“Maybe we’ll rain check it.”
“Snow check it.” Merrie giggled. “Because it’s Christmas.”
“Snow check it,” I repeated, stepping back from her. “Why don’t you lie down? I have to get some work done.”
41
Merrie
“I’ll have the number three combo with a side of French toast sticks,” I mumbled then opened my eyes, wincing at the sunlight that reflected off the fresh snow on the train station roof and in through the tall windows.
My mouth felt like cotton, and my hair was greasy. I yawned and sat up, pulling at my snarled curls. It took me a second to realize where I was.
“Holy shit. I’m in Matt’s bedroom.” I started to panic and groped around for my phone.
Merrie:I’m in Matt’s bed.
Merrie:Help! Did I sleep with him???
Olivia:Oooh! I hope so. You can give me all the deets!
Merrie:No, not good.
Olivia:Are you still wearing your underwear? Where are your clothes?
I patted myself. I was still wearing my jacket, skirt, and—phew!—underwear.
Merrie:False alarm. I didn’t sleep with him.
Olivia:Booo! Go find him and rectify the situation.
Merrie:I can’t sleep with him! I owe him money! He might think I’m just trying to weasel out of paying him.
Olivia:If you can have a night of amazing sex and have your debt forgiven, would that be a bad thing?
On paper, no, I thought as I hauled myself off the ginormous bed trying to piece together what exactly had happened last night. I winced as I remember the frankly vicious flirting I had done. Matt was probably appalled.
Then why did he let you sleep in his bed?
I had probably crawled there of my own volition and crossed a number of boundaries.
“Matt?” I called blearily. “Kringle? What time is it?”
Matt was probably at work to escape me.
“I’m never drinking eggnog again,” I groaned when I made it to the kitchen. I slowly ate some leftover cheese straws while I blinked in the bright sunlight.
Olivia:Do you want me to get you a raffle ticket? Are you going to make it for the lunchtime raffle?
Olivia:They have a Costco gift card!
Fuck, I needed that gift card. Costco sold snacks and sleeping bags. Maybe I could even spring for a tent. Were you allowed to pitch a tent in the town square?
I checked the time; the lunchtime raffle was going to start soon. After grabbing some cheese straws to go, I jogged as fast as I could to the Christmas market, which was not very fast. I was wheezing when I limped up.
“Did you even shower?” Olivia asked me. She pushed a coffee over to me along with a chocolate donut with red and green sprinkles.
I took a bite, not caring that I had chocolate on my chin.
