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Story: The Christmas Bet
Operation Dirty Sex was a complete failure.
Chapter 7
Allison
Monday came and went with its usual sucks-to-be-Monday vibe. Tuesday was uneventful and boring as all hell. When I looked at my watch at ten in the morning, it was one of those moments where it felt like I had already been there for twelve hours. Yet I had only been there for two. They were typical long workdays, clients, events, work tickets, and emails galore. Seeing how Monday and Tuesday sucked, I’m not expecting much of a change today.
My face is buried in my papers as I answer some emails and work on some booth furniture orders. But then a knock at my door pulls me from my screen.
“Hey, Allie. These came for you just a moment ago.” Rita, the front receptionist, walks in with a giant bouquet of red roses inside a beautiful glass vase. She sets them down on my desk and walks out of the office before I can even ask who sent them.
My mouth drops open, and my eyes are wide as they gawk at the roses on my desk. I’m not even sure who would even send me a rose, let alone a huge ass vase filled with … a lot. There are so many of them. Thirty-six? Forty-eight roses? Oh my god.
Shaking myself out of my shock, I reach out, letting my fingers glide over the silky petals. Leaning forward, I take a deep breath of the wonderful scent. The arrangement of the roses and the baby’s breath with the greenery surrounding it all … it’s breathtaking.
A card in the center of the arrangement catches my eye, so I pluck it out, my curiosity growing with every second. Slowly, I open the card up and read it with more than a little trepidation.
Allison,
Thank you so much for the do-over to our do-over.
-Conner
A smile spreads on my face, and my heart start to beat wildly in my chest. He sent me flowers. My lips start to tingle from the memory of his kisses, his tongue dancing with mine.
Bringing my fingers up to my lips, I let out a shudder. My body suddenly feels like I’m sitting on the sun, heating up at just the very thought of him.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Lacy steps into my office, folding her hands over her chest. Her lips turn upward as she stares between me and the giant bouquet of roses sitting in front of me.
The heat spreads from my neck to my cheeks. “They’re flowers.”
“Yeah, no, I see that. Who are they from, Allie?” She tilts her head, still grinning because she knows exactly who sent them.
Clearing my throat, I speak softly, “Um, Conner. Conner sent them.” I fall back into my seat and place my hand over my heart, willing it to calm down.
“Of course he fucking did!” She throws her head back with a laugh. “Mr. Hottie Pants sent you, what, forty-eight long-stem roses after the crazy night you had with him? Oh, girl, I think there is definitely going to be a second date out of this.”
“I doubt it. These literally could just be ‘Hey! I’m sending these to let you down nicely. Thanks for the good time. Have a nice life,’ roses,” I scoff.
“Okay, I don’t think anyone has ever sent roses for that reason. A Hallmark card, possibly, since they’ve got cards for everything. I’d put money down on someone sending a card for that reason.” She shakes her head. “These are not break-up roses. These are ‘I have to have more time with you because you rocked my world Friday night until your bestie texted and sadly interrupted us’ roses.”
Breaking out into a laugh, I shake my head at her. Still, while Lacy probably has a point, I’m stubborn enough to still think otherwise. “Well, I think you’re wrong. He didn’t get my number, so he cant call me, and this is the first contact he’s made since Friday. This is honestly nothing.”
“Whatever you say, Allie. You’ll owe me twenty bucks when you lose this bet.” She points at me and squints her eyes.
I shake my head, furrowing my brows. “What are you talking about? I didn’t bet anything.”
“Oh, no. We’re definitely betting on this because I want to be able to tell you ‘I told you so’. My coffee will taste so good when I’m buying with your money.” She winks at me and disappears out of my office.
I let out a huff as I throw myself down into my chair. Staring at the card, I can feel my stomach doing little flips. Staring back up at the flowers, I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. What is even going on here?
Never once have I ever felt this way over a guy. I have no idea what has come over me. As I sit and think about getting my head checked, my phone vibrates on my desk. Picking it up, I turn it over.
Unknown: I really did enjoy myself Friday. I hope you like the flowers.
Oh my fucking god. How did he get my number?
Me: Conner?
Chapter 7
Allison
Monday came and went with its usual sucks-to-be-Monday vibe. Tuesday was uneventful and boring as all hell. When I looked at my watch at ten in the morning, it was one of those moments where it felt like I had already been there for twelve hours. Yet I had only been there for two. They were typical long workdays, clients, events, work tickets, and emails galore. Seeing how Monday and Tuesday sucked, I’m not expecting much of a change today.
My face is buried in my papers as I answer some emails and work on some booth furniture orders. But then a knock at my door pulls me from my screen.
“Hey, Allie. These came for you just a moment ago.” Rita, the front receptionist, walks in with a giant bouquet of red roses inside a beautiful glass vase. She sets them down on my desk and walks out of the office before I can even ask who sent them.
My mouth drops open, and my eyes are wide as they gawk at the roses on my desk. I’m not even sure who would even send me a rose, let alone a huge ass vase filled with … a lot. There are so many of them. Thirty-six? Forty-eight roses? Oh my god.
Shaking myself out of my shock, I reach out, letting my fingers glide over the silky petals. Leaning forward, I take a deep breath of the wonderful scent. The arrangement of the roses and the baby’s breath with the greenery surrounding it all … it’s breathtaking.
A card in the center of the arrangement catches my eye, so I pluck it out, my curiosity growing with every second. Slowly, I open the card up and read it with more than a little trepidation.
Allison,
Thank you so much for the do-over to our do-over.
-Conner
A smile spreads on my face, and my heart start to beat wildly in my chest. He sent me flowers. My lips start to tingle from the memory of his kisses, his tongue dancing with mine.
Bringing my fingers up to my lips, I let out a shudder. My body suddenly feels like I’m sitting on the sun, heating up at just the very thought of him.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Lacy steps into my office, folding her hands over her chest. Her lips turn upward as she stares between me and the giant bouquet of roses sitting in front of me.
The heat spreads from my neck to my cheeks. “They’re flowers.”
“Yeah, no, I see that. Who are they from, Allie?” She tilts her head, still grinning because she knows exactly who sent them.
Clearing my throat, I speak softly, “Um, Conner. Conner sent them.” I fall back into my seat and place my hand over my heart, willing it to calm down.
“Of course he fucking did!” She throws her head back with a laugh. “Mr. Hottie Pants sent you, what, forty-eight long-stem roses after the crazy night you had with him? Oh, girl, I think there is definitely going to be a second date out of this.”
“I doubt it. These literally could just be ‘Hey! I’m sending these to let you down nicely. Thanks for the good time. Have a nice life,’ roses,” I scoff.
“Okay, I don’t think anyone has ever sent roses for that reason. A Hallmark card, possibly, since they’ve got cards for everything. I’d put money down on someone sending a card for that reason.” She shakes her head. “These are not break-up roses. These are ‘I have to have more time with you because you rocked my world Friday night until your bestie texted and sadly interrupted us’ roses.”
Breaking out into a laugh, I shake my head at her. Still, while Lacy probably has a point, I’m stubborn enough to still think otherwise. “Well, I think you’re wrong. He didn’t get my number, so he cant call me, and this is the first contact he’s made since Friday. This is honestly nothing.”
“Whatever you say, Allie. You’ll owe me twenty bucks when you lose this bet.” She points at me and squints her eyes.
I shake my head, furrowing my brows. “What are you talking about? I didn’t bet anything.”
“Oh, no. We’re definitely betting on this because I want to be able to tell you ‘I told you so’. My coffee will taste so good when I’m buying with your money.” She winks at me and disappears out of my office.
I let out a huff as I throw myself down into my chair. Staring at the card, I can feel my stomach doing little flips. Staring back up at the flowers, I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. What is even going on here?
Never once have I ever felt this way over a guy. I have no idea what has come over me. As I sit and think about getting my head checked, my phone vibrates on my desk. Picking it up, I turn it over.
Unknown: I really did enjoy myself Friday. I hope you like the flowers.
Oh my fucking god. How did he get my number?
Me: Conner?