“Got it.”
He returns with place mats, plates, silverware, chopsticks, two bottles of water, and cloth napkins. Yes, that’s what I said. Cloth napkins. Well, he’s got laundryinhis place, so I guess it’s okay. I do my best not to pile food on my plate. Instead, I take a couple of spoonfuls of pad thai and some appetizers. I’ll pace myself. I always think I can eat more than I can. Besides, I love leftovers.
I take a bite and moan. “Oh, my goodness.”
“Good?”
“Yeff,” I say with my mouth full.
“That place is great. I’m glad you like it.”
“I do,” I say before biting into a spring roll.
We eat and talk and laugh a little too. I don’t remember ever feeling this comfortable around a guy before. He’s easy to talk to. Easy to be with. When he holds his water bottle up, I lift mine as well. “Merry Christmas, JoJo.”
“Oh, that’s right. It’s still Christmas.” This has been a long-ass day. “Merry Christmas, Billy.”
He adds, “To our first Christmas together.”
I pause for a second, letting his words sink in. It’s a very telling statement. Billy really likes me. He wants to try with me. And truthfully, I want to try too and not because he’s rich or because he mentioned a birthday getaway to somewhere warm. I couldn’t care less about that. No, this guy has spent two shitty days with me, and he hasn’t run screaming yet. So, yeah, I want to try. Tapping my water bottle against his, I repeat his sentiment. “To our first Christmas.”
Chapter Thirteen
The day after Christmas,I awaken in my bed—the most comfortable bed ever made—to a quiet house. I search the bed for my phone to check the time, but it’s dead as a doornail.
Dead as a doornail.Isn’t that the strangest expression? What is a doornail? And why would it be dead? You know what? As soon as I charge my phone, I’m going to look that shit up.
Anyhoo, back to the story. I know Billy had to get up early and head to work, but now that I’m here, in his gorgeous place, I’m sad he’s gone. I like spending time with him. I bet you thought I’d wake up in Billy’s bed, didn’t you? Nope. I stuck to my guns on that one.
Stuck to my guns? What doesthatone mean? I need to write some of these down so I can research them. Goodness knows I’ve got the time. “No. I need to search my phone for jobs.” Not stupid clichés.
Sorry, I keep getting off track. So, after we ate, we snuggled on the couch and watched a holiday movie. He even got under Grandma Foster’s quilt with me. His arms were wrapped around me during the snuggling session. We kissed a few times but nothing with tongue, and I was okay with that. I like him. A lot. I don’t want to ruin it by this just being about sex. He feels the same. How do I know that? Well, for one, he’s taking me on a date tonight. A real one. To one of his favorite restaurants in the city. “I’m going to wine and dine you like you deserve,” he said.
How can I not like the sound of that?
After rolling out of bed, I step into the kitchen to find a sweet note from Billy.
JoJo,
Coffee is made, but if you want a fresh pot, supplies are in cupboard above the maker. Help yourself to whatever you need. Mi casa es su casa, as they say. Cereal in the pantry along with pancake mix, etc. Eggs and such in the fridge. My cell number is 555-982-3547 if you want to call or text. Since I don’t have yours, send me a text so I have it, please. <3 Billy
A heart.He signed the note with a heart. My goodness, how did I get so lucky? I mean, what are the odds I’d meet a guy like that at Dingus’ Bar and Grill? Ordinarily, I’d say the odds are zero, but look at us now.
I find a bagel in a stainless-steel breadbox and cream cheese in his fridge. Next I pour myself a cup of coffee, adding milk and sugar, then sit at one of his three stools at the kitchen island. I decide to see if my phone is alive so I can text him. Jogging back into my room, I grab the phone and cord and return to my spot in his sunny kitchen. Plugging it in, I’m able to see I’ve got a text from Clancy and a voice mail from my mom’s number. I check the time stamp and see she called at nine this morning. It’s now eleven thirty. I slept so late. Geesh, am I a lazy ass or what?
I quickly save Billy’s number into my phone and send him a text letting him know I’m awake and eating his last bagel.
Billy:No worries. We’ll go to the store this weekend and stock up on all your favorites.
My God. Where did this guy come from?
Hesitating, I decide to finish up my breakfast before listening to my mom’s message. I’m not prepared for whatever it is she’s got to say to me in the light of day. It’s probably about Gisele. I bet they bailed her out first thing this morning. Yeah, I’m sure that’s what it’s about. “Oh, what the hell?” I hit the message icon and listen on speaker.
“Josephine.” My mom’s voice sounds strained, almost panicked. “Your sister is very upset.” She pauses. “With you. She’s out on bail and…” She pauses again, and I swear I hear her sniffle. “She’s upset.”
She said that already. The voice changes suddenly. Now my dad is speaking, “Jo, it’s Dad.” He sighs. “I wish I could talk to you instead of leaving this message.”
“Anyway. Gisele is… well, we’ve never seen her like this. She seemed fine when we picked her up at the station, but the minute she got here, home, she, well, she went down to the basement. We thought she was decompressing.” There’s a pause again. “After she left, I went down there to watch the game and… shit.” My dad mutters. “It seems as though she damaged some of your belongings.”
