“Please tell me you know how to bake cookies.”
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
Seeing the snowmen had clearly gotten me thinking about Prince Seth and Princess Me, because I had the wildest dreams. Of course, they had to be ruined by my monster… which, I suppose they weren’truinedbecause he was still hot as hell, but as soon as I saw him, everything twisted.
It shouldn’t be any shock that I couldn’t have my adorable prince and princess dreams anymore, but for a while it was nice to remember. The next thing I knew, he was strangling me and babbling about cookies.
All morning, I think about my dream—it doesn’t fade like they so often do. Instead, I keep feeling phantom fingers around my throat, keep seeing Prince Seth when he turned and revealed himself to be my nightmare, keep hearing the desperation in his voice when he told me he’d make it right.
I shake my head, groaning as I try to get it out of my head. I have a shit ton to get done today, and I can’t waste time dissecting a dream. Henry, who had been sleeping peacefully on the couch next to me, looks at me, his eyelids drooping in a way that I can only peg as annoyance.
“Hey, don’t give me those eyes.” I ruffle the fur on his neck. “I had a bad dream.”
I lean over to lie on him. Little dogs are cute, but I love that I can splay myself across my big boy in a cuddle puddle. He lifts his head and sets it on my shoulder, harrumphing in my ear. Henry’s used to my shit and doesn’t hold it against me.
We cuddle for a bit, the slow rise and fall of Henry’s breaths calming my nerves and centering me. He can’t talk, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t the best friend I have. My wrist vibrates, letting me know I have a notification. Groaning, I raise it, but smile when I see it’s from Fae.
F: I got the shipping notification! Thank you so much, seriously, dude.
A: No problem, happy to!
F: What do you say about lunch today?
A: Deal!
Just like that, the day looks a little brighter. We don’t need to have a one on one, I’ve got plenty to keep me busy for the next week, so it seems like we might just be hanging out. Sometimes it can get a bit complicated working with friends, but it’s also more rewarding, too. I want her to succeed, so helping that in any way I can makes me feel great.
Half an hour or so before it’s time for lunch, an idea occurs to me. Henry can’t give me advice… But maybe I could talk to Fae about it. After all, I’m not justher employee… I’m her friend… right?
I nod, decided, but that doesn’t stop the nerves I feel flopping around in my stomach. There’s no way in hell I would have said something if I still thought it was me doing all the weird things around here, but maybe she’ll have a perspective that I haven’t thought of yet.
By the time our lunch hangout rolls around, I’m a sweaty,pacing mess. I grab a salad from the fridge—Tom always buys me these premade salads—and sit down in front of my laptop. It rings, right on schedule, and I pop open our voice chat.
“Hey girl!” Fae beams. Her long brown hair is up in a messy bun with a pen stuck through it, and her large glasses give her this adorable “quirky librarian” vibe that immediately makes me feel at ease.
“Hi! How are you?” I crack open the salad container, silently yelling at my nerves to get their shit together.
“Good, I think I have all the kids’ presents for Christmas. I still need to get Steve’s, but honestly, I might just get him a big ol’ gift card to the hobby shop, and he’ll be on cloud nine. How are you?”
“I’m f—” I stop myself. I’mnotfine. Today, I’m semi-fine, but this is my opportunity. “I’m… weird.”
She raises her brows. “Oh?”
“Yeah… I have had some weird things happen to me lately, and I just don’t know what to think of them.”
Fae digs into what looks like a big bowl of pasta, and damn if it doesn’t look way better than my wilted salad. I appreciate what Tom is trying to do… I guess, but he obviously doesn’t actually look at the salads to ensure he’s selected the freshest.
“Say more.”
“Well, like I’ve had a few… gifts, show up randomly? Books and wrapping paper and things? Nothing huge… just little stuff.”
“Oh my gosh, like a secret admi—no! A secretSanta!”
“Yeah… I guess…” I trail off, because now we’re about to dive into the really weird stuff.
“Except they also put my Christmas lights up?”
