Page 28
Story: The Christmas Bet
Allison
It’s after midnight and finally Christmas Day. There should be excitement in the air, a giddiness inside me, and Christmas music slowly lulling me to sleep.
I should be curled up with Conner.
Instead, I’m just waiting for this whole day to be over with. Today has been sullied by Conner and his band of assholes. That bet deadline was today; I had to fall in love with him, want to marry him. And I did. I did fall in love with him, and I did see a future with him.
Let me state for the record: Idid. For obvious reasons, that will never happen. Now I stand here, looking down at the necklace he gave me that’s laying on the coffee table, and willing my heart to stop cracking. I just need to get through to today. Next year this will all be different. He will be a distant memory. Now I’m just waiting on the clock to strike midnight and for it to be December 26th.
Tonight was a nice break from the drama. Christmas Eve dinner with Lacy and her family was comfortable and relaxing. Since no one brought up Conner, I’m assuming Lacy let them know what was going on. Instead, everyone cracked jokes, told stories, and reminisced about past holidays together. Like every year, Mrs. Boyd wait for me to hang the ornament she got me to remember my parents by: a small picture frame ornament with their picture inside of it.
For tonight, I was able to forget about Conner in the moment. I was able to just feel like myself again, feel a smidge of happiness again.
Changing out of my dress, I slip on some fleece pants and a Supernatural t-shirt. Normally I would be decked out in Christmas pajamas, but like I said, I’m just waiting for it to be tomorrow. Walking into the kitchen to grab a water, there’s a knock that startles me at my door. Looking at the clock on the stove, I see that it’s a quarter to one in the morning.
Who the fuck is here at one in the morning?
I stand at the door and look out the peephole. Instantly, my mouth goes dry, and my eyes widen. My heart starts to beat wildly out of my chest at the sight of the last person on this earth I wanted to see.
Conner.
“What the hell are you doing here? Do you have any idea what time it is?” I hiss through the door.
“Hi to you too.” He chuckles.
“I don’t know what you’re laughing at, Conner. Is my misery funny to you?” I snap through gritted teeth.
“No. Allison, please, I’m so sorry. Please let me in. Let me talk to you, explain everything,” Conner pleads through the door.
“No way! You’re insane if you think I want you anywhere near me. Go back to your band of misfits. Go enjoy your holiday and leave me to mine.”
He laughs. “Band of Misfits. I like that.” I can see him smiling and shaking his head. “Look, I’m already here and ready to explain. And if you want, I can talk loudly out in the hall with everything I have to get out. I’m sure your neighbors won’t mind. It’ll be like reality T.V. A real-life drama. But at least I’d be able to get it all off my chest.”
I let a growl escape and place my forehead against the door. He’s right. I can either let him talk until they remove him from the building, pissing my neighbors off in the process, or I can just let him in.
Tipping my head back for a moment, I let out a sigh and I reach for the locks on my doors. I unlock them, but I don’t open the door. He’s a big boy, and he can handle opening a fucking door.
Walking away and heading into my living area, I hear him slowly come in behind me.
“Say what you came to say and then get out, Conner,” I seethe with my back still turned to him. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to gain control of my features and body. Both of which are betraying my right now. The stoic façade I’ve put on is slipping fast being this close to him, hearing his voice, seeing his face.
The door shuts, and I hear his shoes against the floor. I walk closer to the Christmas tree, trying to gain as much distance as I can get between us.
“Allie—”
“Allison. My name is Allison.” Is it petty? Probably, but he doesn’t get to call me that nickname. He lost that privilege when he broke my heart.
He sighs, “Allison. I’m sorry. So very sorry.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you are. Did you have to give up the car? I’d be sorry too. Was it a nice car that you stomped all over my heart for?”
Bile rises in my throat, and I try to keep force it back down. He can take his sorry and shove it up his very good-looking ass. Sorry just won’t cut it.
“I miss you. I miss your laugh, your smile. I miss kissing you—”
“How can you miss something you were going to throw away at the first sign of a win?’ I spin to face him. “How can you miss someone you were using to gain something from? How can you miss a lie, Conner? How can you miss a heart you obliterated by your selfish ass fucking bet?” Tears are starting to threaten to break free, and it takes everything in me to get the words out without choking up.
“Shit, Allison, I hate myself for hurting you. What I did was god fucking awful. I’m disgusted at myself for agreeing to that.” He runs his hands through his hair, pulling slightly at the ends in frustration. He frowns at me.
It’s after midnight and finally Christmas Day. There should be excitement in the air, a giddiness inside me, and Christmas music slowly lulling me to sleep.
I should be curled up with Conner.
Instead, I’m just waiting for this whole day to be over with. Today has been sullied by Conner and his band of assholes. That bet deadline was today; I had to fall in love with him, want to marry him. And I did. I did fall in love with him, and I did see a future with him.
Let me state for the record: Idid. For obvious reasons, that will never happen. Now I stand here, looking down at the necklace he gave me that’s laying on the coffee table, and willing my heart to stop cracking. I just need to get through to today. Next year this will all be different. He will be a distant memory. Now I’m just waiting on the clock to strike midnight and for it to be December 26th.
Tonight was a nice break from the drama. Christmas Eve dinner with Lacy and her family was comfortable and relaxing. Since no one brought up Conner, I’m assuming Lacy let them know what was going on. Instead, everyone cracked jokes, told stories, and reminisced about past holidays together. Like every year, Mrs. Boyd wait for me to hang the ornament she got me to remember my parents by: a small picture frame ornament with their picture inside of it.
For tonight, I was able to forget about Conner in the moment. I was able to just feel like myself again, feel a smidge of happiness again.
Changing out of my dress, I slip on some fleece pants and a Supernatural t-shirt. Normally I would be decked out in Christmas pajamas, but like I said, I’m just waiting for it to be tomorrow. Walking into the kitchen to grab a water, there’s a knock that startles me at my door. Looking at the clock on the stove, I see that it’s a quarter to one in the morning.
Who the fuck is here at one in the morning?
I stand at the door and look out the peephole. Instantly, my mouth goes dry, and my eyes widen. My heart starts to beat wildly out of my chest at the sight of the last person on this earth I wanted to see.
Conner.
“What the hell are you doing here? Do you have any idea what time it is?” I hiss through the door.
“Hi to you too.” He chuckles.
“I don’t know what you’re laughing at, Conner. Is my misery funny to you?” I snap through gritted teeth.
“No. Allison, please, I’m so sorry. Please let me in. Let me talk to you, explain everything,” Conner pleads through the door.
“No way! You’re insane if you think I want you anywhere near me. Go back to your band of misfits. Go enjoy your holiday and leave me to mine.”
He laughs. “Band of Misfits. I like that.” I can see him smiling and shaking his head. “Look, I’m already here and ready to explain. And if you want, I can talk loudly out in the hall with everything I have to get out. I’m sure your neighbors won’t mind. It’ll be like reality T.V. A real-life drama. But at least I’d be able to get it all off my chest.”
I let a growl escape and place my forehead against the door. He’s right. I can either let him talk until they remove him from the building, pissing my neighbors off in the process, or I can just let him in.
Tipping my head back for a moment, I let out a sigh and I reach for the locks on my doors. I unlock them, but I don’t open the door. He’s a big boy, and he can handle opening a fucking door.
Walking away and heading into my living area, I hear him slowly come in behind me.
“Say what you came to say and then get out, Conner,” I seethe with my back still turned to him. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to gain control of my features and body. Both of which are betraying my right now. The stoic façade I’ve put on is slipping fast being this close to him, hearing his voice, seeing his face.
The door shuts, and I hear his shoes against the floor. I walk closer to the Christmas tree, trying to gain as much distance as I can get between us.
“Allie—”
“Allison. My name is Allison.” Is it petty? Probably, but he doesn’t get to call me that nickname. He lost that privilege when he broke my heart.
He sighs, “Allison. I’m sorry. So very sorry.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you are. Did you have to give up the car? I’d be sorry too. Was it a nice car that you stomped all over my heart for?”
Bile rises in my throat, and I try to keep force it back down. He can take his sorry and shove it up his very good-looking ass. Sorry just won’t cut it.
“I miss you. I miss your laugh, your smile. I miss kissing you—”
“How can you miss something you were going to throw away at the first sign of a win?’ I spin to face him. “How can you miss someone you were using to gain something from? How can you miss a lie, Conner? How can you miss a heart you obliterated by your selfish ass fucking bet?” Tears are starting to threaten to break free, and it takes everything in me to get the words out without choking up.
“Shit, Allison, I hate myself for hurting you. What I did was god fucking awful. I’m disgusted at myself for agreeing to that.” He runs his hands through his hair, pulling slightly at the ends in frustration. He frowns at me.