My suitcase didn’t take long to pack. I was only supposed to be home for a few hours. Lucky for me, I always brought extra clothes. Work required me to travel a lot, and more than once, I had been stranded in an unfamiliar city with nothing to wear.
You really learned to appreciate your good underwear when you were forced to wear whatever was available at Target.
The pilot had texted me he was back with the plane, waiting for me at the airfield. Once I had decided to stay in Harrison City for a few more days, I had told him to fly home, on my dime of course. There was no sense in forcing him to sleep in a hotel while I made up my mind how long my trip was going to be.
My assistant had been able to reschedule all my obligations at work, and I’d recruited some friends to cover my broadcasts. They were happy to get some airtime. My producer grumbled a bit but even she eventually agreed I could use a few days off. She always said I worked too hard, and this was from a woman who regularly worked eighty-hour weeks.
The detour from my real life had been a treat. Mom was over-the-moon. She had lit up even more when I promised her I would be home for Christmas. It was part of the bet I’d made with Troy, but she didn’t need to know that.
I was zipping up my bag when Chris came into the guestroom and leaned on the doorway. “All set?”
I nodded. “Just about.”
He scratched at the stubble on his chin and looked down, like he was uncomfortable. “Listen, I know we like to bust your balls, but it was really good to see you, you know?”
“Yeah,” I said, smiling softly. “I’m glad you guys forced me to stay.”
“Hey, that was Troy,” he said, shaking his head. “That bet is between you all.”
“Right. But still, I agree it was nice. I need to make time to visit more.”
He snorted. “Same here. Troy and I are only a couple hours away, but we don’t make it down here as often as we should either. Maybe we’re all crappy sons.”
“All we can do is try to be better, I guess.”
He took a step into the room. “About that bet, have you done any shopping for a girlfriend, yet?”
I barked out a laugh. “When was I supposed to do that? At the bonfire?”
He grinned. “I’m sure you could have found one there. Some of those girls would have pushed their grandmas into that fire just to get a shot with you.”
“I’d rather avoid that kind of girl,” I told him. “Troy told me to find a girlfriend to bring home for Christmas. He didn’t say it had to be a real relationship or true love or anything. So all I need is a girl I don’t mind hanging out with for a few weeks, who won’t go apeshit when I break up with her the day after Christmas.”
“He didn’t say it, but I figured it was implied.” Chris frowned. “With your cabin on the line, are you sure you want to risk it?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re not going to rat me out, are you? Because my plan is to hire a model from an agency once I get back to the city. Or maybe an actress. I figure if I pay them enough, they’ll find a way to make it look real. With the added bonus they won’t fall in love with me.”
“Troy will definitely see through that.”
“Why the hell do you care so much Chris?” I turned toward him but he looked away.
“I don’t,” he said quickly. “Just making conversation.”
“Bullshit. What’s going on?”
He sighed. “Okay, so maybe I have a little side bet going with Troy.”
“What kind of side bet?” I took a step in his direction. “What the hell is going on?”
“It’s nothing bad,” he reassured me, holding up his palms. “I just bet him that you would win the bet. And if you do, I’ll get a new work truck for the business.”
“And if I lose?”
“Well,” he said, drawing the word out. “I have to send him and Debbie on a Hawaiian vacation.”
I shook my head. “Damn, you guys must be doing all right if that’s the kind of stuff you’re betting with.”
“We’re not doing as well as you, but yeah, those oil companies pay us big bucks out there.”
