“He has plans,” I practically yelled.
The cat in her purse stuck a clawed paw out and swiped at Kringle, who was trying to investigate the feline newcomer in his house.
I took the plate of fruit from my mom and handed it to Matt then tried to herd her to the door.
“Say you’ll come to the party,” my mom begged.
“Sure,” he said in a daze, “I’ll be there.”
I slapped a hand to my forehead.
“That was all I wanted to hear!” my mom sang out and finally headed to the door. “It’s going to be a wonderful time. Wear your ugliest sweater. Of course, you’re not going to make anything look ugly, are you, handsome!”
“Bye, Mom!”
I shut the door after her.
There was silence after she left. I crossed my arms tight against me. I couldn’t even look at Matt.
Guess that’s the end of this sexy train.
“I’ve got to go do some baking,” I said, feeling humiliated.
“Ummm, no.”
“Fuck me, right?” I said, dumping sugar and butter into the stand mixer back at the shop.
“You can’t invite some guy you just met that you’re trying to make a good impression on to your mom’s small-town ugly sweater party that she’s throwing for the feral cat committee!” Olivia declared, waving a spatula around. “Matt is never going to want you anywhere near his penis again. Ever.”
“What am I going to do?” I wailed, “I’m already addicted. Last night was like a Cinderella story. He’s absolutely perfect.”
“I think Cinderella married her prince before sleeping with him but sure.”
I checked my phone.
I had been texting apologies to Matt all morning while Olivia and I were baking thousands of cookies. He hadn’t responded.
“He probably ghosted me.”
“If you’re not getting a bounce saying that your number has been blocked, there’s still a chance,” Olivia said firmly. “You need to send him a text message to remind him why he decorated his entire house to impress you and convince you to sleep with him.”
Olivia turned me to pose with my back to the Christmas tree, pulled an irate Louis out of said tree, and picked up my phone.
“Pull out one of your boobs.”
“No way!” I said horrified
“Your mom showed up at this guy’s house unannounced,” Olivia reminded me. “You need to bring your A-game.”
I chewed on my lip. The tree blocked me from the view of anyone on the street. “Maybe I should send an apology cake.”
“Was your mom wearing her ‘lucky jacket’?” Olivia made air quotes.
I nodded.
“You need a sexy picture.” She handed me a tube of icing. “Just pull one out and pretend you’re putting frosting on the other.”
“This seems a little too kinky for Matt.”
