Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
The subject of my date tonight didn’t come up again until Josh and I were cleaning up after Scottie’s dinner.
“What do you know about this guy you’re meeting?” Josh asked as he wiped a dish.
“Just that he’s Rob’s friend, and he was really nice the last time I had dinner with them. He just happened to be there last time. He’s a biology teacher.”
“Oh, so you’ve met him before.”
“Yes.”
“What’s his name?”
“Mitch Ramos. Do you know him?”
Josh shook his head. “Name doesn’t sound familiar. Is he from here?”
“I’m actually not sure.”
“You don’t know where he’s from?”
“I guess I never asked him. Where he’s from doesn’t particularly matter to me, but I’ll ask him tonight. Anyway, I feel pretty safe, since I’ll be with Lisa and Rob.”
He grunted. “Hmm...”
I tilted my head. “Any more questions?”
“No.” His jaw tensed. “Guess not.”
He turned away and immersed himself in cleaning the kitchen.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yeah.” He exhaled. “I’m good. Why do you ask?”
“You’re acting a little weird.”
He wiped the counter vigorously. “Must be your imagination.”
I nodded, feeling dumb for wishing he would admit he was jealous. I quickly changed the subject, blurting out the first thing that came to mind as I watched him clean. “Your hair has grown out so much, Josh. Your scruff, too. It looks good though.”
“It goes along with being stuck in the woods.”
“Is your job weird about facial hair?”
“They don’t give a fuck as long as I bring them business.”
“Good. That’s the way it should be.”
He finally stopped wiping and turned to me. “I meant to ask you… Are you going home for Christmas?”
“To Oregon?”
“Either that or California?”
“I wasn’t planning on it.”
“You can, if you want. I have no problem manning the ship here with Scottie if you want to see your mom.”
I had no desire to be anywhere else but Woodsboro for Christmas. The two Christmases Brad and I had been together, we’d separated to see our families, so I hadn’t ever spent the holiday here.
“I was kind of looking forward to experiencing a Christmas here,” I told him. “I have no guarantees that I’ll be in Woodsboro next year. I mean, we might, but...”
“Okay.” He nodded. “Well, my brother Michael usually has our family over there on Christmas Eve. You should come. Scottie, too, of course.”
“I would love that.”
“I’m sure Neil would love to see you.” He winked.
I cringed. “I hadn’t thought of that. Will it be awkward if I’m there?”
“No, he’s cool. There are no hard feelings.”
“Good.”
It touched me that Josh had invited me to his family’s Christmas gathering. Granted, he probably felt like he had no choice, but I was still moved that he was thinking ahead about it and not wanting me to feel left out.
“I’d love to meet your dad, too,” I said.
“He’s a trip. He’s been through a lot, but he still has a good sense of humor. He’s had his ups and downs over the years, but he’s in a good place now.”
“Does everyone exchange gifts there or...”
“Actually, Michael’s wife, Vanessa, assigns us all one person to buy for. I’ll let her know you guys are coming, so she can add you to the list.”
“Oh, I love that idea. That makes it so much easier.”
Josh nodded. “Before this year, Christmas was about the only time I’d come home. But I made sure never to miss one.”
“Brad, too,” I said. “He loved coming home to Woodsboro for Christmas.”
“Yup.” After a moment, Josh added, “We should get a tree.”
“Yeah?” I smiled, surprised at his suggestion. “Where are we gonna put it?”
“We’ll just get a small one. My dad’s friend owns a tree place. We should go one night this week. Take Scottie. They sell hot cocoa at the concession stand.”
“That sounds like a Hallmark movie.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He gave me a look.
“Have you ever watched one of the Christmas ones?”
“If I had, I wouldn’t admit it.”
I laughed. I already knew I was looking forward to that tree outing with Josh far more than I was looking forward to my date tonight. Sigh.
Just then the doorbell rang. Scottie hopped up and down in his seat, excited by the flashing lights of a delivery truck outside. Josh went out to fetch the package. I could see icicles hanging from the threshold of our front door.
When he came back in, he ripped the white, padded envelope open, then froze. “Shit.”
“What?”
“I ordered something online and assumed this was it. But it’s yours. I’m sorry for opening it.”
Why is he apologizing? After he handed it to me, I figured that out.
It was a bright pink dildo.
I shook my head. “I didn’t order this.”
“Well, someone did. It has your name on it.”
I closed my eyes. Christina had asked for my address the other day. I’d assumed she was gonna send me an early birthday gift or something for the house. Certainly not this. There was a note inside, which Josh thankfully hadn’t seen. A temporary solution to your little problem.