced over her shoulder and noted that the dryer only had a few minutes left. That was followed by shifting her attention back to the iPad on her lap as she went through everything that she still needed to do to prove to the annoying jerk that ate everything in her apartment last night and forced her to make another run to the store this morning, wrong after-

Nope, she wasn’t going to think about last night.

She’d promised herself that this morning when she woke up to find herself in Bryce’s arms and decided that there was definitely no reason to think about what happened last night. Not when she had this lovely list to work through. With that in mind, Cayley focused on her list and released a satisfied sigh with a smile as she checked another item off her list. She-

This is for your own good.

Frowned as she tried to make sense of the text message Sean sent even as she responded back.

What’s for my own good?

Not really thinking much about it, Cayley placed her phone back down on the washing machine and went back to looking at her list, trying to figure out if she’d missed anything and-

My plan.

-remembered the four terrifying words that should have had her running for her life, but at some point, she’d stupidly convinced herself that Sean would move on and let it go and there was honestly no excuse for that level of stupidity. She knew better than most what Sean was capable of once he set his mind to something, and at the moment, he was determined to make her life a living hell.

Please don’t.

She responded back quickly, not bothering to waste precious time asking him what he was up to because it didn’t matter. Whatever he was planning wasn’t going to end well for her. She also knew that it was probably too late. With that in mind, Cayley jumped off the dryer, resigned herself to grabbing her laundry later and quickly made her way back to her apartment, where she planned on hiding for the rest of the night and-

He’ll be there in an hour for a romantic midnight date.

-slowed down on the basement stairs, unable to help but frown in confusion as she asked,Who will be here in an hour?

Your date, came the reply that had her quickly calling him.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Cayley demanded as soon as the phone stopped ringing.

“Your date. You’re welcome,”Sean said with a satisfied sigh.

“I don’t have a date,” Cayley pointed out as she made her way up the stairs.

“Yes, you do,”Sean said as she carefully opened the basement door and slowly stuck her head out, knowing that if Sean said that she had an hour that it was probably already too late because there was no way in hell that he’d ever be that stupid to give her enough time to make a run for it.

“And why is that?” Cayley asked, licking her lips nervously when she didn’t see anyone in the hallway.

“Because I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands.”

“And what matters would those be exactly?” Cayley asked, swallowing hard as she stepped into the hallway and threw a nervous glance over her shoulder.

“Well, after you left me to die-”

“You weren’t dying,” Cayley said, cutting him off as she turned her head and looked at her apartment door to make sure that the coast was clear.

“I had the fucking sniffles, woman! I could have gone at any moment!”Sean snapped, only to release a shuddering breath before continuing.“Anyway, after our discussion, I realized that what you really needed was someone to take care of you.”

---