Page 12
Story: The Christmas Bet
Unknown: Um, did you get other flowers today? Wait, did you have other dates on Friday night? Wow. Maybe I should have ordered 200 roses. Maybe a balcony full of roses.
Nothing comes after that. I sit there completely stunned, not sure what I should respond with. Did I offend him? Hurt him? Before I can come up with a response, I see more chat bubbles pop up in the message.
Unknown: Of course this is Conner. A very concerned Conner because now I have to step up my game. Especially if you’re getting flowers from other guys.
Me: No! No flowers from other guys. I’m just a little shocked since I didn’t give you my number.
Conner: Phew. Okay, good. I really didn’t want to have to compete. I mean, I would put the others to shame, but that’s just a lot of work.
Me: Oh, so I’m not worth the effort or work?
Conner: Sure you are, as long as it’s flower competitions. I mean, if I have to step up my date night routine, then I would just have to reconsider this whole thing.
Me: Oh, you mean the date where I walked out on you and then somehow you still ended up back at my apartment?
Conner: It worked, didn’t it? As you said, I still ended up in your apartment. I have mad skills, FYI.
I laugh so hard there are tears in my eyes. This man is so sure of himself.
Conner: Have dinner with me tonight. I’ll even pick you up. I mean, I do know where you live. Wait, that sounds creepy.
Again, he has me giggling so hard my sides hurt. I pick up my phone and stare at his last message. It wouldn’t hurt to go out with him again. After we got over the awkwardness, he really did turn out to be a nice guy. I feel light. Goosebumps coat my skin as I think about how we ended that night. I want that again.
Me: Okay. Dinner tonight.
Conner: Pick you up at seven, Allie.
Sitting back in my chair, I close my eyes and bring my phone to my chest. I take slow, steady breaths to calm my excitement.
Once I finally come down from the clouds, I grab my purse and head towards Lacy’s office. I don’t knock, I walk straight in.
“Hey. What’s up?” she says without even taking her face away from her laptop screen.
I say nothing. I reach into my purse and slap a twenty onto her desk.
Lacy starts to laugh uncontrollably. I turn around and walk right back out of her office.
I was going to lose that bet from the beginning. But at least I know it’s going to be well worth it.
Chapter 8
Allison
After work, I go straight home to get myself ready for the date with Conner tonight. Sifting through my closets, I pick out a cute new dress that I had bought a couple of weeks ago. A beautiful colorless red tiered dress. I wrap a thick black belt around the waist and throw on my black leather knee-high boots.
As I study myself out in my mirror, I run my brush through my long blonde hair one more time, making sure everything looks good. Not that I have to look good for him, I just want to.
Standing in the middle of the room, the big brown tree box I dragged out of the closet this morning catches my eye. I originally had plans to put up my Christmas tree and decorations tonight. I’m way behind on getting them up. That shit is usually up the day after Thanksgiving. But that will have to wait, once again, until tomorrow.
I look up from the tree box and spot the plastic container of ornaments on my table. I saunter over and slowly open it up.
My heart warms the minute I pull out the first wrapped ornament. I know exactly what this one this is. I store it in the same red paper after every holiday. Slowly, I peel back the tissue paper to find my half of my best friend heart ornament, with Lacy holding onto the other half. I clutch the glass ornament in my hand and smile. We got this on our first Christmas together back in high school. We knew then that our friendship was stronger than anything and that we would always be together.
Honestly, she is more than a friend; she’s become my family. After everything I’ve gone through, she’s always been there to help me pick up the pieces, standing beside me when I need her most.
As I put the ornament back into the wrapping paper, there’s a knock on my door.He’s here. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. My body shakes, and my stomach flips.Why is my body reacting to him like this?
I let out a long breath and head towards the door. When I open it, I find Conner standing there holding another beautiful bouquet of roses. He’s dressed in a black long-sleeve, button-down dress shirt with a pair of black slacks. His hair is slicked back, his jawline clean and shaven. He looks sinful. Deliciously sinful.
Nothing comes after that. I sit there completely stunned, not sure what I should respond with. Did I offend him? Hurt him? Before I can come up with a response, I see more chat bubbles pop up in the message.
Unknown: Of course this is Conner. A very concerned Conner because now I have to step up my game. Especially if you’re getting flowers from other guys.
Me: No! No flowers from other guys. I’m just a little shocked since I didn’t give you my number.
Conner: Phew. Okay, good. I really didn’t want to have to compete. I mean, I would put the others to shame, but that’s just a lot of work.
Me: Oh, so I’m not worth the effort or work?
Conner: Sure you are, as long as it’s flower competitions. I mean, if I have to step up my date night routine, then I would just have to reconsider this whole thing.
Me: Oh, you mean the date where I walked out on you and then somehow you still ended up back at my apartment?
Conner: It worked, didn’t it? As you said, I still ended up in your apartment. I have mad skills, FYI.
I laugh so hard there are tears in my eyes. This man is so sure of himself.
Conner: Have dinner with me tonight. I’ll even pick you up. I mean, I do know where you live. Wait, that sounds creepy.
Again, he has me giggling so hard my sides hurt. I pick up my phone and stare at his last message. It wouldn’t hurt to go out with him again. After we got over the awkwardness, he really did turn out to be a nice guy. I feel light. Goosebumps coat my skin as I think about how we ended that night. I want that again.
Me: Okay. Dinner tonight.
Conner: Pick you up at seven, Allie.
Sitting back in my chair, I close my eyes and bring my phone to my chest. I take slow, steady breaths to calm my excitement.
Once I finally come down from the clouds, I grab my purse and head towards Lacy’s office. I don’t knock, I walk straight in.
“Hey. What’s up?” she says without even taking her face away from her laptop screen.
I say nothing. I reach into my purse and slap a twenty onto her desk.
Lacy starts to laugh uncontrollably. I turn around and walk right back out of her office.
I was going to lose that bet from the beginning. But at least I know it’s going to be well worth it.
Chapter 8
Allison
After work, I go straight home to get myself ready for the date with Conner tonight. Sifting through my closets, I pick out a cute new dress that I had bought a couple of weeks ago. A beautiful colorless red tiered dress. I wrap a thick black belt around the waist and throw on my black leather knee-high boots.
As I study myself out in my mirror, I run my brush through my long blonde hair one more time, making sure everything looks good. Not that I have to look good for him, I just want to.
Standing in the middle of the room, the big brown tree box I dragged out of the closet this morning catches my eye. I originally had plans to put up my Christmas tree and decorations tonight. I’m way behind on getting them up. That shit is usually up the day after Thanksgiving. But that will have to wait, once again, until tomorrow.
I look up from the tree box and spot the plastic container of ornaments on my table. I saunter over and slowly open it up.
My heart warms the minute I pull out the first wrapped ornament. I know exactly what this one this is. I store it in the same red paper after every holiday. Slowly, I peel back the tissue paper to find my half of my best friend heart ornament, with Lacy holding onto the other half. I clutch the glass ornament in my hand and smile. We got this on our first Christmas together back in high school. We knew then that our friendship was stronger than anything and that we would always be together.
Honestly, she is more than a friend; she’s become my family. After everything I’ve gone through, she’s always been there to help me pick up the pieces, standing beside me when I need her most.
As I put the ornament back into the wrapping paper, there’s a knock on my door.He’s here. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. My body shakes, and my stomach flips.Why is my body reacting to him like this?
I let out a long breath and head towards the door. When I open it, I find Conner standing there holding another beautiful bouquet of roses. He’s dressed in a black long-sleeve, button-down dress shirt with a pair of black slacks. His hair is slicked back, his jawline clean and shaven. He looks sinful. Deliciously sinful.